ok, so I am the pitcher in a local co-ed softball team. Our team is through our company, and to put it nicely, WE SUCK. I am the pitcher, and I am interested in how to find out how to put different spins on the ball.

I have googled, but havent found much.

Anyone have any good techniques for how to change spins and styles in underhand pitching?

4/19/2007 2:22:01 PM

I have noticed as a hitter in slow pitch softball that I have a hard time putting serious distance on pitches that are pitched with backspin on them ala throwing them with an overhand grip but pitching underhanded. It is possibly just seeing it rotating differently that throws my mind out of whack, but that seems to cause some issues with hitters in the league I play in.

4/19/2007 2:26:44 PM

dont be "that guy"

4/19/2007 2:26:53 PM

what guy?

the one that pitches?

4/19/2007 2:28:44 PM

the straighter(less arc) it has the more chance it has of being a line drive or ground ball...which as long as they have power hitters is your best option for outs if your outfielders suck.

backspin is best, it creates more pop ups because of the spin they tend to top it more, side spin works well too, right as you release turn your hand over like you are turning a window blind stick thingy.

practice on it but the lower the pitch the less likely they have to hit it far as well, down low keeps it a ground ball most of the time. And dont be afraid to walk a power hitter.

4/19/2007 2:36:23 PM

^ I dont know about all that. In fact, I whole heartedly disagree.

The more arc you have on the ball, the harder it is to hit far/produce powerful contact. This would be because of the lack of velocity on a lobbed ball. The straighter a ball is, the more velocity it has. More velocity means that batters dont have to swing as hard to create power, they can just use the power that the pitch was using.

Thats why its harder to hit a homerun in real baseball off of a change up or an epheus pitch (like anyone throws those anymore, )

I need to try the backspin, but the line drive pitches may not work in my favor.

[Edited on April 19, 2007 at 2:47 PM. Reason : asdf]

4/19/2007 2:46:46 PM

^ agreed, line drives almost always = base hits. pop ups are your friend.

I pitch for my team, and I place the ball at the highest point of the strike zone possible. This requires batters to swing upward and a higher likelihood of popping it up. I used to play around with different spins, but I really didn't see much of a difference. When I force batters to swing upwards by pitching high i've had the best results.

[Edited on April 19, 2007 at 2:50 PM. Reason : adsf]

4/19/2007 2:49:12 PM

as for the line drive as i stated a little later should have said it at the same time

i meant down in the strike zone...they tend to hit little bloopers for ground balls and arent as likely to power it up in the sky as a high pitch

4/19/2007 2:51:37 PM

pitching in softball.......and baseball for that matter is all about location and control.......if u can locate ur pitches whether it be high, low, inside or out........esp. against better hitters u will be more effective

i would practice puttin the ball where i want it before attempting different spins and pitches.......because if u put it right in the middle of the plate most good hitters will not miss it no matter what the spin

4/19/2007 3:12:21 PM

100% ephus pitches ftw

4/19/2007 3:16:18 PM

practice duckin

4/19/2007 11:05:28 PM

throw with backspin and you'll get rocked. most powerful softball hitters key in on the bottom quarter of the softball with a level swing. the intention of that is to create backspin because the ball carries a greater distance. if you throw with backspin to a decent hitter, it's got a high probability of going VERY far.

it's really all about the batter. if you see someone crowding the plate, they like inside pitches. even if you try to jam them, they'll pull out of the box and still hit it hard. pitch them outside corner and low because it's harder for them to get momentum.

an experienced batter will be a good distance from home plate because they know it's all about arm extension. try not to give them anything high because they're looking to drive it.

the best pitchers i've ever faced are 50+ and have GREAT control. there was a guy in a league a few years ago that had a crazy curveball and thought it made him a great pitcher. the first few inexperienced people were baffled, but after an inning, he was rocked. vary your pitches and try to rush the batter. catch the ball and throw it as soon as you can. if you're facing a powerful hitter, throw a strike on the first pitch to get ahead. many power hitters don't swing at the first pitch because they're still digging in and they want to see what you're throwing. with inexperienced batters, rush them and throw strikes.

calling time and stepping out of the box is a skill not many softball players have. great pitchers will have you in their rhythm...if you are pitching go for that.

if this doesn't make sense, just pm me...

fyi, i hit most of my home runs on mid to high pitches, but hit the ball the hardest low. most big time batters that i've played with or against kill anything and everything high (nate holcomb for example, all-tourney in most NSA nationals). other guys just murder the ball using the lower quarter of the softball technique (brian foster for example, former milwaukee brewer). those are the two best young guys that i've seen and they are both practically impossible to pitch to unless you get them mad and then jam them.

WHATEVER YOU DO...if you see a cocky power hitter, DO NOT PITCH HIM OUTSIDE...it's unfortunate, but i know guys that think it's funny to nail pitchers with line drives.

[Edited on April 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM. Reason : .]

4/19/2007 11:16:18 PM

Don't strike out... if you do you'll have to buy a case of beer.

4/20/2007 2:10:30 AM

I play in a lot of slow pitch leagues and hate guys who constantly pitch inside. It makes it very hard to go the other way with the pitch and I usually end up hitting shit to the SS or LF.

4/20/2007 11:30:14 AM

For me if you hold the ball along 2 seams, like throwing a splitter, and then spread your fingers the ball will curve (away from the batter). and If you put both fingers inside the seams touching each other it will screw (curve back towards the batter). Although for me it only curves 3 out of 5 pitches if I'm lucky.
If it's winder a knuckle ball works real well b/c it has no rotation and the wind will affect it more.

[Edited on April 20, 2007 at 12:05 PM. Reason : 3/5=3 out of 5]

4/20/2007 12:05:18 PM

curve and knuckle balls in slow pitch soft ball





















lol




just toss the damn ball

4/20/2007 1:14:30 PM

ive found as a hitter that spin doesnt really matter. it does gets in some batter's heads. the closer you can get to pitching at the maximum height the better off you are. when a pitcher throws me a "flat" ball i make them pay.

4/20/2007 1:19:17 PM

try and jam the men, try and pitch outside to the women. no speed necessary. The girls wont be able to drive the ball with any power to the opposite field, and guys who try very hard to pull the ball typically pull off, open their front side, and reduce the power they could otherwise achieve.

4/20/2007 1:38:46 PM

THIS THREAD IS HILARIOUS

4/20/2007 1:41:53 PM

I've played competitive softball for the past 6 years, and I've seen a lot of different types of pitchers from all Raleigh in my league, and all over the state in weekend tournaments. Here are a few tips.

- Throw with as much arc as the umpire will allow you to throw. If your league is ASA, which it probably is, you can throw the ball pretty high before they'll call you on it. USSSA is more strict, but I doubt you're in that. It's completely umpire's discretion though, so keep throwing it higher and higher until he calls it illegal. Higher arcing pitches are always harder to hit.

- This isn't baseball, and there's no balk call. What I mean by that is that you can pretty much do anything you want. I've seen guys start and stop their motion several times before actually throwing the pitch, basically faking 3 or 4 pitches (annoying as hell, and honestly, if you're in a co-ed rec league, you probably don't want to be "that guy").

- Another thing that a lot of competitive pitchers like to do is go in multiple directions. Again, there is no balk call so you don't have to step towards home plate to pitch it. Try lining up on the 3rd base side of the rubber, step with your right foot directly towards third base and throw back across your body.

- It's extremely difficult to do, but if you can learn to throw a knuckleball, it can work with a softball too, especially if it's a windy day.

4/20/2007 1:51:11 PM

i bet you fags call the umps 'blue'

4/20/2007 1:54:23 PM

I bet the only physical activity you get is typing words on your keyboard!

4/20/2007 2:05:54 PM

yea Ernie, ITS TOTALLY GAY TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON AN ATHLETIC FIELD!

4/20/2007 2:22:35 PM

^^^ They usually wear Red...

4/20/2007 2:34:39 PM

^^^^^ good point ...........anyone who has ever played in weekend tournaments sees all different kinds of ways to throw the batter off balance........you want to get the batter in your rhythm and out of theirs......i have even had pitchers throw behind thier backs and under the legs to me ........i would never attempt it, but it does throw the batter off

4/20/2007 2:55:54 PM

if only coach hadn't benched me in the state playoffs.....

4/20/2007 3:25:30 PM

Quote :

"yea Ernie, ITS TOTALLY GAY TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON AN ATHLETIC FIELD!"

that's not what i'm saying at all

^ that's pretty much it, though

4/20/2007 8:08:31 PM

just shift towards left and pitch inside, high arc but hopefully low in the zone by the time its to the plate.

someone plz teach the underhand curve/knuckle here

4/20/2007 8:50:29 PM