A Softball Fastball
by Bobby Waterbury
A mature fast-pitch pitcher might throw six pitches: a fastball, a
change-up, a drop ball, a rise ball, a curve ball and a screw ball.
Here’s how to throw the fastball:
1) Grip: Place your fingertips across the top of the letter C in the
ball’s seams so the ball is not gripped in your palm.
2) Release: The fastball comes off your fingertips with downspin that
makes the ball drop at the plate.
3) Wrist Snap: This occurs at the hip and pivot leg when the throwing
hand passes. The throwing hand is behind the ball, which is snapped
forward with the thumb leading.
4) Follow-through: The elbow flexes straight toward the catcher after
the wrist snap; the upper arm and shoulder remain stationary. The arm
resembles a letter L facing the catcher.
5) Arm Circle: The arm circles around the shoulder the way the blades
of a windmill do in the wind. The circle never goes behind the body, but
instead stays in front and to the side during the entire motion.
6) Rotation: The body opens and closes as the hips rotate during, and at
the end of, the arm circle.
7) Stride and Plant: Stride with the leg bent and raised toward the
catcher as if you are running over a hurdle. This stride is aggressive
but not a leap.
8) Hip Thrust: Energy from the hips increases the speed of the pitcher’s
wrist snap so the arm isn’t doing all the work.
9) Ready Position: The leg pushing off the rubber is pulled forward so
that both legs are set in a good, even stance—ready to receive any hit
ball.
Mastery of these fundamentals will lead to throwing an effective
fastball, the most important pitch in your arsenal. SS