"EFFECTIVE PITCHING MECHANICS"

 C   Good Pitchers:  Keep their hips closed when striding... "THE STRIDE – Foot – land slightly closed (1 o’clock position) in a direct line with the target."

CC   Good Pitchers:  Use their front foot to produce power in their pitch... "FIRM FRONT SIDE – Creates a resistance for the pitcher to produce power... Front Leg – stiffens as the hips rotate... Body – finishes tall.”

 CCC  Good Pitchers:  The sideways rotation produces   power to the pitch... "The Sideways Rotation... Belly Button – faces third base for right handed pitchers and first base for left hand pitcher as the stride foot lands... Hips – rotate square to the target as the pitching arm comes down..."

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Effective Pitching Mechanics

 "EFFECTIVE HITTING MECHANICS"

C   Good Hitters:  Use their bodies to hit with power and drive the ball... "THE HIPS AND THE WAIST - Weight Shift - The hitter shows the pitcher their back pocket as the hitter sees the pitcher's back pocket..."

CC   Good Hitters: Keep their weight back... "THE FEET - Stride - The front foot lands on the inside ball of the foot as if 'testing thin ice'..."

CCC  Good Hitters:  Grip the bat to promote a fluid, powerful swing... "THE PROPER GRIP - The bat rests across the middle of the fingers."

  

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Effective Hitting Mechanics

 "EFFECTIVE FIELDING MECHANICS"

 C  Good Fielders:  Are in motion as the ball crosses the plate... "READY POSITION - Feet - The fielder takes two small steps forward as the ball crosses the plate."

CC   Good Fielders:: Use their route to the ball as a transition to begin the throwing action... "THE PLANT - Feet - the fielder uses the body's forward motion from the 'banana route' to carry the plant foot (the throwing side foot) into the glove.  The player positions the plant foot directly below where the glove hand just fielded the ball."

 CCC   Good Fielders: Are in a throwing position on all fly balls.. "FLY BALLS - Fly Balls - all players - Hands - catch the ball with two hands at the throwing shoulder..."
  

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Effective Fielding Mechanics   

More Excerpts from “Essential Softball Mechanics”

 "EFFECTIVE CATCHER MECHANICS"

C   Good Catchers:  Use their bodies to block bad pitches... "BODY POSITION ON BAD PITCHES - Low Pitches Away from the Body - step to the side of the ball, drop the opposite knee to the ground, hands to the space between the knees and the foot. Keep the body as square to the ball as possible."

CC  Good Catchers: Rarely misplay foul balls... "FOUL BALLS - Body - the catcher's back faces the playing field."

CCC   Good Catchers:  Use foot work to throw runners out... "THROWING RUNNERS OUT - Feet - Depending upon the catcher's arm, the foot work will vary... In general, the catcher will pivot on the right foot, keep the shoulders closed and take a stride with the left foot."   

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Effective Catcher Mechanics   

 "EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES"

C   Good Offensive Players:  Concentrate on placing their hits to move runners up... "MOVING RUNNERS UP THROUGH PLANNED HITTING - MAN ON SECOND, NO OUTS OR ONE OUT. Location of Hit - hit the ball to the right hand side of the infield to move the runner to third."

CC   Good Offensive Players:  Manufacture situations that create defensive errors... "FORCING THE DEFENSIVE MISTAKES WITH AGGRESSIVE RUNNING - MAKING TURNS. Mind set - the runner's actions must make the other team think the runner is attempting to go for the next base.

 CCC  Good Offensive Players: Instinctively steal a base in special situations... "STEALING BASES - ALWAYS STEAL - When (1) an inexperienced pitcher throws from a windup with men on base, (2) with 2 outs, a 3 and 2 count and runner(s) on first, first and second or the bases are loaded."

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Effective Offensive Strategies

"EFFECTIVE TEAM DEFENSES"

C Good Defensive Players: Have a purpose on each play... "GETTING STARTED - A defensive player has five options when the ball is hit:  (1) field the ball, (2) move to a cutoff position, (3) cover the base, (4) backup a player or (5) backup a base."

 CC  Good Defensive Players:  Make an early call for fly balls... "INFIELD FLIES - A 'call' for the catch is made when the ball begins coming down from its highest point."

CCC  Good Defensive Players:  Make sure the player with the easiest catch makes the play... "INFIELD FLIES - The player with the highest priority makes the catch, the other players clear the area in order to avoid a missed catch or a collision." (The actual priorities appear in the "Effective Team Defense" brochure.)

 

see more defensive skills and drills at... Effective Team Defenses