Pitching: spin and hitting spots

Setup

1. Pitchers warm up first: jog, arm circles and easy partner throws, before any full-speed pitch.
2. Set the rubber at your league's pitching distance (check it: juniors pitch from about 35–40 ft, adults from 43 ft).
3. The catcher wears full gear for every pitch, including warm-up pitches: helmet with mask, throat guard, chest protector and shin guards.
4. A coach stands to the side, clear of the pitching lane, and charts each pitch: hit the spot or miss.
5. Set a pitch limit before you start (for example 40–50 pitches for this age) and count every pitch, including spin work.

How it runs

1. Spin stage: from about 6 m, the pitcher does 15 wrist snaps and half-circle pitches to the catcher, watching for a tight, straight spin with no wobble.
2. Move back to full distance. The catcher sets the glove on the glove-side low corner.
3. The pitcher throws to the target. The coach charts it. Two hits in a row and the catcher moves the target.
4. Work the four corners: low glove side, low arm side, high glove side, high arm side.
5. Finish with a 'game' of 10 pitches where the catcher calls a spot and the pitcher scores a point for each hit. Stop at the pitch limit.

Coaching points

• Grip across the seams with the fingertips, a gap between the ball and the palm.
• Release beside the hip with a strong wrist snap. Feel the fingers come up the back of the ball.
• Stride straight down the power line toward the plate; the stride foot points the way the ball should go.
• Eyes on the target from the start of the motion to the release.
• Same motion every pitch: change the target with the stride and the release, not by aiming the arm.

Common mistakes

• Throwing harder when missing. Slow down and repeat the motion.
• Stride landing across the power line, so the ball goes inside or outside every time.
• Releasing in front of the hip, which sends the ball high.
• Skipping the warm-up or the pitch count because the session is going well.