3 Steps To Your Best Fastball

When your on the mound there is one pitch you want to count on, and that’s your fastball. Follow these tips to increase your K’s:

1.) Get a good warm up

Be selective with which drills you use when warming up before a game. You want to aim for a good 30 minutes of warm up time before a game. Ten of those minutes should focus on proper mechanics and getting your body ready to explode off the mound. My personal favorite is starting a few steps back from the mound and getting a running start before going into your pitch. It really gets your momentum going !

2.) Practice with a weighted ball

Your wrist muscle is just like any other muscle in your body: the stronger it gets, the better it performs. Practicing with a weighted ball will definitely help gain muscle in your wrist and increase your overall speed. Weighted softballs typically come in 9 oz, 10oz, 11oz, and 12oz.This should pertain more to practicing time anytime except before a game. A good drill to use them with is basic snaps (throwing the ball standing still using only your wrist) or any drill using only your wrist. **Do not use a weighted ball in any other drill using more than your wrist, this could strain your arm muscle and result in an injury* After doing about fifty snaps with the weighted ball, a regular ball will feel like a feather and you will feel the increase in speed immediately.

To measure your growing wrist muscle, simply hold your arm out with your palm up. Bend your wrist back, and feel the muscle grow more and more each week!

3.) Stay Loose- A loose muscle is a fast muscle!

This starts way before you even step on the mound. A few hours before start time, eating the right foods and drinking plenty of liquids will keep your muscles hydrated and increase your stamina. (When you are neck and neck in the 7th inning, you will thank yourself!)

Staying loose has to do with your mind as well. During the game, keep your mind relaxed and focused. Tensing up will throw off your mechanics and slow you down. My tip for staying calm during a game is to take a deep breath and go over your basic mechanics. Start the next batter with confidence, and you will begin to throw more strikes guaranteed.

Get Your Best Fastball With These 3 Tips

When your on the mound there is one pitch you want to count on, and that’s your fastball. Follow these tips to increase your K’s:

1.) Get a good warm up

Be selective with which drills you use when warming up before a game. You want to aim for a good 30 minutes of warm up time before a game. Ten of those minutes should focus on proper mechanics and getting your body ready to explode off the mound. My personal favorite is starting a few steps back from the mound and getting a running start before going into your pitch. It really gets your momentum going !

2.) Practice with a weighted ball

Your wrist muscle is just like any other muscle in your body: the stronger it gets, the better it performs. Practicing with a weighted ball will definitely help gain muscle in your wrist and increase your overall speed. Weighted softballs typically come in 9 oz, 10oz, 11oz, and 12oz.This should pertain more to practicing time anytime except before a game. A good drill to use them with is basic snaps (throwing the ball standing still using only your wrist) or any drill using only your wrist. **Do not use a weighted ball in any other drill using more than your wrist, this could strain your arm muscle and result in an injury* After doing about fifty snaps with the weighted ball, a regular ball will feel like a feather and you will feel the increase in speed immediately.

To measure your growing wrist muscle, simply hold your arm out with your palm up. Bend your wrist back, and feel the muscle grow more and more each week!

3.) Stay Loose- A loose muscle is a fast muscle!

This starts way before you even step on the mound. A few hours before start time, eating the right foods and drinking plenty of liquids will keep your muscles hydrated and increase your stamina. (When you are neck and neck in the 7th inning, you will thank yourself!)

Staying loose has to do with your mind as well. During the game, keep your mind relaxed and focused. Tensing up will throw off your mechanics and slow you down. My tip for staying calm during a game is to take a deep breath and go over your basic mechanics. Start the next batter with confidence, and you will begin to throw more strikes guaranteed.