What is THE Most Important Skill for a Pitcher to Master?
Ask any pitching coach the most critical skill for a pitcher to learn and almost without exception, he will say it’s the pitcher’s ability to locate his pitches. And if, as a hitter, you've ever had the displeasure of facing a pitcher that could consistently throw pitches exactly where he wanted, then you know exactly why they say this.
Above speed and above ball movement, pitch location is the number one weapon that a pitcher can use to absolutely dominate hitters.
There are two ways that pitch location is commonly described - control and command. Control is generally thought of as being able to consistently throw pitches for strikes. Command is the ability for a pitcher to locate the pitches where he wants within the strike zone.
For young players, control is often the primary concern and with good reason. Young players have less control of their motor skills and just pitching the ball in the strike zone can be a challenge. The concern for most coaches with young pitchers is walking an excessive number of batteries that can easily turn into runs for the opposing team.
Ask any pitching coach the most critical skill for a pitcher to learn and almost without exception, he will say it’s the pitcher’s ability to locate his pitches. And if, as a hitter, you've ever had the displeasure of facing a pitcher that could consistently throw pitches exactly where he wanted, then you know exactly why they say this.
Above speed and above ball movement, pitch location is the number one weapon that a pitcher can use to absolutely dominate hitters.
There are two ways that pitch location is commonly described - control and command. Control is generally thought of as being able to consistently throw pitches for strikes. Command is the ability for a pitcher to locate the pitches where he wants within the strike zone.
For young players, control is often the primary concern and with good reason. Young players have less control of their motor skills and just pitching the ball in the strike zone can be a challenge. The concern for most coaches with young pitchers is walking an excessive number of batteries that can easily turn into runs for the opposing team.
For older players, both control and command become critical. Pitchers at higher levels must be able to locate their pitches within the strike zone so that they can pitch to their opponents’ weaknesses. If an older pitcher locates the ball in the middle of the strike zone on every pitch, he will quickly find out that this is not a good idea. Moving the ball around the zone and staying out of the heart of the plate is a skill that must be mastered to continue to perform at higher levels.
The great thing about the location is that it can be learned and practiced by pitchers of any age and at any level of the game. There are a couple of great ways to work on your control and command:
1. Aim Small – When you pitch, instead of just throwing to the catcher’s mitt, focus on a small spot inside the glove and throw of the spot. This will improve your overall concentration on locating the pitch since you are trying to hit a much smaller target.
2. Practice Consistently – Whether you are warming up, taking practice pitches, or pitching in a game, always try to use consistent mechanics and consistent concentration. If you are constantly changing, your approach or your focus, it is much harder to correct yourself if you begin missing your targets. If you consistent, very slight adjustments can get you back to locating your pitches.
Master pitch location and you will be on the right track to be a dominating pitcher. For your details info about any kinds of Baseball Skills Guide you can visit this website: www.baseballskillsguide.com
The great thing about the location is that it can be learned and practiced by pitchers of any age and at any level of the game. There are a couple of great ways to work on your control and command:
1. Aim Small – When you pitch, instead of just throwing to the catcher’s mitt, focus on a small spot inside the glove and throw of the spot. This will improve your overall concentration on locating the pitch since you are trying to hit a much smaller target.
2. Practice Consistently – Whether you are warming up, taking practice pitches, or pitching in a game, always try to use consistent mechanics and consistent concentration. If you are constantly changing, your approach or your focus, it is much harder to correct yourself if you begin missing your targets. If you consistent, very slight adjustments can get you back to locating your pitches.
Master pitch location and you will be on the right track to be a dominating pitcher. For your details info about any kinds of Baseball Skills Guide you can visit this website: www.baseballskillsguide.com