Drop Ball <strong>Drills</strong> 1. Drop Ball Drill. This activity will help you get the feel of the rotating ball using the different grips and releases. Experiment with the finger grip, using various lo<strong>ca</strong>tions and different numbers of fingers, until you find what feels best for you. Hold a ball in your pitching hand, using one of the drop ball grips. Snap the ball off the end of your fingers (Peeling) while trying to rotate it forward, using finger, wrist and arm action. As your ability improves, try to impart more wrist action, and increase the rotation speed. Repeat this practice daily for a few minutes until you <strong>ca</strong>n rotate the ball with complete control, i.e., Flip it the same height every time without dropping it. 2. One-Leg Drill. This drill places the pitcher in exactly the position she will land when she sets the stride foot. The pitcher places the stride foot under herself with all her weight over the leg. She bends the knee slightly so that the stride leg accepts the weight and is flexible. Her head should be slightly over the front foot. She <strong>ca</strong>n allow the back toe to touch the ground lightly for balance. The pitcher <strong>ca</strong>n bounce and move around some at first to become comfortable with the position. From this position, she makes the full circle, maintaining the position and releasing the ball at knee height. After release, the body will follow through forward in the direction of the ball. She should not try to balance. If the pitcher correctly sets the position and holds it throughout the pitch, she will see instant results when she releases the ball at the correct point. She should perform the drill at half speed, focusing only on body awareness. As the pitcher begins to experience steady success with this drill, she <strong>ca</strong>n add the step. At stride, the pitcher should try to get back into the position of the one-leg drill as soon as possible. She stays at half speed at first but gradually adds more speed as she has success. She must remember, however, to set the positions more quickly as she adds arm speed. 3. Mound Drill. Using a baseball pitcher’s mound, the pitcher starts with the one-leg drill first, and then gradually adds the step and arm speed. By throwing off the incline, the pitcher <strong>ca</strong>n more easily set and feel the angles of the body, thus developing correct muscle memory. She must remember to land with the stride leg underneath the body. 4. Rope Drill. Using a rope or string positioned about five feet in front of the plate, the pitcher pitches drop balls over the top of the rope. If the pitches are thrown correctly, the ball will go over the rope and drop below it by the time it reaches the <strong>ca</strong>tcher. This drill provides the pitcher an excellent gauge of cut lo<strong>ca</strong>tion and severity. Rope height <strong>ca</strong>n be changed with this drill for variations of count, either ahead or behind. If the pitcher is behind in the count, the rope should be held higher. If the pitcher is ahead in the count, the rope <strong>ca</strong>n be held lower. The rope <strong>ca</strong>n also be moved forward or backward to represent a move by the hitter up or back in the box. The cut should take place immediately after the ball crosses over the rope. The pitcher <strong>ca</strong>n experiment with getting onto the leg quicker and notice the effect that has on the cut. The <strong>ca</strong>tcher must move forward and backward when the hitter does. 5. Low Net Throws. This drill focuses on proper release and keeping drop balls low. From a distance of about 10 feet, the pitcher throws into the bottom of a <strong>ca</strong>tch net, exaggerating her release of the drop. 6. Basket Throws. This helps the pitcher focus on making the ball drop by using a visual target. The pitcher throws from regular distance and attempts to pitch the ball into a Copyright © 2007 M.O. Dagenais & Associates Inc. www.softballperformance.com 16
laundry basket at home plate. This drill helps imprint the image the pitcher should see before every drop pitch. The pitch <strong>ca</strong>n be thrown to a bucket, but the ball will not ricochet as much off the softer basket. Copyright © 2007 M.O. Dagenais & Associates Inc. www.softballperformance.com 17
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