SPEED
MECHANICS AND CONTROL
Every time I
ask this question, “What do you learn first – speed, mechanics or
control?” I get the wrong answer. It is critical that beginning
pitchers learn the correct answer for this question. The answer is #1
learn the mechanics, #2 throw hard and #3 the control WILL COME. You
should NEVER sacrifice speed for control. It is much easier to control
the ball if you give maximum effort on every pitch. Trying to control
the ball will result in aiming and the pitcher will only give a
percentage of 100% effort and that percentage will change daily, and you
can only imagine where the ball will go every time she gives you some
percent of total effort. When you let up to “just throw strikes”, you
alter your underlying mechanics and as a result, you will never learn to
throw hard with control. And the ultimate goal of every pitcher should
be to throw to their maximum potential. Every great pitcher in
the game has gone through the games where they have walked 20 batters
and thrown the ball over the backstop. The great ones didn’t slow down
and “just throw strikes,” they had someone out there with them telling
them to keep throwing hard and learn where the release point is and to
‘focus’ on the target. That is why they are now considered GREAT!
Many times the pitcher
that is wild and out of control hasn’t had enough time to become
comfortable with the motion and become confident in pressure
situations. Practice is critical and one of the most valuable tools a
pitcher will ever rely on, but practice isn’t enough. Pitchers must be
put into games to feel the pressure. They have to be able to pitch
under pressure, with everyone staring at them and the other team
yelling. Coaches and parents have to be able to remain supportive and
remember that we don’t care about instant success, but we want our
pitchers to have successful “careers!” In an instant gratification
society, it is difficult to understand why our 9 year old isn’t throwing
perfect strikes on every pitch. But, no matter what, you give a 9 year
old that throws 53 mph and is wild all over the place some time and some
pressure situations, and I can promise you that she will be one of the
best around.
