Fast Pitch Softball Drills – Build Speed ​​and Accuracy With These Throwing Drills

Once softball pitchers have developed their technique, they often hit a plateau where they no longer improve. However, there is always the possibility of being a better pitcher. These innovative fastpitch softball drills were designed to help pitchers develop their speed and precision on the mound.

Press drill

This fast pitch softball drill was developed to practice the wrist snap at the end of the pitch. Using your wrist muscles to flick the ball on release will increase the speed of your throw.

For this drill, two pitchers will be about ten feet apart. The first pitcher will start with the pitching hand down to the side, holding the ball. Then, tilt your wrist back slightly before tossing the ball toward your teammate, concentrating on using as much power as possible. The partner will catch the shot and use the same technique to return the ball. Each pitcher must flick the ball twenty-five times, working to increase force in the wrist and speed in the snap. This also serves as a great pitching warm-up.

Two for one

This fast pitch softball drill helps the pitcher develop fielding skills while practicing pitches. The pitcher must always be prepared for a hit of the ball back to the mound.

Set up this drill with the pitcher on the mound and the catcher at the plate, each with a ball. As the pitcher makes his pitch, the catcher will throw a dirt ball into the mound. The pitcher must field the ball and use it for his next pitch, while the catcher will receive the pitch and use it for his next pitch. Complete the routine twenty times, focusing on proper technique and increasing reaction time.

Pitch distance

This throwing exercise develops arm strength while emphasizing the precision of your throws.

Start with the pitcher twenty feet from home plate, pitching to the catcher at home. The pitcher throws as many pitches as necessary to get five strikes, at the discretion of the catcher. Next, the pitcher must step back ten feet and throw five strikes from that position, and so on until he is within sixty feet of home plate.

Throwing from a long distance stretches the arm and increases force, resulting in more powerful throws. Using the receiver to determine strikes will also keep the focus on accuracy.

Insulation drill

This softball pitching drill focuses on the last part of the pitch. By isolating the final stage of the throwing movement, players can develop the specific movements necessary to perform an accurate throw.

Have the pitcher stand ten meters from a teammate. The pitcher will begin by raising the pitching arm and bending the wrist to form a letter “c” above the head. You then need to complete the throw from this position, concentrating on swinging the arm down, shooting the hips, breaking the wrist, and releasing the throw.