| A normal bullpen for our pitchers is 25 to 45 | | | | break planes for his curve ball. |
| pitches depending on the time of year, weather | | | | The anchor points we use are: |
| conditions, and arm conditioning. We always make | | | | 1) Batters Hip - This pitcher should break to the |
| sure that our pitchers are in good condition and | | | | middle of the strike zone and is used to get a |
| their arms are well conditioned before we start | | | | called strike. Good first pitch. This pitch must have |
| bullpenning our pitchers. Their arms must be | | | | a good downward bite. |
| strong before we start working or practicing | | | | 2) Umpires Mask - This pitch should break to the |
| throwing the curve ball. | | | | outside corner of the plate. This pitch should be |
| I am assuming that everyone knows the 4 basic | | | | thrown as a strike. This pitch must have a good |
| elements of safely and effectively throwing a | | | | downward bite. |
| curve ball. | | | | 3) Catcher Mask - Depending on where the |
| 1) Proper grip. | | | | catcher is set-up, this pitch can finish on or off |
| 2) Proper wrist action. | | | | the plate. We are trying to throw a pitch that |
| 3) Same arm speed is used as all other pitches. | | | | breaks off the outside part of the plate. This pitch |
| 4) A proper downward shade-pulling arm action | | | | should be a difficult pitch to hit even if the batter |
| that pulls the arm downward giving the ball the | | | | is expecting a curve ball. |
| desired spin and achieving the proper arm finish. | | | | 4) Catchers Shoulder Away From the Batter - |
| NOTE: Curve balls are thrown with with the use | | | | This is a great out pitch. It must be an impossible |
| of a proper grip and wrist action. Young players | | | | pitch to hit. The pitch must break at least a foot |
| that have not been shown the proper mechanics | | | | off the plate. |
| will try to use elbow action to throw the curve | | | | COACHING POINT: There may be a time when |
| ball. This is the basis of all arguments against | | | | you need to throw or waste a pitch in the dirt. |
| youth-curve-ball-use. Failure to learn the proper | | | | You throw this pitch in hopes that the batter will |
| and safe techniques for throwing the curve ball | | | | chase a bad pitch. The anchor point we use for |
| pitch can and will result in serious injury to a | | | | this pitch is the mitt. Another important point is |
| players arm. | | | | that practice throwing to these points out of the |
| With that being said, I would like to cover how | | | | stretch and windup deliveries. When a pitcher is |
| we use 4 different visual anchor points to change | | | | using an anchor point, the pitcher should focus and |
| the look of our curve balls. Anchor points are | | | | concentrate on that anchor point through the |
| simply spots or visual reference points that our | | | | whole delivery just as if it was the mitt. This |
| pitchers concentrate on and throw to the curve | | | | system may not work for everybody. I hope |
| ball break to the desired plane. The ability of a | | | | that you find this information useful. Good luck |
| pitcher to throw to 4 different visual anchor | | | | until next time. |
| points or targets gives the pitcher 4 different | | | | |