Pitching Drill: Up & Down Hill Pitching
Hey There Friend!
This week I'm sharing a great way to help pitchers with forward posture, a firm front side AND backside drive/effort!
You can use ANY hill outside to do these drills. You do NOT need make or purchase anything!
Simply find a spot near you, in your yard or somewhere near your home, that you can do some reps.
UPHILL pitching works on BACKSIDE effort
- This will make your pitchers FEEL how hard they are capable of working with their back leg drive
- It is especially great for pitchers that get lazy with closing the gap between their knees aggressively
- Uphill pitching is also a great way to STRENGTHEN the drive leg AND core!
DOWNHILL pitching works on a FIRM front side
- This will help your pitchers FEEL what it's like to have a strong stride leg and core as they release the ball
- Downhill pitching is especially great for pitchers that tend to fall forward after they release the pitch
- Working downhill forces pitchers to keep a strong core AND position the head and shoulders behind the stride leg through release.
Understanding HOW both these things FEEL is a KEY to correcting both backside effort and a strong front side on flat ground.
Try doing 5 reps DOWNHILL, 5 reps UPHILL, and then 5 reps on a flat surface. Repeat this pattern twice for a quick, 30 pitch workout!
Ask your pitchers what they notice about each part of the workout. Using hills often helps pitchers with body awareness as well. They may "feel" things much easier when you ask them to move up or down a hill!
Give this a try with your pitchers this week and let me know how it goes! You can always reach me at [email protected]!
Have a great weekend my friend! I'll be in touch again next week!
All My BEST,
Myndie
Let's GET BETTER together!
Join the BreakThrew Fastpitch mailing list to receive the weekly blog posts, and updates about new in-person and virtual training opportunities for pitchers, parents and coaches!
Myndie Berka
Author
Hi, I'm Myndie. Welcome to my weekly blog! I'm the founder of a training company called BreakThrew Fastpitch and I love helping softball pitchers and their parents, catchers and coaches GROW. I blog about ALL THINGS PITCHING - from mechanics, skill development and workouts TO habit building, growth mindset and competitive practice games. Watch video, listen to audio content, and download PDF files to use during your at-home or team practices. I try to give you something a little bit different each and every Thursday morning!
Understanding the Training Seasons
Need some help understanding WHAT to do with your pitchers during each phase of her training?
How about some instructional videos, downloadable workouts and mindset challenges?
You will get all this a more in your FREE "Training Seasons" guide!
Guide to Improving Radar Speed for Pitchers!
This guide includes 7 PROVEN ways that I've been using with pitchers that will help improve pitching speed! Get access to instructional videos, sample workouts and training tools to help your pitcher start getting stronger and faster today!
Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding Pitching Mechanics
Want to do something TODAY to help your pitcher get better? Would you like some FREE pitching instruction on exactly HOW you can help improve your pitcher’s mechanics?
Check out this FREE checklist that I use with my pitchers and learn HOW to submit your pitcher's video for side-by-side video analysis. After your pitcher completes her checklist, you will get some feedback directly from me! All of it FREE - I promise! : )
Creating A SPARK!
Need some ideas to help GROW the bond between your pitchers and catchers? How about some activities they can do together that will grow their skills both physically AND mentally?
I've got some FREE tools to HELP you!
Join The BTF Family!
Get my weekly blog post link sent directly to your inbox AND be among the first to find out about all training opportunities with BreakThrew Fastpitch!
