"Coach Dunn's Quick Pitches" By Coach Jack Dunn

The Pitching Game

REQUIREMENTS

Mere physical size does not make the pitcher. As a general rule, however, most successful pitchers have been large men, tall and rangy. It takes a good constitution, muscular strength, reserve energy, an alert mind, agility and much courage to make a great pitcher.

No matter how hard you can throw a ball, you'll never be a pitcher until you acquire control—and the only way to acquire it is through constant practice.

The first essential is learning to throw a strike consistently. Start with strikes belt-high, down the middle. Then switch to high strikes and then low strikes. Don't bother with the finer points—like hitting the corner. That'll come with experience.

In trying to put the ball where you want it, don't ease up and aim it. The batter may hit this "soft" pitch a mile.

A pitcher must have a strong, loose and preferably long arm. He must have coordination between his arm motion, shoulder and body follow-through. A young pitcher in high school does not necessarily have to be proficient in the art of throwing numerous kinds of curves and fancy pitches, but should have at least average speed with moderate control. We recommend eliminating all freak deliveries and concentrating mastering control of his fastball, and whatever one curve he might possess.

FUNDAMENTALS

1. Grip
   1. Fastball: Overhand pitchers generally grip the ball with fingers across the seams where the seams are the widest, so as to get four seams rotating against wind resistance. This adds "hop" to the fastball.
   2. Curveball: With a slight adjustment of the rotation of the ball in the hand, the middle finger can be placed along the seams so that when the wrist is snapped, the ball will come off the side of the index finger with such a rotation that the four seams will again be rotating downward.
2. Stance and Pivot
   1. Proper stance and delivery:
      1. Be relaxed at all times.
      2. Take signs on the rubber.
      3. Have your front spike over the rubber.
      4. Take a slow wind-up, keeping your eye on the target. Keep your glove in front of the ball in your wind-up.
      5. Be sure to pivot on the pivot foot during your wind-up.
      6. Stride directly toward home plate in your delivery of the pitch.
      7. Follow through.
      8. Finish your delivery in a position to field bunted balls and balls that are hit back through the box.
3. Release and Follow-Through
   As the pitching arm swings back, the left foot comes straight-forward and hits the ground with the toe pointed directly at the plate. The arm comes through as the body drives hard off the right foot.
   
   Let the arm follow-through naturally and finish with the right foot slightly ahead of the left foot, and the body in a crouch—ready to move in any direction to field the ball.

TYPES OF PITCHES

1. Fastball

   Grip the ball across the seams between the first two fingers and the thumb, spreading the fingers a little. Fastballs are rolled off the end of the gripping fingers.

2. Curveball

   The good curveball is the down-breaking curve. We are not interested in the flat or "nickle" curve that so many young pitchers throw. The flat curve is easy to hit because it comes up to the batter on a flat plane, and he does not have to contend with the vertical action of the ball. The flat curve is caused by dropping the elbow and releasing the ball off the outside of the index finger, in a counter-clockwise motion (a three-to-nine rotation).

   The good curve is thrown with a high elbow, the ball being released over the top of the index finger in a twelve-to six clockwise, downward rotation. By the top of the index finger, we are referring to the top edge of the finger, not the tip.

   The method used to throw the nickle curve: The successful curveball pitcher must be able to make the curve break down, at different speeds, and with different amounts of break. These techniques can be learned.

3. Change

   Have your pitcher grip the ball, imagining that the tips of his middle and index fingers are cut off. The tips of the fingers are held off the ball, and the ball is held by the second joints. As the young pitcher masters this technique, he can lay the tips on the ball so as not to give the pitch away, but he must exert no pressure with the tips of his fingers. The ball is choked back in the hand more than it would be in throwing the fastball.

   The hand, wrist, and arm action: The ball is released with the hand behind the ball rather than on top, as in throwing the fastball. The wrist is dead and the pitcher should simulate pulling down a window shade as he pitches.

   Most pitchers will have to limit their body action to some extent in throwing the change-of-pace. In the early stage of teaching, have the pitcher throw his change while holding his back foot on the rubber. As he develops the pitch, he can release the ball and let his foot come forward so as not to tip the pitch. It amounts to a slight hesitation of the body action, thus keeping the pitcher from getting full body impetus into the pitch. A low release point must be stressed. With the hand behind the ball, the pitcher will find that he has to exaggerate the low release point to keep the ball low.

CAUSES FOR LACK OF CONTROL

1. Follow-Through

   A pitcher should learn to "bend his back" on every pitch—that is, to follow through and bend well over, with the pitching hand almost touching the ground if he is an overhand pitcher, and well around his body if he is a sidearm pitcher. This should improve speed, take strain off the arm and help his control. When a pitcher is throwing all high balls, it is usually traceable to a faulty follow-through.

2. A Wrong Step
   1. Over-striding is another cause for lack of control, because in over-striding, it is impossible to bend your back. You also land on the heel of your foot—when the proper way is to land on the ball of your foot.
   2. Stepping across your body with your forward foot is another reason for lack of control. By taking a stride of the proper length, and at the same time stepping in a straight line toward home plate, you cannot help but develop the right step and good follow-through.
3. Not Keeping Your Eyes on the Target

   Make sure your eyes are on the target before you start any movement forward. Not to do so is a serious mistake, which is made even by experienced pitchers. If your eyes do not locate the catcher's target in time, it is like pitching to a moving target. It is essential to keep your eyes on the target during the entire wind-up. Your head should always be steady even during the wind-up. With a man on third base, the pitcher should look at the runner during the first part of the wind-up—making sure that the runner is not starting for the plate—and then concentrate on the spot where he is to throw the ball, ignoring the runner if he has not made his break for home.

4. The Pitcher Not Being in Condition

   When a pitcher tires, his control suffers. This usually happens toward the end of the game. It is a sign that a replacement is in order.

INSTRUCTIONAL KEYS

1. Pivot
2. Balance point
3. Bent front leg

PRE-GAME WARM-UP

The pre-game warm-up depends upon a number of factors—the most important being the weather. On a cool day, it is advisable to warm up slowly for fifteen minutes, throwing nothing but straight, medium fastballs for the greater part of the period. Once the arm is loose and warm, cut loose with a few hard fastballs and then start throwing slow curveballs, gradually increasing the speed of the curve and then mix up fastballs with your fast curve. However, when the weather is hot, ten minutes should be sufficient. Conserve your strength for the ball game. It is also important to practice holding men on base in your pre-game warm-ups. Try to pace your warm-up so you will have a few minutes of rest before going to the pitching mound.

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