One of the biggest controversies and topics of discussion when talking about pitching and players learning to pitch is weather control or speed is more important. My belief is that control is important because it doesn’t matter how fast you can pitch a ball if it does not get to its destination. This softball pitching control drill gives a few options for learning control and can be done individually or in a group with an instructor.
Softball Pitching Control Drill
While these drills can enhance speed, make the focus on control while letting it develop.
1. Stand facing toward the wall in your stride position (standing sideways). Take a ball and flick your ball straight to the wall and it should come right back to you. Only use you wrist no windmill. This drill can be done indoors with a rubber or incrediball, or outside with a regular ball against a pitchback or net.
2. This softball pitching control drill can also be done in or outdoors against a rebounding surface. Stand 8ft. Away from the wall in your stride position, execute the windmill pitch and close your hips, the ball should come right back to you. It can also be done indoors with an indoor ball.
3. This one is also to be done in or outdoors. Stand 6ft away from a wall in your stride position and just execute the windmill pitch without closing your hips, the ball should come right back to you, time yourself for 15 seconds and see how many you can do while still focusing on control. Every time you do it see if you can get more than the time before.
4. The last softball pitching control drill can also be done in or outside but with a catcher. Use a weighted ball and kneel down on one knee with your other knee facing the catcher. And only using your wrist snap flick the ball to your target or catcher. As you do 15 move back a couple of feet. When you’re about 10ft from the plate use a regular ball. Then when you’re about 20ft away from the plate do the windmill, until you can do this all the way from the rubber. Make sure the weighted ball is not so heavy that it effects your control negatively.