What are some of the most effective pitches for a slow left handed pitcher?

Question

I am a junior in high school.

also i am a lefty with a 3/4 release (i believe).

I currently throw a fastball, knucklecurve and currently am working on a circle change.

My fastball is in the range of high 50's and low 60's.

I know i pitch really slow but i did manage to beat some of the best teams in my league but on my really bad days, i just get my pitches smashed.

What should i work on?

Should i try to raise speed on my pitches?

Should i perfect change up? Would my change up have any effect since my fastball is already slow as h**l?

Should i start practicing throwing sidearm? Should i learn a new pitch? If yes, what should i learn?

Answer 1

Without an effective fastball, a circle change won't make too much of an impact. The best thing you can do is work on a 2-seam fastball or another moving fastball like a cutter. When I was a freshman two years ago I threw probably 60 and i lived on an accurate fastball and ground ball outs with only a curve to compliment that fastball.

Answer 2

I would throw sidearm, give them something to think about.  But I would also stress LOCATION! It does not matter how fast you throw, if you can hit your spots, you're gonna win.  When I was a senior, I could throw in the low to mid 80s and I would get crapped on because I had no location.

Answer 3

Build up arm strength, and work on deception.  A change-up can be the most effective pitch in baseball, if there is enough of a percentage difference in speed from the fastball, but only if it LOOKS like a fastball, so your arm motion and mechanics but be identical when throwing both pitches.

You are still very young, I would advise against a sidearm throwing style, although that might give hitters something unusual at at a different angle to try to hit, long-term sidearmers rarely throw more than 10 pitches in a game, cause it causes many types of shoulder strain.

Answer 4

all you need is change of speeds

so i recommend either picking up speed on your fastball and slow down your knucklecurve or really work on that change up especially if you can get it to do some movement ( thats with the circle change)

If you really wanted to try to do some side-arm i would recommend getting a pitching coach and work things out with him because he could better determine if it would be better for you.

Answer 5

Definitely build up some speed.... Work on a curveball

Answer 6

Work on the fluidness of your windup and your armspeed. I wouldn't really worry about a knucklecurve because if you can throw that you can throw just about anything. I don't know if you've heard of the towel drill but go through your windup and work on whip action with a dish towel.

Good luck

Answer 7

huh