How to Make Your Pitchers Throw More Strikes
By:  Tim Thoreson

At my pitching clinics, I sometimes ask the kids, "What is the best pitch a pitcher can throw?"  I get all kinds of answers, fastballs, curveballs, changeup, sliders, but rarely do any players ever respond with the answer I am looking for, A STRIKE.  Throwing strikes is so important for so many reasons.  Obviously when pitchers throw strikes they will minimize walks, but other major benefits include:  keeping a lower pitch count, getting a head of the hitters, and creating an atmosphere where your defense is more ready!  Sometimes pitchers really struggle to find the strike zone, so here are some tips on how you can make your pitchers throw strikes.

Keep the Mechanics Simple
Sometimes when I go to a little league game and watch, pitchers mechanics are all over the place.  So many young athletes are making the windup so much more complicated than it needs to be.  When teaching proper mechanics to pitchers, I teach a simple 4 step process, Rock, Pivot, Balance Throw.  You can find more information about these 4 steps on my Basic Mechanics Drill Page.  When pitcher's keep their mechanics simple, there is less to think about, and less to do incorrectly.  It seems whenever I simplify a pitcher's mechanics I notice an instant improvement in their ability to throw strikes.

Get Players to be Comfortable and Consistent in Their Balance Position
The balance  position is essentially where all pitchers begin their pitch from.  This balance position should be consistent from pitch to pitch to ensure players are starting from the same point each time they make a pitch.  If pitchers are altering their balance position on ever pitch, it will be very difficult to consistently throw strikes.  Check out the Balance Drill for a great way to have your pitchers develop a consistent balance position.

Work Your Way Back With Strikes
I have a daughter that plays Fastpitch Softball, and almost every fastpitch pitcher starts warming up really close to the catcher with wrist flicks and slowly backs up to the pitching distance as they begin their full motion.  Rarely do I see a little league baseball player start off close, focusing on perfect mechanics, and then work their way back to full pitching distance.  Have you pitchers throw to catchers from 30 feet.  Since the pitcher is much closer, then they only pitch at about 50-75%.  They can focus on perfect mechanics and from such a close distance will have a very high percentage of strikes.   After 30 feet, back them up to 35, then to 40, and so forth until they reach their pitching distance. Using this strategy pitchers will be confident in their ability to throw strikes.

Use Catch Time to Work On Pinpoint Control
Most pitchers only work on hitting exact spots when they are actually throwing to a catcher.  Encourage your pitchers to work on pinpoint control by trying to hit exact spots when playing catch.  To do this, have your players make exact targets with their glove, and the pitcher tries to throw it to that spot.  Players should move the glove to a different location each time, so pitchers can practice throwing to various locations.  Your players could even make a game out of this "Closest to the Glove" and compete against their partner.  If just a portion of your pitchers catch time was devoted to having them focus on hitting exact spots, their overall accuracy would improve.

Throwing strikes takes practice!  If players can dedicate themselves to obtaining proper pitching mechanics and practice throwing to exact spots, they will be successful.  

 

Good Luck Coaches!

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Tim Thoreson