Baseball Instruction/11 Year Old Pitching Technique

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Expert: - 2/28/2011


Question
Ricky

My 11 year old son is wanting to be a pitcher and I'm working with him at home.  What is the simplest thing I can work with him on to improve his accuracy?  He has a really strong arm but lacks on the accuracy!  Thanks

Answer
Steve:  Thank you for your question.

I would begin with his grip on the baseball.  Start with a four seam grip, it will give him the greatest accuracy, as well as the most velocity.

Next, I would look at his balance.  Without good balance, accuracy is hard to accomplish.  Work on holding his balance point.

Check to see that he is picking up his target before he delivers the baseball, not looking down or out into space, then bringing his head back at the last second.

Sacrifice velocity for accuracy.  Throw at about 90% effort.

Without seeing him throw, those are some general things that you can work on to help the accuracy.

Good luck as the two of you move forward.  The best pitch in baseball is Strike One!!

Yours in baseball,

Rick  

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Rick Bundy

Expertise

I can answer all questions relating to the fundamentals of baseball from t-ball to college, individual and team instruction, game strategy, drills, practice organizaton, coaching philosophies and, last, but not least, the mental game.

Experience

4 years little league 4 years high school baseball( 2 varsity) 2 years junior college baseball 1 summer, Central Illinois Collegiate League, Galesburg, Pioneers 2 years, four year college

Publications
I am the owner/builder of theoleballgame.com, a website for playing and coaching youth baseball.

Education/Credentials
Retired teacher 31 years (retired 4) 36 years high school baseball coaching/15 as a head coach/19 varsity asst, 2010 was the 36th. I am in my 10th year as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks Training Centers, the official youth baseball and fast pitch softball camps of The Arizona Diamondbacks.

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