Pitching Adjustments

As pitchers, knowing how to make adjustments on the mound to correct unwanted

Results, is a valuable tool to help you achieve success. Coaches are not able to make unlimited visits to the mound, therefore sometimes pitchers get taken out of games due to problems they could have corrected themselves. Here are some tips on how to make your own adjustments:

If your ball is consistently up in the zone

• Focus on your back leg. Be sure you are not collapsing your knee too soon. If so, it will take your back shoulder down with it. This will cause you, in a sense to throw up hill.
• Be sure your head is visible by the catcher throughout your entire delivery. Sometimes pitchers get into a rhythm of bringing their glove up too high. Your glove never needs to leave your abdominal area. This is where your hands should break, so you might as well start them there and leave them there.
• Be sure you separate your hands before you begin your forward motion to the plate. If not, your lower half will be ahead of your upper half causing your arm to not be in the correct position when your foot lands. This will cause you to short arm the ball to make up for lost time. Therefore, you never have a chance to get on top and work down hill.
• Get that wrist up and fingers on top of the ball.
• After delivery, be sure you’re getting full arm extension and not immediately pulling your throwing arm into your chest (recoiling). Instead, let your head fall and your torso and arm will go with it. (Following-through)
• Check your grip. Sometime if your fingers are too far apart, it will cause your ball to remain up in the zone. Adjust that grip.
• Are you working straight toward the zone? If not, chances are you’re throwing across your body. Pitchers who throw across their bodies, automatically drop their elbows because it feels natural. It is almost impossible to throw overhand to the plate when your body is moving toward a 45 degree angle. Imagine a string tied to your front hip and the catcher is pulling this string toward him.

Hitting both sides of the plate

If you’re having trouble hitting corners, try the following:

For right handed pitchers to right handed hitter

• Outside fastball à 4 seamer
• Inside fastball à 2 seamer

(Opposite for left handed pitchers)

• To throw to the outer half of the plate, you may have to slow down your leg kick in order to gain the necessary arm extension. Good arm extension is key!!

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