Information Heavylifting for Business Intelligence

Faith Measurement

Faith Measurement Blog

Episcopal Church Measrmnt

Book Of Common Prayer

Boundary County Measrmnt

 

Ski Racing Measurement

Fastpitch Measurement

Measured Proposals

TeamsWin Measurement

Phone: (208)304-4458 Cell

Phone: (208)295-7094 Home

E-mail: bpace@teamswin.net

Contact: Bob Pace, Chairman of TeamsWin

Bob Pace

7087 Funkhouser ST

Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805

(In Boundary County North Idaho)

0 Fastpitch Strategy Blog

The purpose of this document is to list the Fastpitch Strategy documents. Included in the list are the introductory purpose paragraph, a link to the document on line and the copyright date. The list is alphabetical.

1A Strategy for Pitching Hitting and Throwing

Copyrighted 12/28/08 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to record my thoughts on pitching, hitting and throwing. These are the concepts that are fundamental whether one is pitching, hitting or throwing. Also, these fundamentals apply for both baseball and Fastpitch softball. I have been pitching, catching and playing utility in Men’s Fastpitch since 1967. The last two years (2007 and 2008) our Seattle team has won the North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) Western World Series. To stay active in the game so long, I have had to work on my pitching, hitting and throwing.

1B Shoot It Inside Out Pitching

Copyrighted 06/07/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to record my pitching strategy. Because inside-out is the best release when throwing, passing hitting, or pitching anything, it is called “Shoot It Inside Out Pitching”. With any strategy, terms need to be understood (to understand goals and objectives). So, I will define some strategic terms that will support technical goals, and then add some strategic terms for tactical goals.

1C Shoot It Inside Out Pitching-
Aiming the Pitch

Copyrighted 08/03/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to record the aiming portion of my pitching strategy. Besides aiming, this document will show how to make the ball move both in and out and up and down. The idea is to make the ball move a little bit and use location to take advantage of apparent movement. Also, the idea is to expand the zone the batter has to cover. The aiming will cause this to happen. The aiming will also maximize spin with minimal effort. The idea is to get easy speed and movement with the most accuracy.

2 Strategy for Defense

Copyrighted 11/05/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss strategy for defense. Definitions are the most important part of any strategy. This document will name and define some terms that will be the basic objects for understanding goals and objectives and this language of terms will also provide meaning to tactics and their practice. In other words, strategy is what you are doing and why. Tactics are how you are doing what you are doing. We practice tactics, and we understand our practice because we understand our strategy.

3 Strategy for Offense

Copyrighted 11/05/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss strategy for offense. Definitions are the most important part of any strategy. This document will name and define some terms that will be the basic objects for understanding goals and objectives and this language of terms will also provide meaning to tactics and their practice. In other words, strategy is what you are doing and why. Tactics are how you are doing what you are doing. We practice tactics, and we understand our practice because we understand our strategy.

4A Shoot IT Inside Out Hitting

Copyrighted 05/14/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to record my approach to hitting a baseball or softball. To begin with I will describe my approach to an outside pitch. Therefore, with an inward turn to line up with the pitch, all the other pitches are hit the same way (with hands back).  The front foot is for off speed pitches. Everything about the back foot translates to the front foot. If you see the pitcher stab the front foot, look for off speed and stab your front foot.

4B Strategy for Covering the Plate

Copyrighted 10/25/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss a strategy for covering the plate.  It focuses on covering pitches (the strike zone) left and right and should be used with “Hitting it Through the Infield” which focuses on covering the strike zone (the plate) up and down. This document also builds of a previous document “Shoot it Inside-out Hitting”, and setting up to hook the ball which keeps the hands back. Because the defensive catcher and pitcher can see these strategies in the way the offensive hitter sets up (swings), these documents can also be used in understanding pitching strategy. This document points out the many advantages of forcing the pitcher to pitch, of setting up the pitcher to give you what you want when you have two strikes, and of covering the plate.

4C Strategy for Low Pitches:
Hitting It through the Infield

Copyrighted 10/25/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss the advantages of focusing on low pitches. It focuses on covering pitches (the strike zone) up and down and should be used with “Strategy for Covering the Plate” which focuses on covering the strike zone (the plate) left and right. This document also builds on a previous document “Shoot it Inside Out Hitting”, and setting up to hook the ball which keeps the hands back. Because the defensive catcher and pitcher can see these three strategies in the way the offensive hitter sets up, together these three documents can be used in understanding pitching strategy. This document points out the advantages of setting up to hit low pitches hard through the infield.

5 Strategy for Fielding

Copyrighted 11/05/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss strategy for fielding. Fielding strategy is all about position. Position yourself to move. Position yourself to throw, and probably most important position yourself to hurt. I am a 60+ year old catcher, so I have been watching fielders for many years. The first thing I think of when I think of fielding is getting in front of the ball. If you put yourself in position to hurt unless you catch it, then you will catch it. You will catch it with unconscious movements faster than you can think. You will also have time to catch things that miss you. But if you are not in front of the ball so it will hurt, then when you get any kind of bad hop subconsciously you will protect yourself.  Your first move will be to protect yourself, so you will be slow to catch things that miss you.

6 Strategy for Running and Sliding

Copyrighted 11/04/10 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to discuss strategy for running and sliding. Running and sliding go together, whether running the bases or running in the outfield. Being able to track a ball while you run is the same whether you are running the bases or in the outfield. Being able to shift gears is the same and for the same purpose whether running the bases or in the outfield. To be understood, running and sliding requires some definitions. To run with your head up, your shoulder blades have to be all the way together in the back, and you have to come down on your toes first. To run without decelerating or bouncing requires you use your toes to soften the step. To accelerate, the head is down, the shoulders are together in front, and the weight or center of gravity is way forward. The first definition would be first gear: the name of the body position when you start out. The second definition: second gear is running with your head up and chest out.

7 Drill for Throwing Fielding and Hitting

Copyrighted 03/13/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe a drill for throwing, fielding and hitting. It also includes some running. This drill works best with four to eight people. It is like a normal outfield drill where a coach hits balls to the outfielders and they throw the ball back to the coach. But, here the players do the hitting, fielding, throwing and running, while perfecting efficiency and effectiveness. It teaches when to have the head up and when to have it down when running, throwing, fielding and hitting. It teaches the inside out swing when hitting, and the inside out release when throwing. Like a chest-pass in both, it teaches the away from the body swing and the throw that sails.

8A Heads UP Heads Down

Copyrighted 03/19/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe body positions and leverage power with heads UP and heads DOWN. So far in the other TeamsWin Fastpitch documents we have described Heads UP and Heads DOWN positions in each strategy: running, fielding, throwing, hitting and pitching. The head position is the easiest place to start in describing technique for improving leverage power. Like learning how to start running with the head down and finish with the head up, I believe players need be able to use both techniques in the other disciplines: hitting, fielding, throwing and pitching. This document examines the heads up and heads down leverage and benefits for each discipline. When running we start with the head down and finish with the head up. When starting to run, there is more power and quickness when pushing with the legs. However when we are up to speed, there is more leverage when pulling with the legs. For all the disciplines, head down is for pushing and head up is for pulling, and an inside out push is quicker than an outside in pull.

8B the Crow Hop

Copyrighted 03/25/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe the Crow Hop. I am going to take a new approach to this sometimes confused subject. Before I describe the crow hop when pitching underhand, I will describe it as used when throwing from the infield or outfield. It should not be used there either. When throwing on the run, you can either throw off the front or back foot.  The only way to throw on the run and throw off the back foot is to crow hop. In other words, you have to push twice consecutively off the back foot (feet) without ever pulling off the front foot. With no hips like ours, a crow does not have a front foot.

8C Sidearm

Copyrighted 04/29/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe “sidearm” for throwing, pitching (underhand and overhand), and hitting. Sidearm should be avoided. The problem: at first sidearm seems easier, but in the end it is both slower and harder to control. Since we throw the bat in hitting, there is also a similar problem with throwing the bat sidearm. Sidearm pitching (underhand or overhand) deceives the pitcher for the same reason: at first it is easier to do, but for someone who can hit on both sides of the ball it is easier to hit. The purpose of this document is to help players and coaches recognize “sidearm” in opposing pitchers and teammates who want to improve their throwing and hitting.

8D Footwork and Grips

Copyrighted 05/09/11 by Robert D. Pace

 

The purpose of this document is to describe subtle adjustments to footwork and grips. This document describes grip types as characteristics of footwork, and subtle changes to footwork are improvements related to those grip types. So far, I have not introduced grip types, because of their relationship to footwork and the quality and understanding of the footwork has to be more advanced. In other words, I did not want to introduce too much too soon. However, when the time is right the subtle changes to footwork with their corresponding grip types should help both speed and control. By the way, this applies to both overhand and underhand.

8E Release Timing Trigger

Copyrighted 05/11/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe timing (specifically release timing) in pitching, hitting and throwing. In a throwing motion, something has to trigger the release. The release is the inside-out explosion or outside-in snap that ejects the ball or twirls the bat. In all types of throwing, whether throwing a bat or pitching a ball (underhand or overhand) that timing mechanism should be found in the hips.

8F Twisting and Whip

Copyrighted 05/20/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe two ways to use the hips when throwing: the twisting whip and the non-twisting whip. Whether throwing a bat or a ball, there are two ways to create the whipping action. Plus, because we have two feet there are three ways to do each of those types of whipping actions: off one foot or the other, or off both feet. That seems complicated enough, but there is one more level: in-side out (overhand or underhand) and outside-in (sidearm). We use the hips when throwing. We throw inside-out without a wrist snap or outside-in with a wrist snap. And we have two feet, so luckily that is as complicated as it gets. This document will focus on the two ways we use the hips when whipping a bat or ball: Twisting and Not-Twisting. Before I begin I must first say why we need to learn both hip movements. Plus, why would I want players to learn them from the beginning. The answer is easy, because it is easy (more natural) to whip both ways, depending on the situation. Every position on the team requires both types of throws. Plus it makes hitting much more natural (easier). So (all together now for both hitting and throwing) I will describe both hip movements.

8G Butt and Elbow - Up or Down

Copyrighted 05/23/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe important keys to proper throwing. Earlier documents described throwing with or without twisting. We whip the bat or ball with our hips in a pushing or pulling motion. The hip and elbow positions are good keys because they go together for balance and that balance is opposite for pulling and pushing. When throwing by pulling with a twist, the butt and elbow are both down. When throwing without twisting (by pushing), the elbow and butt are both up. In other words, at the release point when you get power from your hips and release the ball the positions of your butt and elbow are balanced and key the power you can develop.

8H Hook, Sit, Tomahawk, and Golf Swings

Copyrighted 05/24/11 by Robert D. Pace

The purpose of this document is to describe four swings that are required to hit fastpitch. Knowing these four swings, a batter can easily shape their body to make firm contact with any pitch. Firm contact comes from hitting against the spin. To hit against the spin, a batter must line the swing up with the pitch. These four swings are required to align the bat with the pitch. Hitting against the ball’s spin will align the bat with the movement of the ball.  If the pitch is moving away from the batter, that alignment will be on the inside of the ball. If the pitch is moving up, that alignment will be down trying to spin the ball back where it came from. You want to hook (on the outside) any pitch moving in, and you may want to lift any pitch moving down. And finally, you want to sit on any pitch right down the middle. Level swings only line up with level pitches, which do not happen often in fastpitch. To hit pitches back where they are coming from, you need to practice all four types of swings.

 

 

Fastpitch
Downloads