| If you have a young baseball pitcher that at times | | | | 6. Inconsistent Release Point - The pitcher is not |
| looks like a Josh Beckett or Randy Smith and | | | | consistent with his throwing arm extension |
| other times he struggles to throw two strikes in | | | | toward the plate or his release point. To have |
| a row, what can cause of his control problems? | | | | consistent control, the pitcher must release every |
| There are 10 key elements of his delivery that | | | | fastball in the same release spot. He must release |
| should always be checked first. Those key | | | | very breaking ball at the same release point. It |
| elements are outlined in this article. | | | | requires a lot of pitching practice to master the |
| There are 10 key elements of his delivery that | | | | muscle memory that allows these release points |
| should always be checked first. Those key | | | | to be consistent. |
| elements are outlined below. | | | | 7. Not Finishing Low Enough - The pitcher does |
| The 10 most common causes of control problem | | | | not bend at the waist. The pitcher must bend, get |
| in Little League Pitchers are: | | | | low, and drive through the pitch delivery. Trying |
| 1. Pitcher is Not Concentrating on The Target. The | | | | to pitch while standing more upright is going to |
| pitcher does not keep his eyes locked in on the | | | | cause problems and a lack of control. |
| target from the start to the finish of his delivery. | | | | 8. The Finish and Following Through are Poor - |
| Many young pitchers when get half through their | | | | Pitch quality suffers when a pitcher does not finish |
| delivery they look away. They take their eyes | | | | properly or execute a smooth proper follow |
| off the mitt. They must keep their eyes focused | | | | through. The pitcher's throwing arm should finish |
| on the target at all times during the delivery. | | | | with the elbow below his off side knee. The |
| 2. Bad Stride Foot Angle - The pitcher is not | | | | pitcher's chin must finish down and the head |
| steeping in the direction of the target. The stride | | | | should be in front of the stride toe. The head |
| foot landing must be close to an imaginary | | | | should finish lower than the waist with the back |
| straight line from the middle of the pitching rubber | | | | leg foot lifting above the pitcher's entire body. |
| to the middle of home plate. If the pitcher steps | | | | 9. The Trunk rotates too early - Many young |
| too far to either side of this imaginary line, there | | | | pitchers open the front shoulder prematurely or |
| will be control problems. The stride foot should | | | | rotate the truck of the body too early. The |
| land no more than an inch or two off that line to | | | | shoulder should stay closed until the weight is |
| either side. It is best for some part of the stride | | | | shifted onto the stride foot. The torso rotation |
| foot to land directly on that line. | | | | should be delayed until at least 60 to 70% of the |
| 3. Bad Stride Foot Landing - The stride foot | | | | pitcher's stride is completed. |
| should land flat. Many times young pitchers will land | | | | 10. The grip is inconsistent - The pitcher must |
| on their heel. This can and will cause control | | | | practice pitching enough to get a consistent feel |
| problems. | | | | for each pitch grip. The pitcher should keep the |
| 4. Stride Leg Does Not Flex or Bend - Many | | | | fastball gripped as far out in the fingers as |
| young pitchers lock the stride leg. This locking | | | | possible. Pitchers that sometimes grip the ball |
| action makes the body "pole vault" upward upon | | | | wrong or change their grip without knowing it will |
| the landing of the front foot. The stride leg must | | | | definitely have problems throwing pitches |
| bend slightly to allow the pitcher to drive and snap | | | | consistently and hitting their sports. |
| the hips. | | | | I know that some of these keys were |
| 5. Dragging the Back toe - The back side toe | | | | elementary, but sometimes it is the simplest thing |
| should be lifted up and out of an imaginary bucket. | | | | that throws the most advanced pitcher we have |
| If a pitcher sometimes drags the back too when | | | | off his game. I would always check these 10 keys |
| throwing the fastball, his control will be | | | | to see if I could diagnose the problem and correct |
| inconsistent. Sometimes a pitcher will intentionally | | | | it as soon as possible. |
| drag the back toe when throwing off-speed | | | | I hope that you found this article to be |
| pitches. That is acceptable so long as the pitcher | | | | informative and interesting. wish your team good |
| is conscientious of the action. | | | | luck in the coming season. Have a great day, Nick. |