Softball Players Should Not Do Cardio
Cardio, as you know it, is a complete waste of time. Here are the four most popular forms of “cardio” and my reasons as to why a softball player has no business doing them.
Read MoreStaying Focused in Front of College Coaches and Screaming Fans
Today we have another wonderful guest post from former East Coast #1 NCAA pitching recruit Jill Schonberg. Jill is going to share some important wisdom from her years of being a high level pitcher and give you some tips for how to pitch in high pressure situations. Enjoy!
Read MoreVideo: Maximizing the Throw Zone in Windmill Pitching
In a previous video, I discussed the importance of the throw zone in windmill pitching and how to establish it. In today’s video, we’re going to take a more in-depth look at the throw zone and talk about how it relates to maximizing your velocity and command.
Read MoreThe Best Flexibility Exercises for Softball Players (Video)
Young female athletes tend to lose flexibility secondary to loss of stability as they grow. Muscles can either be placed under tension as the bones grow or they protectively contract in attempt to control the larger skeleton. A proper stretching routine should enhance body stability as well as flexibility. In this week’s video, I demonstrate my favorite active flexibility exercises for softball players.
Read MorePitching Drills for a Smoother Drive-through
A little while ago I received an email from a Fastpitch Power reader asking for specific windmill pitching drills to address the issues of turning the load foot and dragging it during the drive-through. The reader was right; though we’ve discussed these issues at length, we’ve been a little light on info regarding how to fix them. I see more pitchers every day having problems dragging their feet, and since it’s so prevalent, I want to share my response with all of you.
Read MoreYou Can’t Fix What You Don’t Understand
When you’re all alone in the eight foot circle and things seem to be falling apart around you…who are you gonna call? If your answer is anything other than “your own self,” you’ll probably get a busy signal.
Read More4 Exercises for Healthy Shoulders
As the high school season comes to an end, summer travel teams are ramping up. In order to keep your throwing shoulder healthy thoughout the season, you must be PROACTIVE, continuing to keep your shoulder loose and strong before and after you pitch. In my last post, I demonstrated self-massage exercises that you can do if you have two tennis balls and a softball. In this week’s video, I give you my 4 favorite shoulder strengthening exercises that combat the fatigue you accumulate over your season.
Read MoreGuest Post: The One Trick That Can Make You a Better Pitcher RIGHT NOW!
Today we are very fortunate to have the first of several guest posts from someone with a tremendous amount of firsthand experience in windmill pitching and the game of softball in general. Jillian Schonberg went to Villanova University as the number one NCAA east coast pitching recruit in 2007, and now she’s a physical therapy graduate student at Harcum College. You’ll hear us talk a lot at Fastpitch Power about how we don’t like to teach “tricks,” but rather we insist on proper, healthy mechanics and hard work, even if it takes longer to get where you want to be. Nonetheless, there IS one thing you can have that can make just about any pitcher noticeably better without changing anything else: a fabulous catcher. A good catcher is invaluable to a pitcher, and a good pitcher-catcher relationship is integral to the success of a team. Jillian is going to share her wisdom on the subject.
Read MoreVideo: G-flop Drill for Windmill Pitching Acceleration
Acceleration in the windmill pitching motion is critical to the success of the pitch. It’s logical: if you’re not accelerating your arm at delivery, you will not release the ball with maximum speed. Despite this, so many pitchers get into the habit of slowing down or even stopping their hands at the delivery of the pitch, resulting in compromised velocity and accuracy.
Read MoreWhy Softball Players Shouldn’t Stretch Their Arms
In the Northeast, the high school season is progressing into section playoffs which has inspired me to share some tips on how to keep your throwing shoulder healthy throughout a long season. First, I have to make a bold proclamation: not all softball players should stretch their shoulders.
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