I have 2 questions about pitching?

Question

1. As a pitcher, how do you work on control?

2. For high school baseball, do you need to know how to throw 4 or more pitches? Like do i need to know how to throw a slider or a curve?

Answer 1

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p.s.- and no you don't need 7 pitches to be good, only three: fastball, change up, and breaking ball.

Answer 2

I am a freshman who plays jv baseball. It depends. You need to know how to through more than a four seamed and two seemed fast ball. But at the same time. A slider, knuckle, sinker, etc. aren't necessary. If you know how to through 2 and 4 seamed fastballs, change-up, and maybe a curve. You should be alright.  

Answer 3

i would learn a curve or slider... but if you have a decent fastball just learn a change and you'll be okay. As for control just focus on the catcher and make sure your following through.

Answer 4

well for control i guess just keep practicing mabye start close and gradually go back. now for knowing pitches you have to at least have a four seam and a curve. a slider would be great and then once you have three pitches.  start finding another pitch you are comfy with.  

Answer 5

1. Keep your eye on the catchers glove at all times, your body will do the rest.

2. Im a high school sophomore and i get by on just two good pitches. I got a fastball in the mid to high 70s and a great changeup, developing a cutter. In high school you just needs a good fastball/changeup combo, dont worry about the slider or curve until or if you play in college. It can seriously mess up your arm.

Answer 6

There are many great pitchers who only have a couple good pitches. But their control is outstanding.  

The most effective pitch in baseball is the well-placed fastball.  Learn to aim small and deliver.  One solid way to do this is to reduce the size of the plate you're targeting, and get a buddy to work you out on a regular basis, catching for you.  The more you adjust to that smaller target in workouts, the easier it will be to hit your spots in a game.

If you're by yourself, put a rubber mat on the wall that is equivalent in size to the strike zone for an average size player, or mount it on a plywood board as a backstop with support legs you can carry to the field or diamond.  Go to your mound distance away from that mat, with a bucket of balls and a bucket of water.  Right before you pitch each ball dunk it in the water, go through your motion, and aim for a very specific target that you've marked off.  Low and inside, low and outside, low "on the handle" (where you would jam a batter with an inside strike - work both sides of the mat).  You can paint target areas on the mat.  The water on the ball marks exactly where your pitches strike and it also shows you if you're putting the wrong rotation on the fastball, which can slow it down.  Seeing it fly off the ball helps you fine tune your release.  When you are able to go to the low corners and consistently hit them, you're doing well.  Concentrate first on control, then gradually add speed.  When you're able to hit the lower corners with half the ball on and half off, you're making great progress, and when you can do it at speed you're moving toward playing at a high level.  Remember, it's not about throwing your hardest each pitch.  It's about throwing for seven innings without throwing your arm out.  Control wins games because you're allowing your teammates to help you and not putting everything on your own back.  If you can hit the corners, and occassionally wind a batter up like a dishrag with a deadly change-up, you can be extremely effective.  Breaking pitches are great, but do a lot of damage if not thrown correctly.

John Tudor had one of the best change-ups because he masked it so well.  He dragged the toe of his back foot on the mound, imperceptibly, to take "just enough" off the pitch with the exact same motion as his fastball.  Hitters had a very hard time telling it was coming, and came unglued trying to slow their swing - too late.  Some can hit a curve well, some not.  But no one can touch the well-masked change-up.

Tear 'em up!

Answer 7

I'm not in high school yet but I highly doubt you need 4 or more pitches because that's a lot to ask out of a teenager, so no I don't think you need four or more pitches.

Answer 8

I used to pitch in HS, I had 5 pitches; 4-seam, 2-seam, 12-6 curve, slider, and change-up. It is probably good to have at least 3 pitches because when you get to that level guys start to be able to sit on pitches and turn them around if you are not careful. As far as control goes repetition is key as your muscles will develop memory of where the release point is and it will be a snap. Good Luck.

Answer 9

You must have a good fastball with control to begin with. If you don't have an overpowering fastball, you must have an offspeed pitch to keep the hitters off balance. A wrinkle pitch is always good to have, so i would highly suggest you learn a curve or slider. Ive pitched for many years, and have always enjoyed mastering a new pitch each year, I throw both 2 and 4 seem fastballs, curve, slider, change up and a forkball. Learn both fastballs, two seemers will tail and be a little slower, 4 seem will be a faster but straighter ball. Having a slider and curve is unusual because you really dont need both, but its nice to have especially if youre not feeling one pitch on a certain day. as for control, go through your pitching motion over and over, without a ball. rip a cloth and pitch with that. Hold it in your hand and go thorugh the motion, when you are in the throwing motion, snap your arm and wrist down, making the cloth cut through the air and down. Once your body gets the motion down, its muscle memory. Start pitching to a catcher very close, and every 4-5 pitches, back up until they are all the way back to 60 ft 6 inches.  

Answer 10

In high school baseball you will be very successful if you can spot 2 pitches...fastball and change up