Power Pros Forum

Ok, so if anyone here plays baseball, I could use a few pointers. I didn't make my high school baseball team this year, but I'm 'manager', whatever that means. That doesn't mean equipment manager, ball boy, bat boy, water boy, or anything like that. I go to practice, practice with the team, and do EVERYTHING else the team does... except play in the games. Anyway, I could use some help to ensure making the team next year.

- First, I am a natural lefty sidearm thrower. Does anyone have any good training techniques for forcing myself to throw overarm?

- I seem to have trouble fielding ground balls. Anything thrown hard and low at me, I don't know how to catch and let it go past me because my main instinct is to protect that lower part of my body.

It's tough to give pointers considering that I'm too young and Im not a lefty but I think that you should try some distinct move to make the ball hard to see coming out of your hand, and fielding is something that you should work on once your pitching gets better

Since you are a natural side arm, try to make the most of it.

1) Try to get a deceptive motion.
2) Work on your breaking balls and mechanics.
3) Don't ever try to overthrow. Focus on control.

To help you improve, this is what I suggest.
1) To improve on mechanics, the most important thing is to follow through after throwing. I think that is what high school coaches look for.
2) Try going to the gym to build up muscles.
3) Ensure you pratice pitching into the strike zone. You must have control and throw strikes.
4) Try one step at a time. Start slow, throw 70% and make your you can get most of your pitches in. After that, go throw at about 85% and so one till you can consistanly hit the strike zone.
5) Learn a couple of different fastballs. Rising fastballs, 2 seam fastball. Join a baseball league and get a coach to help you learn more pitches. Get a good chanceup. Dont try sliders or curveballs as it would damage your devoloping arm.

I hope this helps. I'm not a high school coach or scout or something, but I have read some books and they mostly say to focus on mechanics and control over a 75-80mph fastball.

Me_and_Lucy is 100% right about your motion. Don't change your sidearm release. If you try to throw overhand, you'll automatically lose a good deal of movement on all of your pitches. A side arm fastball is much more difficult for a hitter to pick up and center than an overhand fastball. You may not get the top speed an over the top guy will get but lefties aren't expected to be fireballers. Movement and control will get you outs and of course, noticed.

Work on a pitching motion that will you the best use of your lower body and will reduce the amount of strain on your arm. Sidearm is effective but it also produces more stress on your ligaments.

In The Gym
Your legs are the most important part of your delivery and increasing velocity. Take special care to make sure they're strong and flexible. Most players neglect their legs and end up throwing their arms out.
For your arm use light weights (5-10 lbs max) for arm raises. Also use elastic bands. These workouts will strengthen your tendons and boost your velocity. Bulking up only will get in the way and slow your release down.

Fielding:
Being defensive of yourself is only natural. The best way to overcome fear of being hit is by building confidence and having a follow through that ends with you in position to field.
If you've ever watched gold glover Greg Maddux pitch, his follow through would end up with him in perfect position to field any comebacker.

You may feel like you'll get more zip on your pitches if you fall off to one side like K-Rod but you'll notice guys like that rarely if ever make plays on combackers. Those guys are defenseless against any hard hit ball up the middle and are more at risk for injury.

Always work harder than the guy next to you. You have a lot more to prove than he does. Good luck and don't give up.

What pitches do you throw?

To focus of seeing the ball better if that is your problem get a couple balls colored on each side and have a number on it. Play Catch and when the ball is coming say the color then number. Then focus on hit balls. Eventually your reflexes will get better if you practice normally too.

I know this helps a lot in football with pretty much everyone.
I only tried the baseball one on me so I don't know how effective it is. but it worked for me.

Keep the Sidearm for sure.


Do well in the practices.

Build up more muscles (this is a big one)

Work on Control and make sure you don't overwork

Learn from your teammates! Ask them how they approach a grounder or how they work on controls.


Also, don't be afraid of getting hit, alot of ball players take them to the chest.
But build up confidence by starting up slow and work your way faster over a month.

Don't fear the ball. What pitches do you throw?

No, no, no people. I'm not a pitcher. I'm just saying that when I throw at all, I always throw sidearm.

Wear a cup

OIC. If you're playing 1B the sidearm is okay but it'll be difficult if you have to make a throw to 3rd. The only way to break a habit like that is through practice. You're going to have to consciously make an effort EVERYTIME you throw to do it overhand. This includes every throw you make during warm up. No goofing around. You aren't on the team yet you have to show dedication. Eventually it will become second nature as long as you ALWAYS throw overhand. Soon enough you'll be able to read the situation and figure out what kind of throw is best suited to make a quick and accurate throw.

If you find yourself in the outfield, the will NEVER EVER be a reason to throw sidearm. EVER. Watch video online to see the proper mechanics of throwing if you have to but you need to. You'll soon see stronger, straighter, and of course more accurate throws.

Play long toss 3 times a week (no less than 2). You can't play long toss throwing sidearm. You'll rip your arm out trying. Warm yourself up and a little and increase the distance. I wouldn't throw much longer than 200 feet unless you're a pitcher or an outfielder. You have to work up to it. Don't try throwing 250 feet your first time out. Throwing high arching throws isn't going to do you any good. Try to throw it on a line as best as you can to get results. This will help you learn to throw overhand and you will see your throws become more straight in no time.
If you don't have time to do this during practice, make time after.

FIELDING 1B:
You will take one in the junk. Everyone does, that's just how it goes. You're going to get a bad hop sooner or later but you can't be scared of it. The only way you'll ever be able conquer your fear is by practicing and doing your best to make sure they don't happen.

To prevent bad hops as best as you can, always smooth out the dirt around the bag and you in between pitches. It's not you can take but it can be effective. And on grounders, you have to move through the ball, don't wait for it. If you do, you're just giving it more chances to hit a rock or something and make it more difficult on you.

STAY DOWN. you have to stay down and squared. It's better to take one off the chest and keep it in front of you than to let it go through your legs. At least you'll still have the chance to make an out. Practice this by bouncing tennis balls or better yet a REACTION BALL off a wall somewhere that wont get you arrested. Field with your bare hands at first to work on "soft hands". Then move to using your glove to get a better feel for it. You can practice digs that way too.

DIGGING BAD THROWS:
If you take your focus off the ball, you WILL miss it. When you try to protect yourself, you're already taking yourself out of the play because you're not focused on the ball and you might as well be playing for the other team. You have to be assuming that you're going to get a bad throw so you can be ready for it.

Stay on your toes with your knees bent like you're about to jump because you may have to. If it's a low throw, you'll already be in a good position to dig it out. As the fielder releases the ball, you should already know where it's going to go. Only when you do, should you position yourself on the bag. If it's in the dirt right at you, square up like you would a ground ball so you can at least keep in in front of you. You'll have to work on back hand grabs with a friend or against a wall. It takes a lot of practice to make those digs.

Like I said before, the key is to STAY DOWN. The closer your eyes are to the ball, the easier it is to see. Your hands will be quick enough to protect your face as long as you're focused.

Study enough to see your hyper recovery gauge.

You want to be the best pitcher ever? Sell your soul to the devil. I heard that did wonders for Canseco, Byrd and everyone else who took steroids. Though, of course, to be literal, you could always try studying footage, playing less power pros and practicing more with a brother/sister or have a friend throw you ground balls. Irony, I said throw.

Can anybody give me tips on how to improve my control? I already have a powerful arm but I can't control it. (I throw a 4SFB, 2SFB, CHG, CCHG, a very bad CB, and a sort-of cutter.)

My other problem is that I can't catch fly balls.

How old are you? If you're under 16 you shouldn't be throwing a curve. I knew too many guys who ruined their arms throwing them too soon.

Having good control is a mix of two things: Mechanics and Mentality. You have to make sure you have solid and consistent mechanics to throw accurately. Make sure that your lead foot lands pointing directly at your target. If the rest of your mechanics are sound (as in you aren't throwing across your body or flying open) you should hit your target. It will be up to you to find the right release points for your pitches.

From what you say, it sounds like you may be over throwing. For a while you're going to have to take a bit off of your pitches just to get a feel for the mechanics. You'll have to do this until you can consistently repeat your motion with every pitch. Once you can, you can start to throw harder. Soon enough you'll be able to bring the heat and still hit your spots. As long as you make sure to maintain your arm strength with regular long toss sessions and elastic band exercises, your velocity will be there.

The other key. Don't think so much. If you think to hard about hitting your spot, you'll either miss it or lob up a fat one. If you've got the mechanics down the rest will take care of itself. You wont have to think about the mechanics, you'll just be playing catch.

FLY BALLS
If you only pitch, then you really shouldn't be catching fly balls. The other fielders should always call you off. You're the most important player on the field. You're also the most vulnerable. The fielders are there to protect you. You are coming off the mound and one wrong step can end your season so let them worry about it.

In the outfield, when in doubt, FIRST STEP IS ALWAYS BACK. It's easier to run in than back. It's also better to have a ball drop in front of you than over your head.

Fly balls move all over the place depending on where you play. Centerfield is easy because most balls travel straight when hit in that direction so they're easy to read. When playing left and right field, the ball will tend to hook towards the respective foul line more often than not. You have to be able to read the spin on the ball to tell how much it will hook.

ALWAYS USE TWO HANDS. You'll see pros use one, but you're not a pro so don't do it.