Breakdown: How to Throw a Softball Correctly
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2024
- If you're ready to learn how to throw a softball correctly for more velo, this video explains EVERY step you need to know. Softball throwing mechanics expert, Coach Dan, breaks down the steps. ✅ Free Softball Throwing Ebook + Webinar 👉 www.snapsoftball.com/fastpitc...
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📽Shoulder Tilt Video Mentioned - • Role of Arm Angle & Ti...
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0:00 Introduction
0:56 - Gripping the Softball
1:55 - Funneling
2:45 - Footwork
3:57 - Hand break
4:40 - Shoulder Blades Pinch
5:19 - Elbow Angle
6:13 - Arm Action
6:56 - Glove Arm
8:08 - Shoulder Tilt
10:30 - Front Side Action
13:22 - Finish
14:15 - Follow Through
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Great and informative video, I just started throwing the ball around with my 7 year old, do you have any video progression drills of what is in this video ? I coach Basketball when it comes to my players I realize progressions work for best for new beginners.
My 14yr old granddaughter has an incredibly strong arm. Unfortunately, she has not great mechanics mostly due to coaches teaching her to get her elbow up and doing some sort of flicking the wrist drills. She often seems to push the ball. I have to work hard to work with her but she's dismissive of me because she trusts her coaches. She's only played one full year, advanced to a travel team, then missed her second year due to Covid, but man, I can only hope to see what it will be like when she finally pulls it all together. Thankfully, even though no games this year, the team has been working out but, I don't think she's getting the full effect of her ability. I will make her sit down and watch this video. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like she just has a few issues to sort out.
1st You need to stop blaming. If you knew all this before hand, get in back yard and play catch.
2nd You need to work with your coaches, not against them.
Please do not be a dad on my team. Amazing the lack of respect. Step up and coach.
@@Theo-dj7vs WHAT are you talking about???
@@nj-1008 he doesn’t even know
My 8 year old has her very first softball practice of her life tonight. I plan on making her memorize this video. Will report back in a few weeks. Awesome video.
how’s she doing?
Fricking love this video and the breakdown! I play shortstop and the bit about being more aggressive and putting anger into the throw is definitely true. Never really thought of it like that, but whenever I throw to first of home, there's a lot of anger and determination to beat the runner. Also love how you were able to break down the entire 1-3 second process of throwing into its simplest terms, step-by-step.
Great video!
Thanks for this video. The shoulder tilt, arm angle, 1-7 backspin portion was really helpful for my daughters' throwing motions. And mine, for that matter.
This is a great video, you definitely covered all the steps and the fundamentals. As an added bonus maybe you can include some video of some softball players who have the mechanics that some other throwers should emulate, and run them at full speed and then some of them in slow motion so that the players can see what it looks like in real time
I needed this. I have an 8 year old daughter who is loving playing. She can hit, she can field, she loves playing catcher, but she just can’t throw the damn ball. She either pushes it and it doesn’t go far, or she throws it hard and releases late and it hits the ground and rolls to her teammates.
Her twin brother is excelling in baseball and can pitch pretty hard for 8u. It’s tough trying to practice with both of them because one is fundamentally way further along than the other. Hoping this helps.
I'm in the UK and never had a chance to play baseball or softball before. This video is fantastic at explaining the mechanics really helping this newbie thank you!
Pinching the shoulder blades good tip!
THANK YOU! a lot of us don’t get this break down !
Man, great stuff. Thank you! My assistant is breaking our girls . I totally agree with all your concepts. She asked me why group center body . I told her watch your daughter and she did exactly what you thought with out being told it was so natural. Thanks again 👍🏻
Glad it was helpful!
I’m a 70+ yo senior softball player. Thanks for finally showing me how to throw a softball hard
Thank you so much! My 10 year old daughter will need this!
Glad it was helpful!
Nailed how I learn about things. Thank you for the break down and body mechanics! Well done.
Thanks for the information. My daughter is just starting out in softball and really enjoyed the video.
I have been following these forms unconsciously. Really good. Thank you
Thanks so much for this video. Started senior softball at 62 and pretty fit/strong and can still sprint pretty fast, and catch, but my throwing and batting sucks. Last time I played was 1973 (haha) and all the mistakes you are showing I was indeed making. As catcher, I had to strain myself to return the ball to the pitcher's chest area. Doing it all with my arm only. Kind of like trying a half-court basketball shot w/o using my legs (tried that too). Again, A++ as I am trying to build skills for this fall.
Oh man, this video makes me miss DC, I used to go walking by that field!
Throwing direction was great! However, actually throwing the ball at the end of the tutorial would help. 9:30 am
I love this! I play softball and this is very helpful and I will be practicing this. Thank you!
Great video Coach, much appreciated.
Thank you for this video 📹 I'm coaching softball for the 1st time and struggling. Playing as a kid is much different than coaching as an adult. I've subscribed!! Thanks again!
thanks for the great information, been coaching the game for years and also a former player. as an adult and coach, it's great to find information like you have explained to give people like me a different view on the important things that are taught, even though we might already know these steps, to hear them in a different way definitely helps remind and gives us a better view on better coaching kids Excited to continue watching your videos..
Needed this so much thank you😁
I think a lot of your breakdowns are what I have had trouble articulating to my kids and players. Great job!
Glad to help!
Thanks for the info! Newbie here lol
This is a great breakdown and we will share with our players for some winter watching!
Thanks so much!
Thank you!!! Much needed steps to work with my kid at home.
Glad I could help!
Thank you! Much needed! The basics!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you it helped a lot
wow ive never done the "superhero" motion and i've played for 5 years lol
Very accurate good job coach
Awesome video I watched a lot I’m a slow pitch 60 yrs old senior league infielder and is helping me me with my throwing Mechanics thanks because I’m getting back to my baseball days skills with your video love it be bless
This is super interesting!! Do you have any stories you would be willing to share? (I’m a 14y/o just starting out in softball, so hearing of any stories would seem quite surreal to me lol)
60 years old and you just helped fix my throwing mechanics. Now.... if I can remember more than 10 minutes. I took notes. Thanks Dan.
Thank you
I’m joining a DC softball league this week. Never thrown a ball or picked up a bat. Really appreciate this. Happy I found your channel
I played in a coed league this summer. was okay. If you see me say hello. This video is geared at slow pitch players a bit more, but the video you watched here is solid. th-cam.com/video/gn5JGYeAd8U/w-d-xo.html
Super helpful video! Thank you brother
Glad it was helpful!
Amazing tutorial!!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
You bet!
Great Video. Thank You.
You're welcome!
Thank you for this video!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Good information
Nice Coach . Great tips
Appreciate it!
As a high school coach and former college player this video is for sure such a great reference for younger and older players. This is a great way to show how important your footwork and throwing mechanics are while in action. A lot of the time breaking down mechanics does not show the funneling process in how to throw while you are in motion Great video!
thanks!
wow, great video, thanks!
You are welcome!
That was an awesome tutorial! I played varsity softball for one short year in high school, it was so much fun. My baby girl, 12 who is much interested now in softball cuz I pushed her…. Needs all the help she can get. Exactly how you throw, is how I’m teaching her, but I can’t explain it like you do! I can’t wait to show her this! She has the power! She just need to get the technique down, and your video will smooth out the field. (Diamond wink). Whatever that means haha. Thank you for this!
thanks for watching! no problem!
Ok so this is one of THE BEST throwing videos I've seen. No, correction ... it is THE best. Some of these things in the video I figured out myself mainly because I threw my arm out throwing 3rd to 1st base. I had not played softball for 25 years and then joined a very competitive 55 and over league. It was tough at first because your arm is not used to throwing a softball and you can easily hurt your arm/elbow which is what happened to me. One of the things that helped me most in creating good arm motion was throwing from my knees. At first it happened by accident. I made a sliding catch in outfield and had to get the ball in quickly from my knees. I was like 'holy s**t that's the arm motion I need all the time'. Now couple that with Dan's excellent video above putting the mechanics together and it changed everything for me. I went from having a relatively weak throw to one of the strongest throws on the team. I now play both infield and outfield equally well. It really did change everything for me. Thanks Dan!!
thats great - congrats on your hard work!
Just started coaching U10 girls softball. One huge consistency between the new players is throwing wildly. Your instructions are precise and easy for me to follow and teach to my players. Thank you.
youre welcome!
Thanks for the video. I have a very timid and shy 11 year old and I only played as a kid in rec and have a hard time getting her not to push the ball so it was really helpful for her to see it.
Happy to help!
Hola, excelente video. Me gustaria saber: ¿Como queda el pie derecho al lanzar, Pegado al suelo o se despega para lograr mas velocidad?
I've got a beginner and this is very helpful
Glad it was helpful!
I am a softball player and had a huge problem with side arming my balls when you brought in the crack the egg moment that completely fixed my throw thanks for the video and help
Great to hear!
Starting up slow pitch softball again at age 70 after a 25 year absence, your preparation and mechanics videos will help a lot getting back into it. The last thing I want to do is to go out like it was yesterday and start humming the ball, I know I do not have the arm strength or conditioning from 25 years ago so to avoid injury I have to be sensible about this. I also regularly play disc golf so I am interested to see how the 2 sports will interact with throwing the discs and softballs.
Subscribed!
This is really great and I learned so much! I just wish there were a few minutes to demonstrate all the tips together in one slow-mo action where you combine all the steps and show us how they'd all flow together. Otherwise, great tips!
this other video has some complete throws, though not slow mo: th-cam.com/video/nZpzEo3r9aM/w-d-xo.html
What does the arm look like for outfielders throwing the ball, since they are throwing farther?
Thanks so much for this tutorial! At the moment i am really new to softball and trying out for a team this year, and this tutorial basically carried me through the first few practices! I could tell my throwing wasn’t very good, the softball kept spinning in the wrong ways or hit the ground to soon because i threw it to low, but this helped me understand that i dont move my arm up but do the shoulder pinch method, and this has improved my throwing by 100x! Just one question though, do you have any tips on stepping into your throw? I cant seem to get it right, either i dont move my legs or i just awkwardly run into my throw. Thanks and kudos!
this would help: th-cam.com/video/nZpzEo3r9aM/w-d-xo.html
Nice video and advices. I re-stared play amateur softball and I am struggling with my throw (very slow) and some shoulder pain. Maybe it is my mechanics that sucks. I will work on it. Thank
Try doing some light overhead shoulder exercises and stretches
Great video. I like your approach. Very focused. Even the geese and the president's helicopter only got you off track for a few seconds. I'll work on those tips and let you know the results.
Wow great video!! I like how u said that don’t actually throw 12 and 6. When I got back into playing a girl told us that it should be spinning like that and I had a rlly hard time adjusting and still do. But im glad ur reassuring that it’s a common misconception
yeah the 12-6 stuff is complete nonsense
Perfect tutorial for my son who is starting baseball late. Can you mention when to release the ball like should they be releasing it at the back their shoulder or in front of them
they shouldnt think about that. also, I have a baseball-specific channel
Awesome video!! What is the best way to correct a player that throws like she is throwing a shot put? Any good drills? Thanks!
Yes my daughter is “putting” the ball too - thanks, former player myself.
Great video bro, I've been struggling with trying to my daughter throw stronger and not side/under/twist, drives me crazy lol
Lots of luv teacher😊❤️....................a
I'm new to softball and this video is great. Do you have any tips on practicing on the releasing of the ball? I'm struggling with that as well
theres nothing to practice with regard to release - its too fast a movement to think about or control. just go throw. your body will figure it out.
Question on the part from after the elbow angle/arm action....and maybe regarding the "not letting your hand dictate". Does this vary if you're talking about an OF vs IF ? Made me refer to Mike Candrea's teaching of "thumb to thigh vs thumb to chest"....Also, my daughter is in bad habit of getting the "arm action" to that 90 too soon, how do you suggest breaking that?
Was talking about infield mostly. And none of those are really quick answer questions, unfortunately. I’d suggest my online course if you’re trying to make a plan to break old habits.
I was very happy to find your videos. I’ve returned to senior softball (I’m a 75 year old third baseman) after some time away. I’ve built my throwing strength and arm speed back up, but my release point is very unpredictable. Needless to say, my first baseman is unhappy. Any drills that you can suggest, or should I just throw a hundred balls through a target at the appropriate distance?
I have a throwing course with drills - it's found at slowpitchskills.com
Have you ever worked with someone post-reverse shoulder replacement? I’m a recreational softball senior looking to get back to pre-surgery throwing.
no; I don't take on clients with injuries, sorry (nor am I taking clients at all)
Great video! Do you have anything similar for hitting?
Only mindset and strategy for hitting. Doing some videos in the future more aimed at slow pitch but my expertise is not in hitting, so I stay in my lane as best I can.
Do you have videos or suggestions for 4-6 drills or broken down steps for teaching this to 8-9 year olds?
I have a full online throwing course that breaks it up in every step. you'll find it at snapsoftball.com
Quick question! How do you throw for maximum velocity and accuracy if you can only throw side arm? My arm only can throw from the side. Great video and thanks for any information you might have!
I have a bunch of videos on sidearm - search my channel
@@SnapSoftball Thanks brother!
What are the pros and cons of utilizing a side-arm throw? I used to throw side arm primarily and atgletic trainers had told me this was the reason I developed tennis elbow.
Thanks!
i have a million videos of sidearm stuff - search my channel
Alot of the D1 collage clinics I have attentnded talk about the glove side finish being pinkies to pits but you have a completely different take on this. Do you have a video about this for some clarity?
yes, search my channel, and I'd suggest watching breakdowns of MLB pitchers and infielders - they are the best throwers in the world, and what a lot of softball coaches (even for D1 players and D1 coaches) teach is based in nonsense that was taught 15-25 years ago, when they were kids themselves. The baseball world has outed a lot of coaches, because there is nowhere to hide from slow-motion video. Throwing siderarm, the glove arm can come to the arm pit and is often in front of the pec. But when throwing overhand - such as from the outfield or a deep throw from the hole, the glove arm can tuck, but will usually fall to the side. Search my channel for more on glove side mechanics.
Can you show what the back leg does as you are throwing or position after you let go? I have a young one that I can’t seem to time up her back leg. She either pulls it through as she is throwing (too early) or leaves it behind her the whole throw. Can you show on video where the back leg should end up?
Thanks love the channel
Hey Coach, I've been playing softball myself for 30 plus years but I'm new to coaching this season and have begun coaching U13 girls. Most of the girls are developing good mechanics from your videos, and from other player videos. One question i keep asking is how I eliminate the "spaghetti wrist" that is commonly referred to as the stereotypical "throwing like a girl". Im struggling with understanding and timing of the right small movements/alignments that help eliminate this issue. Its entirely likely that I'm missing something myself, and not able to communicate and teach the motions properly. Any guidance you have would be appreciated. Please keep up the great work and videos. They are a fantastic training and study aid. Best, Mike
its highly individual. There's no one simple fix, unfortunately and its a long term fix more than anything.
Thank you! We are in Maryland, so not far from you. My daughter is 14 and a very active catcher. Lately her elbow has been hurting her. I have a feeling it's her mechanics. I'm excited to show her this. Where do you do you training at?
I don't do lessons in person, sorry!
Great video. Length means nothing to me when trying to instruct properly. All is good.
Man my daughter has that non agressive finish on her throw. And she has this weird dragging or kicking her back leg around slowly after release on her follow through. I think that takes away from her throw as well.
Do you have a way I could share a video with you|
Sorry I dont look at videos - I get too many requests.
Dan, Does that straight arm when throwing include infield throws? As a senior softballer, time is of the essence at times. What say you ? Great videos...
arm should never be bent at release of the ball
What would you consider the ideal backspin? My step daughter throws hard and usually accurate but seems to twist the ball on release to a 9-3 spin.
it should match the arm angle
Do you have tips on timing of the release? My throws tend to go straight down or fly off my fingertips into the sky. Seems like it should be natural but I have a mental block about it now!
It’s not something you can think about. Just practice more. You may have the “yips” but that’s purely mental.
Curious. I’ve followed you channel for quite a while. I have a kid that’s a sophomore in high school with shoulder pain. We’ve remedied that by getting scap retraction. I’m a bit puzzled as to how much effort is put into that retraction to hold it. He’s slowly building his mechanics and with this scap retraction he also started to understand how the arm stays at the 90 degree angle while moving into external rotation. That seemed to be the major issue. He was throwing great without any pain by using less muscling, if that makes any sense. It was a super smooth delivery where the ball shot out of his hand at a 3/4th arm slot. Now it’s more “over the top.” He said when he was in the zone he never felt his arm. Is the scap load that noticeable when you do it or if the body is functioning efficiently will the scap load happen on its own?
He said he could feel the stretch in his chest as well when it was humming. I hope I make sense.
scap retraction should not be a conscious thing after its initially learned
I have my daughter to pretty consistent with her feet and keeping her momentum going, I feel like I'm pretty knowledgeable in baseball with my years of experience, but can't figure this one out, for some reason she does everything correctly except when she releases the ball, she flips her hand sideways, even when we are just warming up I see sideways spin, like it's spinning like a tornado would, lol, I assumed she's just not strong enough to let the ball roll off her fingers properly, any ideas or pointers would be great? Thanks in advance.
I am going to do all of this with my daughter we are from Delaware. What we we do with all of this if we don’t have a field and we are at home to help create good habits with throwing. Would resistance help with velocity
resistance?
@@SnapSoftball like with band to create strength
Silly novice question re: footwork. The ankle and body position would be opposite if you throw left-handed, correct?
correct
When I throw a softball, it has a high curve instead of a fast line drive. What can I do to throw straight at the target?
Im pretty sure I'm throwing the ball correctly. I even watched your video for calcification but I just had my first practice of the season and after that practice anytime I throw a ball it really hurts my shoulder what is it specifically that um doing wrong?
I have no idea. There are lots of factors beyond just mechanics. If it was only about mechanics, MLB players would never get injured. Go see a doctor.
I have a question how far away should my arm be away from my head
Thank you for these great videos. I ended up get talked into coaching U-10 this year for my girls team. I'm terrible at explaining things and this video and others are great for me of how to break down the mechanics to explain it in an easy to understand way vs do it like this. I even got to prove to the wife that a coach was showing some other kid a wrong way to throw by this video, she had told me he coaches select when I had told her he was teaching it wrong and no one threw like that, so I was wrong because he had coached select. So after I proved I was right, I told her the cannon shirt looked pretty awesome, and she said it was a coaches whistle! So I'm ordering some cannon shirts! Thanks you very much, hopefully were moving on to the courses before to long.
aw thanks Joe! I appreciate the support, and glad the video helped you. I'm just sharing what I learned as a baseball player (throwing into the mid-90s myself) that I applied to baseball and softball players the same. Girls can throw just as well as the boys can, and the mechanics are no different. Trying to help empower our female athletes out there by sharing some of what we know in the baseball world.
So funny - I'm here because I was roped into coaching too.
Dan - I'm in the Arlington if you want to come take over for me!
I am not a softball coach but, does this go for right hand people? Because I am a left hand person.
?
I’m a little confused by the arm slot when releasing the ball. Your hand at release when throwing overhand appears to be out and away from your ear. It looks like you are releasing the ball at about 115 degrees. I thought as an infielder you would be releasing the ball slightly less than 90 degrees?
sorry I dont understand what you mean.
Do you squeeze the softball really tight before you make the throw??
absolutely not. the opposite of that
Solid video. I also like to say.....elbow the enemy.
Why do right first baseman,place there right leg on base,to catch with left hand, instead of placing left leg on first base and catching with left hand?
its much more awkward to reach for the ball that way.
And you can get more extension. If the player can do the splits you have better chance at reaching a short throw and getting runner out of you have right foot on the bag.
Do you do in person coaching lessons at all?
rarely.
Do you have a service (Paying customers) where people can send you their videos and you tell them what they are doing wrong and how to correct them? Happy New Year (12/31/22)
Sorry but I don’t - my online courses are self guided though and will help you make a customized plan.
I enjoyed your previous video on hip and shoulder separation. I bought your point about it’s super-importance However, you did not appear to incorporate or emphasised that in this video. Am I missing something? Thanks for great video production.
This video is thorough but would be 45 minutes long if I included every single thing. That just didn’t make it in. The other thing to remember is that hip-shoulder separation isn’t a position you try to get into; it happens as a result of other actions, and thus it isn’t really a “step” in making a throw, it’s a result that happens along the way.
I appreciate the reply and I was guessing that was the reason but I just needed to hear it from you. Anyways my daughter learned your mechanics over the past several days on her own with some help from me. Today she had a team training and I told her beforehand to test-drive your mechanics on the diamond. Her feedback was that she felt she had greater range and feels less tired throwing. But she had not improved on her accuracy which has always been her weakness since little girl.
@@AJ-ss3jy accuracy will come - its like adding more gunpowder to a bullet - you wont know how to aim it with the extra power for a little while - as she gets used to it, accuracy will increase. Everything new takes time to become normal. Very common.
Would there every be a way to pay for lessons from you willing to drive to the DC area for my daughter?
You can email me through my website. I only work with a small number of kids who are very committed and willing to put In significant practice at home.
@@SnapSoftball we work every day rain or shine I will email you but she is young 7 but I don’t want bad habits to form and I am working on being a patient parent/coach
7 is too young; sorry. This is the time for you to develop coaching skills yourself and work with her in the backyard. I highly suggest my She's Got a Cannon beginner course for you to do that - and it costs less than two hour lessons. But 7 is too young for lessons with me. 10-12 is the right time for lessons.
Can you explain when the step happens where are the hands I think I open up too quickly. Thank you. I am 66yrs old snd play womens Slowpitch tournaments
I think this video answers your question: th-cam.com/video/MgCHEqATWJU/w-d-xo.html
Do you offer a clinic? I am 73 years old & had fusion back surgery on the lower back. My throwing is pathetic. Need help. Live in Fairfax county
I dont work one-on-one with people, but visit slowpitchskills.com - there you can find my self-guided online throwing course for slow pitch players
I've never heard of 12-6 backspin. What is that?
What age do you suggest teaching these mechanics?
...all ages