How To Develop Pin-Point Control And Command Of All Pitches

Every pitcher understands that control or command of all pitches is vitally important in pitching. Velocity coupled with good control and a good pitch selection makes it much more difficult even for good hitters. But how should pitchers try to develop good ball control or command of all there pitches?

There are two aspects to control. One of course is having a sound foundation in mechanics where the pitcher is able to move his body in a direct line toward the plate while landing in a stable position with all forces directed at the target. Landing on an unstable base where the front leg is moving either forward or to one side or the other is going to adversely effect ball control. If the back leg is coming off the ground prior to ball release then it is like throwing at a moving target since the pitcher is then only throwing from one leg.

If the pitchers is falling off toward either first or third base after ball release is an indication that his body is directing forces away from the target. It could be from early hip and trunk rotation or an unstable front leg. If forces are not directed at the target then both velocity and control are effected.

Pitching to a target using various pitches or throwing at varying velocity is a learned skill that can only be improved by throwing from the surface used in games. In most cases that will be from a pitching mound. Some Little Leaguers throw from a flat surface in which case that is where they should practice from until they are ready to pitch from a mound.

But for those who are pitching from a mound, practicing either velocity or control or working on improving certain pitches makes little sense since mechanics are totally different from flat ground to mound pitching.

Also, today is appears that pitches are throwing fewer practice pitches than years ago. This of course is going to reduce the ability to improve ball control since a high volume of pitches is required to improve all pitching skills.

Plus throwing game-like or random bullpens may not be the best way initially or early in the season to gain good ball location skills. Throwing in blocked-sets of 5-10 pitches to the same location using multiple sets has been proven to produce much better results.

Rapid fire bullpens where a pitch is thrown every 10 seconds or so will not produce good results since there is not enough time to process the feedback from each pitch so that the pitcher can make the mental adjustment. Plus there is no carry-over to games. Pitchers should take 20-30 seconds in between pitches to create the mental picture of making an improved pitch to each location.

Many major league pitchers will throw one bullpen to just one side of the plate. Then the next bullpen with be thrown to the opposite side. This makes sense. Or you can split your bullpen between your arm-side and your glove side locations.

Here is a question taken from my Member’s Forums by a 17 year old high school RH pitcher about how to improve ball control. My answer follows.

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But remember this… there are no secrets to pitching improvement. Just sound sports science principles that we apply to pitching that just make common sense. No magic spoken here.

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