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There's No Off-Season in Softball
Things to work on during the Winter & other tips from Bill Hillhouse
Bill Hillhouse is a private pitching instructor with over 15 years of World Class softball experience including pitching for the USA Men’s National team in 2000. Currently, he is a pitching consultant for Drexel University Softball, a Division I college team in Philadelphia, PA. Bill has extensive playing and coaching experience, a lengthy list of credentials as both a player and coach, and has received accolades from the most prestigious and recognized fastpitch softball players, coaches, and teams around the world. Having “been there, done that” at all levels of fastpitch, Bill can help you become a champion, whether you’re a beginning pitcher or one playing college ball and beyond. For more information, visit the House of Pitching web site at www.houseofpitching.com.
Wow, here we are in November. The funny part is, it’s almost like I’m still in New Zealand, where I used to play during the US winters, because it seems now that softball never stops here at home. There’s just no such thing as an off-season anymore. I’m not sure what percentage of players takes the winter off, but it’s not many. If you’re lucky enough to find an indoor facility to use, you’re ahead of the curve.
This is also the time of year that pitchers begin to work on things for the next season. Whether they play high school or summer ball, or both, winter gives them the opportunity to work on new pitches, try new techniques, or to just perfect their mechanics. Assuming they are not playing multiple sports, there’s no limit to how much a pitcher can pitch during the off-season!
Thinking back to my younger days, before I played year-round, I would pitch just about every day in the YMCA. My gym bag included a roll of masking tape that I’d use to tape a strike zone on a wall. I’d throw for as long as I could, or until a group of basketball players would throw me out of the gym, whichever came first.
So, how much is too much when it comes to pitching? Great question, and I’m asked this frequently. Unfortunately, this isn’t like an answer about pitching mechanics where the”answer is ‘cut and dry,’ right or wrong. There are many variables to consider. My general rule of thumb that I tell people is that as long as they’re doing their mechanics properly and enjoying it, where’s the harm? If they’re doing it correctly, there’s little chance of injury. If they’re having fun, then it makes them happy. (If pitching has become a chore or the pitcher begins to feel pain, then rest is definitely needed.) But, I have said it before and it’s worth repeating: The worst adage ever created was “Practice makes perfect.” In truth, it doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes PERMANENT! Practicing something that is incorrect isn’t going to make anyone perfect, is it? In fact, practicing with improper mechanics is one of the fastest ways to develop an injury. Therefore, the first thing pitchers should do, before working on a new pitch, is take a look at their mechanics. Pitching in the off-season should be the time to build muscle memory that is based on doing things the right way.
A common problem for pitchers is the incorrect pitching motions being taught today. Obviously, being a pitcher myself and playing in World Championships, I would like to think I have some basis for my opinions and beliefs. That’s a hard pill for people to swallow... that there is right and wrong in pitching. There’s 1,000 ways to do things wrong and only a few ways to do things right. For example, pitching is a lot like golf. Every movement affects the rest of the swing. For the follow-through to be correct, every motion leading up to it must be exact. Learning one aspect of the pitch incorrectly can have a huge impact on a pitcher’s success.
There are many pitching coaches who don’t believe in “closing” the hips. They believe in staying open all the way through the pitch. This eliminates the hips, which, in my opinion, is a big mistake. Think about how we throw overhand. Do the arm and leg come through together? No. The leg doesn’t come around until the arm has already “snapped”. Pitching should be the same way. If the hand and the hip are coming through together, or the hip is coming through too soon, this means the pitcher is pitch- ing AROUND the hip, not through it. Think about something... assume your pitcher is right handed. Does she frequently miss inside on right-handed batters? This is probably due to bringing the hand around the hips, not through it. When we look at still photos of most of the top pitchers, we can clearly see their hand coming past their hips before they turn.
Along with muscle memory, there is a mental aspect that can affect the timing of the pitch and disrupt mechanics. There is the notion that the pitcher has to throw the ball and IMMEDIATELY be in the fielding position. While the pitcher needs to be ready to field the ball, focusing on getting into the fielding position tends to cause pitchers to close their hips much too soon. They are almost bringing their hip and hand through at the same time, and I’m not sure anything could be more wrong than this. In my instructional DVD, I talk extensively about staying open until the hand passes through.
Like anything in pitching, the pitcher will adapt somewhat and begin to take short cuts in their mechanics. But, you must understand, 99% of the time I’m trying to correct the muscle memory problem of a pitcher who brings their hips around at the same time as the hand. So, to change that, I have them “overdo” it the correct way to retrain the muscles. Like anything, as it becomes more natural to them they will be able to do it correctly, like second nature.
Remember: Practice makes permanent. During the winter, use good mechanices to avoid developing bad habits and prevent injuries.
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Kaylin Martin 2005 |
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