Tips, Camps & Clinics

Tips, Camps & Clinics

Lanco Fieldhouse Fall Camps & Clinics

The Lanco Fieldhouse is offering one-day and multi-day camps and clinics for baseball players ages 7 thru 14. Pitching/catching clinics, hitting clinics, and all-skills camps are included, and the first camp begins September 20th. Download the flyer here and register online at www.LANCOFieldhouse.com!

Lanco Fieldhouse Pick-up League

The Lanco Fieldhouse with Larry Hess is running a Wednesday Night Pick-up League! Players ages 6 to 11 are eligible to play in controlled scrimmages that will develop strong baseball fundamentals. The league will run from September 15th through October 20th. Download the flyer here and register online at www.LANCOFieldhouse.com!

Pick off attempts.....

Another baseball pitching tip...

On pick off attempts, it helps to throw like a catcher. To do this, concentrate on three things:

1) Short arm
2) Accuracy and
3) Throwing into a window

Pick offs have to be quick. You must get the baseball from your glove to your ear and released as quickly as possible. Short arm it by separating your hands "up" and into throwing position, not down. Up is quicker.

Then make an accurate throw to your first baseman's "window," that imaginary rectangle that's about hip high, just above the first base bag.

Make it easy for your first baseman to handle the throw and make a tag.

Practice it!

Control the Tempo of the Game

Here's another baseball pitching tip...

Control the tempo of the game.

A pitcher inevitably controls the pace of the game from the very first pitch because nothing happens in baseball until a pitcher makes his pitch.

With that being the case, I've always believed that the pitcher, not the hitter, dictates the tempo of the game right from the start.

And how you do that is by working fast, but in a controlled manner.

Working fast doesn't mean speeding up the pitching delivery. Instead, it means staying on the dirt area in front of the pitching rubber after the ball has been pitched -- unless, of course, you have to field your position -- and returning to the mound to pitch again as soon as you get it back.

Work on it!

ATTITUDE.....

ATTITUDE!!!

The most important thing you can do is maintain good body posture on the pitcher's mound: stand tall, shoulders back.

Work fast by HUSTLING, from, and around the mound when you're out there. And fter you make a pitch, stay on the dirt, get the ball back from your catcher, and make another pitch.

Keep your facial expressions stoic (the same, all the time): If the ump makes a good call, don't show it. You should already expect it because you believe and trust your stuff.

If the ump boots a call, don't show it. Don't react. Just focus on the next pitch.

The same holds true for the defense behind you: If a teammate makes a good play, cheer him on, but refocus quickly. If he makes an error, pick him up, but don't dwell on it. It's out of your control. Get focused on the next pitch.

Try it for yourself. I'll bet the confidence you exude may get some hitters thinking: "Geez, this pitcher's got something figured out."

Whether you do or don't, it'll get hitters thinking....

Be confident out there, and show it.

Work on it!

24 Velocity and Arm Killing Mechanical Faults

Here is a short list of all the mechanical faults that not only reduce velocity but increase pitching arm injuries.

To maximize velocity you must understand how to recognize faults and what is the cause of the fault.

1. Foot position on rubber
2. Weight shift
3. Hand break
4. Arm action
5. Back leg position before hand break
6. Lead leg action
7. Posture
8. Early hip rotation
9. Low elbow or high elbow
10. Completion of back leg drive
11. Landing position - body alignment
12. Landing leg stability
13. Bracing action of front leg and hip
14. Early trunk rotation
15. Ball release position
16. Finish position
17. Stride length
18. Back foot action at ball release
19. Amount of trunk lean at ball release
20. Showing back pocket or number to hitter
21. Poor arm cocked position at landing
22. Ball in close to head at landing
23. How the ball comes out of the glove
24. Position of back leg before weight shift

Most pitchers I see will have at least 7 of the faults!

What do you think happens if those faults are not corrected now?

Find a good instructor and Work on it!!

From the Stretch

When pitching with runners on base, you've got to deliver the baseball to the plate in 1.3 seconds or less from the set position.

Why 1.3?

Let's do some simple math: Quick base runners can usually swipe a bag in under four seconds. A catcher can usually receive the ball and make a throw to second base (also known as a catcher's "POP time") in roughly two seconds.

1.3 + 2.0 = 3.3

4 - 3.3 = 0.7

This gives either your catcher or your teammate covering second base a 0.7 second margin of error. And to throw good runners out, every tenth of a second counts.

Timing....

Another baseball pitching tip...

You must be able to throw a change up. Most good high school, college and professional hitters try to anticipate the fastball. They'll sit on the pitch because they can drive it. But if you show that you can effectively change speeds, you instantly make it more difficult for a hitter to anticipate the pitches he's looking for.

Hitting is timing. To be good at pitching, you must disrupt that timing. Develop a quality change-up - and don't stop working on it until you're confident enough to throw it for strikes in 3-2 counts.

Practice it....

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Tips, Camps & Clinics

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