Hi there! Coach Jill here. In today’s video post, I am discussing and demonstrating all of the different grips we teach for the various pitches. I know there are a lot of different ways to teach spin pitches, but these are the grips that I personally have used throughout my career, and they are the…
Read MoreI got a question a while ago from a reader who was curious about Jennie Finch’s screwball, specifically wanting to know if it was safer on the elbow than the more widely taught screwball (which is also the one we teach). I want to dispel some myths about screwballs and drops, and shed some light for any pitchers who may rely on these pitches and experience some elbow soreness.
Read MoreIf this isn’t the number one question we receive via email and comments, it’s definitely at least in the top three. However, it’s not the question you should be asking. What you want to know is: how much should you CARE how your fastball is spinning?
Read MoreThere are a number of ways you can tip your pitches—that is, accidentally give away what pitch you’re throwing to the batter or opposing base coach. Probably the most obvious is simply not hiding your grip well; there are a number of pitches with distinctive grips, and if someone on the opposing team can see your hand while you’re finding your grip on the ball, you could be in trouble. BUT, there is another common giveaway that I’ve come across a few times recently in some of my pitching lessons. Ask yourself this: are you 100% sure your pre-motion is the same every time?
Read MoreSeveral weeks ago, I was participating in a conversation on a softball message board about pitchers figuring things out themselves through experimentation. There is a lot of valuable information that can be gleaned from this idea of “experimenting,” so I wanted to share this with all of you here as well.
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