Patrick Francey
.) Rushing out to buy the top manufacturers model of skate.
Manufacturers make several models of skates to accommodate different levels of skating and the different physical sizes of skaters, as well as to cover several price points. So the 'Top Model' (read most expensice) may not be the best choice of skate to buy, for you. The higher the model of skate the more expensive it is, and, the stiffer it is. If you’re not physically heavy enough to deal with the stiffness of the skate it won’t matter how much money you pay, your skating performance will suffer. Skates that are too stiff for a skater means no knee bend. Very often it also means long-term discomfort. Be honest with yourself when it comes to your skating ability and physical size. Purchasing a model of skate that matches those two criterions, can dramatically increase your skating performance, and save you money.
2.) Fitting hockey skates like shoes.
Skates and shoes do not fit the same. A safe rule of thumb to use is that a skate will always fit a size, to a size and a half, smaller than your shoe size. Depending on how you fit your running shoes, a skate may even occasionally be as much as two sizes smaller. If your skates are currently the same size as your running shoe… they are too big. For example, if you wear a size 10 running shoe start with trying on a size 8-½ hockey skate. If you generally wear an extra wide shoe, start with a ‘D’ width skate. The ideal fit, length wise, has been achieved when you are standing in a skate that is laced up. The longest toe of the foot should, in fact, feather the end of the toecap. When you bend your knees slightly (like when you skate) the toes will pull completely away from the front of the toecap. If they don’t pull away, then go up half a size, or if you need growing room, then go up half a size.
3.) Trying on a pair of skates and not lacing them up.
This is one of the most common reasons skaters end up in skates to big. Hockey skates are, by design, meant to fit when they are laced up. As the boot is laced up, the foot will draw into the back of the skate. A skate that ultimately fits properly will, more often then not, feel small when the foot is placed in the boot prior to lacing it. Trying on a pair of skates without lacing them up is like trying on a button shirt without buttoning it… both are meant to fit when they are done up. So…when you put the skate on, be sure to give your heel a good kick into the back of the boot and then lace it up.
4.) Buying the same make and model of skate that that the pro’s (NHL) have.
This can be a tough one because the younger skaters want what their favorite player is wearing. The bottom line with this is that the skates that the general public is able to buy off the shelf are not the same as what an NHL player is wearing. The Vapor XX or CCM PRO or what ever the model might be, is not the same skate as what the general public are able to purchase. The pros are wearing custom made boots from the manufacturer. The NHL is a great marketing vehicle for the skate manufacturers and consumers need to be aware of this fact.
5.) Buying a larger a length to try and accommodate a wider foot.
If your foot is wide and the skate is tight then buy a wider skate not a bigger length. The really big skate that feels good in the store, will come back to haunt you almost every time. A skate has a very specific shape that is relative to the length of the foot going into it. If you purchase a skate that is the wrong length, nothing about the shape of the foot will line up with the boot. For example; the widest part of the foot comes back into the narrowest part of the boot. The arch of the foot no longer lines up with the arch of the skate. None of that will bother you in the store, but get out skating and it will show up.
6.) Not setting enough time aside to properly fit the skates.
It can take time to fit a skate for comfort. Wrapping a very stiff piece of material around the foot can sometimes be a challenge. How a skate fits in the first few minutes of putting it on compared to how it fits after spending some time to warm the boot up can make a dramatic difference. Give yourself at least an hour, so you can walk around the store and get a feel for the boot as well as warm it up. Also you may want to take the time to try more than one manufacturers skate and model.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Hockey Rules Made Easy
Jason Tarasi
If you're a newcomer to the game of hockey you may find the rules of the game a bit confusing, but with a little self-educating you'll pick up them right away. When you understand the hockey penalties, you'll find the game more enlightening regardless of whether you're playing or enjoying a hockey game as a spectator. The rules for hockey aren't too terribly complicated, just pretty different from other sports. Once you learn the rules, you may be ready to complain about the ref's calls like everyone does in other sports, but be careful about arguing with the referees because hockey is a pretty disciplined game. The captain of a hockey team is the one person designated to talk to officials about the rules of the game. Each team has a captain and alternate captains. The alternates can talk to the officials about a play if the captain, for one reason or another, is not on the ice.
In hockey, penalties are assessed by referees for poor behavior. Different penalties have different consequences, some resulting in a team playing short one or two players, but no more than two. When a player is taken out of the game because of a penalty, the play that occurs with the player's team being short-handed is referred to a power play for the other team and a penalty kill for the team that is penalized. There are minor penalties, major penalties, misconduct penalties and severe penalties. With severe penalties, such as trying to injure another player, a player may be suspended or fined.
With a minor penalty, the player sits out for two minutes or until the other team scores while the penalized player's team continues to play with a shortage of one player. For major penalties a player warms the bench for five minutes regardless of whether or not the other team scores. A misconduct penalty earns a player a ten minute outage, but during the time a misconduct penalty is being served by a player, the player's team doesn't have to play short-handed.
The term "offsetting" refers to a situation where both teams have players that are penalized for the same incident. The players involved in the incident have to serve their penalty time, but neither team has to play short-handed in such situations. Some specific rules of hockey clearly state what the penalty or procedure is for certain behaviors, but some are left up to the judgment of the referee who is the final authority on penalty assessments.
If you're a newcomer to the game of hockey you may find the rules of the game a bit confusing, but with a little self-educating you'll pick up them right away. When you understand the hockey penalties, you'll find the game more enlightening regardless of whether you're playing or enjoying a hockey game as a spectator. The rules for hockey aren't too terribly complicated, just pretty different from other sports. Once you learn the rules, you may be ready to complain about the ref's calls like everyone does in other sports, but be careful about arguing with the referees because hockey is a pretty disciplined game. The captain of a hockey team is the one person designated to talk to officials about the rules of the game. Each team has a captain and alternate captains. The alternates can talk to the officials about a play if the captain, for one reason or another, is not on the ice.
In hockey, penalties are assessed by referees for poor behavior. Different penalties have different consequences, some resulting in a team playing short one or two players, but no more than two. When a player is taken out of the game because of a penalty, the play that occurs with the player's team being short-handed is referred to a power play for the other team and a penalty kill for the team that is penalized. There are minor penalties, major penalties, misconduct penalties and severe penalties. With severe penalties, such as trying to injure another player, a player may be suspended or fined.
With a minor penalty, the player sits out for two minutes or until the other team scores while the penalized player's team continues to play with a shortage of one player. For major penalties a player warms the bench for five minutes regardless of whether or not the other team scores. A misconduct penalty earns a player a ten minute outage, but during the time a misconduct penalty is being served by a player, the player's team doesn't have to play short-handed.
The term "offsetting" refers to a situation where both teams have players that are penalized for the same incident. The players involved in the incident have to serve their penalty time, but neither team has to play short-handed in such situations. Some specific rules of hockey clearly state what the penalty or procedure is for certain behaviors, but some are left up to the judgment of the referee who is the final authority on penalty assessments.
Choosing Hockey Sticks For Your Best Game Play
Keith Kingston
Hockey equipment is required for all players who step onto the ice but some differences exist regarding the hockey equipment utilized by different leagues. Players' hockey equipment generally consists of skates, shin pads, gloves, hockey pants, sticks, and helmets. The hockey stick tends to be the most vital, apart from your body protection.
Choosing hockey sticks that suit you best is important. If you choose the wrong sticks you could end up playing badly or even doing yourself an injury. So how do you work out which hockey sticks are right for you? Here are some helpful tips.
Firstly, when standing in your skates, your stick should reach your chin. Some defence based players prefer a longer stick to give them more reach when they're defending. If you can, buy your sticks a little long and have the shop cut them down. This is far better than having a stick that is too long or too short. Most people tend to find they have to have their stick customized to give them their optimum comfort.
You can work out what length you need by looking closely at the wear of the tape on the bottom of your stick. If the tape is worn down near the toe, then you should probably consider a longer stick. If the tape instead is worn near the heel, then you should probably consider a shorter stick. Ultimately you should try sticks at different lengths until you find one that's got a comfortable weight and feel for you.
When choosing hockey sticks you should also consider weight and blade size. Most players recommend wrapping both the stick handle and the blade with a layer of tape. This is done to assure both a tighter grip on the handle and so that the puck does not slide off of the blade as easy as normal. If you are new to the game and have yet to tape your stick then we recommend that you do this early on. As outlined above, it will help you measure your game.
Different curves will affect the way you stick handle and shoot the puck too. Again, when you're starting off and new to the game, it is a good idea to try different curves until you find one that feels comfortable. Like with all sports equipment, the best idea is try out a few different hockey sticks so that you find one that conforms to your style.
Hockey equipment is required for all players who step onto the ice but some differences exist regarding the hockey equipment utilized by different leagues. Players' hockey equipment generally consists of skates, shin pads, gloves, hockey pants, sticks, and helmets. The hockey stick tends to be the most vital, apart from your body protection.
Choosing hockey sticks that suit you best is important. If you choose the wrong sticks you could end up playing badly or even doing yourself an injury. So how do you work out which hockey sticks are right for you? Here are some helpful tips.
Firstly, when standing in your skates, your stick should reach your chin. Some defence based players prefer a longer stick to give them more reach when they're defending. If you can, buy your sticks a little long and have the shop cut them down. This is far better than having a stick that is too long or too short. Most people tend to find they have to have their stick customized to give them their optimum comfort.
You can work out what length you need by looking closely at the wear of the tape on the bottom of your stick. If the tape is worn down near the toe, then you should probably consider a longer stick. If the tape instead is worn near the heel, then you should probably consider a shorter stick. Ultimately you should try sticks at different lengths until you find one that's got a comfortable weight and feel for you.
When choosing hockey sticks you should also consider weight and blade size. Most players recommend wrapping both the stick handle and the blade with a layer of tape. This is done to assure both a tighter grip on the handle and so that the puck does not slide off of the blade as easy as normal. If you are new to the game and have yet to tape your stick then we recommend that you do this early on. As outlined above, it will help you measure your game.
Different curves will affect the way you stick handle and shoot the puck too. Again, when you're starting off and new to the game, it is a good idea to try different curves until you find one that feels comfortable. Like with all sports equipment, the best idea is try out a few different hockey sticks so that you find one that conforms to your style.
Hockey Equipment
Kevin Pierce
Hockey is one of the most popular contact games played in the US and other side of world, probably next only to soccer and rugby. There are more than a few versions of hockey played such as field, inline, rink and ice hockey. All use particular gear and equipment.
The basic apparatus of hockey is a stick, which may be about three feet long. Hockey sticks are round and generally made of wood sheltered with fiberglass; aluminum sticks are also used and both varieties feature suede and rubber grips. Field hockey sticks have hooked bases, which are rounded at one end and flat at the other to correctly smack the ball into the goal. Ice hockey and inline hockey sticks have broader bases and most are considered for right-handed players. Holding hockey stick the upper portion of the stick with your left hand and the lower portion with your right, the base curves forward, forming a shallow scoop for catching and guiding the puck.
In hockey uses a molded plastic ball and ice hockey, inline hockey use hard vulcanized rubber discs called pucks. Both hockey balls are sized according to hockey associations. The objective of any version of hockey is to guide the ball and puck towards the goal net. Goal nets are made of by steel frames and have durable synthetic nylon nets.
Protective equipment and team jerseys are just as important as the skates or footwear, the stick and the puck. Protective hockey equipment is composed of a chest protector, a helmet, large padded shorts, shin pads, a neck protector, and other gear. Make sure you use all protective equipment whenever you play hockey. Some pick-up games of hockey are not played with protective equipments, but safety should come first.
Hockey is a collision sport and injuries do happen. But with certified, quality, well-fitting gear, the frequency and severity of these injuries can be decreased.
Helmets and Facemasks
Mostly hockey injuries happen to the head and face. Lacerations (cuts) to the head and face, along with concussions, have been minimized by the mandatory wearing of helmets and face masks at most levels of play. In youth, high school, and college hockey, helmets and facemasks are mandatory.
When buying a helmet, make sure it fits snugly. Look for helmets with the seal of approval either from the HECC (Hockey Equipment Certification Council)
Gloves and Elbow Pads
Your gloves must give maximum protection without affecting your grip. The thumb, the palm, and the cuff of the wrist are regularly hit by opposing players' sticks. Buy gloves with maximum protection over the thumb. Make sure the palm of the glove is smooth, so you can feel the stick in your hand. The cuff of the glove should be elastic but still offer protection. And certain the laces of the gloves are always tied and in good condition, your elbow pads fit well and cover the sides and the back part of the elbow.
Hockey is one of the most popular contact games played in the US and other side of world, probably next only to soccer and rugby. There are more than a few versions of hockey played such as field, inline, rink and ice hockey. All use particular gear and equipment.
The basic apparatus of hockey is a stick, which may be about three feet long. Hockey sticks are round and generally made of wood sheltered with fiberglass; aluminum sticks are also used and both varieties feature suede and rubber grips. Field hockey sticks have hooked bases, which are rounded at one end and flat at the other to correctly smack the ball into the goal. Ice hockey and inline hockey sticks have broader bases and most are considered for right-handed players. Holding hockey stick the upper portion of the stick with your left hand and the lower portion with your right, the base curves forward, forming a shallow scoop for catching and guiding the puck.
In hockey uses a molded plastic ball and ice hockey, inline hockey use hard vulcanized rubber discs called pucks. Both hockey balls are sized according to hockey associations. The objective of any version of hockey is to guide the ball and puck towards the goal net. Goal nets are made of by steel frames and have durable synthetic nylon nets.
Protective equipment and team jerseys are just as important as the skates or footwear, the stick and the puck. Protective hockey equipment is composed of a chest protector, a helmet, large padded shorts, shin pads, a neck protector, and other gear. Make sure you use all protective equipment whenever you play hockey. Some pick-up games of hockey are not played with protective equipments, but safety should come first.
Hockey is a collision sport and injuries do happen. But with certified, quality, well-fitting gear, the frequency and severity of these injuries can be decreased.
Helmets and Facemasks
Mostly hockey injuries happen to the head and face. Lacerations (cuts) to the head and face, along with concussions, have been minimized by the mandatory wearing of helmets and face masks at most levels of play. In youth, high school, and college hockey, helmets and facemasks are mandatory.
When buying a helmet, make sure it fits snugly. Look for helmets with the seal of approval either from the HECC (Hockey Equipment Certification Council)
Gloves and Elbow Pads
Your gloves must give maximum protection without affecting your grip. The thumb, the palm, and the cuff of the wrist are regularly hit by opposing players' sticks. Buy gloves with maximum protection over the thumb. Make sure the palm of the glove is smooth, so you can feel the stick in your hand. The cuff of the glove should be elastic but still offer protection. And certain the laces of the gloves are always tied and in good condition, your elbow pads fit well and cover the sides and the back part of the elbow.
The Two Top Baseball Bats
Jack Johnson
Choosing a baseball bat that is right for you carries as much importance as the proper pitch selection and correct batting technique. Baseball bats are designed for players of all styles from the little league, college, high school, and the pros. Every league will have a different set of rules as far as how long the bat can be in the width of the barrel. With the amounts of bats available on the market today it can be more than overwhelming when trying to choose the correct bat. When you consider all the different styles brands and materials of bats it can be very hard to make a decision. Through the course of this article we hope to make the decision a little bit easier.
Baseball bats made by the Easton company commonly are very light weight, have a comfort grip on the handle, and have a double wall barrel. Easton baseball bats are made from the finest materials, and are on the cutting edge of technology. Some of these bats are enough to break your budget, but they also offer a line of far more reasonably priced bats that do not give up anything in the way of performance. Easton first came out with their metal bats in the late nineteen seventies, and have been one of the leaders in baseball bat innovation since then.
The Easton company has turned bat making into an art. Incorporating high tech metal alloys into their bats, and designing their bats with barrel speed in mind. Also their bats are double walled which makes the sweet spot on the bat much larger, and strengthens the barrel of the bat against cracking. These bats are designed with all styles of players in mind.
Demarini burst to the baseball bat industry in the late nineteen nineties. With lines of baseball bats that are innovative and do not break your budget, they have quickly earned a reputation of being a top baseball bat manufacturer.
Demarini is truly one of the leaders in innovation. They recently hit the market with a bat that has a flexible handle. This flexible handle has a recoiling action on it that allows a pointer with below average power to become a power hitter. They have taken their place of industry leader and there's no reason for them to ever look back.
Choosing a baseball bat that is right for you carries as much importance as the proper pitch selection and correct batting technique. Baseball bats are designed for players of all styles from the little league, college, high school, and the pros. Every league will have a different set of rules as far as how long the bat can be in the width of the barrel. With the amounts of bats available on the market today it can be more than overwhelming when trying to choose the correct bat. When you consider all the different styles brands and materials of bats it can be very hard to make a decision. Through the course of this article we hope to make the decision a little bit easier.
Baseball bats made by the Easton company commonly are very light weight, have a comfort grip on the handle, and have a double wall barrel. Easton baseball bats are made from the finest materials, and are on the cutting edge of technology. Some of these bats are enough to break your budget, but they also offer a line of far more reasonably priced bats that do not give up anything in the way of performance. Easton first came out with their metal bats in the late nineteen seventies, and have been one of the leaders in baseball bat innovation since then.
The Easton company has turned bat making into an art. Incorporating high tech metal alloys into their bats, and designing their bats with barrel speed in mind. Also their bats are double walled which makes the sweet spot on the bat much larger, and strengthens the barrel of the bat against cracking. These bats are designed with all styles of players in mind.
Demarini burst to the baseball bat industry in the late nineteen nineties. With lines of baseball bats that are innovative and do not break your budget, they have quickly earned a reputation of being a top baseball bat manufacturer.
Demarini is truly one of the leaders in innovation. They recently hit the market with a bat that has a flexible handle. This flexible handle has a recoiling action on it that allows a pointer with below average power to become a power hitter. They have taken their place of industry leader and there's no reason for them to ever look back.
Everything You Need To Know About Batting Cages
Scott Stevens
Every professional athlete who has ever been asked what they attribute their success too, has named someone who encouraged them to keep on practicing. About batting cages, it is said that use of a batting cage can improve your batting average. Where you live, as well as schedule conflicts can limit your accessibility to public batting cages.
The easiest, most effective way to help improve your batting, or that of your child, is to make it a game. People, especially children learn better when learning is fun. Keep score of your practice sessions. Use a three point scoring system, give line drives three points, grounders and low balls get two points, and fly balls get one point. Keeping track makes it easy to make it a game, and when you're trying to beat your own score, you're improving your own skill, and it can be a lot more fun.
If you don't have access to a batting cage, you can always build your own, right in your own backyard. You'll have access to it whenever you want. A good size batting cage is seventy feet in length, fourteen feet in width, and twelve feet in height. The height shouldn't be a problem for anyone, but if you don't have a big enough yard for the length or width, just modify them to suit your area.
The list of materials needed to build a batting cage are pretty simple, and easily located. The netting is most often composed of polyethylene or nylon. Nylon is most suited for indoors as it absorbs moisture and stretches. For the support poles you can use wood or aluminum. For poles on the top you can use PVC pipe. You may also need some cement.
Once you measure out where your batting cage will go, you will need to put your poles down at least three feet in the earth. This helps with the stability. These poles have to hold the weight of the netting, so it wouldn't hurt to pour cement around them once they're in the holes. Once your skeleton frame is up, simply attach the netting to the top and drape it over the sides. Make sure not to attach it too tightly or too loosely.
The last two things you need to make sure you didn't forget is an entranceway so you can get in and out of the batting cage. You also want to make sure that the balls can't get out from under the bottom of the netting. Your netting should come all the way to the ground.
Now place the pitching machine inside the netting, and you're ready to start practicing your batting. Remember to use the scoring techniques to make practice more fun, and more effective. Get out there and practice, practice, practice. Before you know it your RBI's, runs batted in, will increase and you will get on base more and get out less
Every professional athlete who has ever been asked what they attribute their success too, has named someone who encouraged them to keep on practicing. About batting cages, it is said that use of a batting cage can improve your batting average. Where you live, as well as schedule conflicts can limit your accessibility to public batting cages.
The easiest, most effective way to help improve your batting, or that of your child, is to make it a game. People, especially children learn better when learning is fun. Keep score of your practice sessions. Use a three point scoring system, give line drives three points, grounders and low balls get two points, and fly balls get one point. Keeping track makes it easy to make it a game, and when you're trying to beat your own score, you're improving your own skill, and it can be a lot more fun.
If you don't have access to a batting cage, you can always build your own, right in your own backyard. You'll have access to it whenever you want. A good size batting cage is seventy feet in length, fourteen feet in width, and twelve feet in height. The height shouldn't be a problem for anyone, but if you don't have a big enough yard for the length or width, just modify them to suit your area.
The list of materials needed to build a batting cage are pretty simple, and easily located. The netting is most often composed of polyethylene or nylon. Nylon is most suited for indoors as it absorbs moisture and stretches. For the support poles you can use wood or aluminum. For poles on the top you can use PVC pipe. You may also need some cement.
Once you measure out where your batting cage will go, you will need to put your poles down at least three feet in the earth. This helps with the stability. These poles have to hold the weight of the netting, so it wouldn't hurt to pour cement around them once they're in the holes. Once your skeleton frame is up, simply attach the netting to the top and drape it over the sides. Make sure not to attach it too tightly or too loosely.
The last two things you need to make sure you didn't forget is an entranceway so you can get in and out of the batting cage. You also want to make sure that the balls can't get out from under the bottom of the netting. Your netting should come all the way to the ground.
Now place the pitching machine inside the netting, and you're ready to start practicing your batting. Remember to use the scoring techniques to make practice more fun, and more effective. Get out there and practice, practice, practice. Before you know it your RBI's, runs batted in, will increase and you will get on base more and get out less
Learning To Pitch A Softball
Annilee Kazushi
At present, there are a tremendous amount of different pitches involved in softball. First, softball pitching may involve a fastball, which actually goes straight. There is a changeup, which is often referred to as a backhand, horseshoe, or circle change in softball throwing. Also, there is a slowed down pitch. Now this type can take many diverse directions. Then there is the dropball, known as a peel drop. Then there are simply drops too. Softball pitching may involve curveballs, which are customarily referred to as curves, and there is a screwball, which curves inside and then drops a little. Finally, there are pitches that are basically a faster fastball, such as rise balls, or rises.
When you want to throw a fastball, the motion starts out as a windmill. In order to have the appropriate grips you have to grab the two horseshoes. Now, you can use as little as 2 fingers or as many as 4, but this usually depends on the size of the player's hand. Just remember that the more fingers you use, the more easily it will be able to be controlled.
In any softball pitching, in order to control balance, feet should never be a shoulder's width apart, but instead a little less. The front of the pitcher's body should be facing the catcher. The back heel rises putting the entire weight on the strong foot. A rocking motion is then performed by the pitcher's body, which then shifts the weight onto the back leg.
Your pitching arm will begin to move towards the catcher, but through and eventually reaching a twelve o'clock position. In order to keep accuracy and balance at the same time, the glove arm will actually point towards the catcher's mitt. When the ball comes back through the wind-up, it will be released around the hip level and provide a wrist snap at the same time. Without any action or snap at the release point, the rotation or spin will be minimal.
Changeups in softball pitching are a little different. Granted, the wind-up and the grip are the same, but your wrist action will vary. The idea is to release the ball before you reach waist level, and flip both the wrist and the forearm. Doing so will create a slowed movement which creates the changeup.
When it comes to a dropball, the fingertips are utilized a bit more. They have to be placed on the stitching of the horseshoe. It's also important to shorten your stride when approaching home plate. The finishing touch will be landing on your glove leg as opposed to your pitching leg. It will also be important to pull backwards with the tips of your fingers and shifting your weight forward at the same time. This creates the forward spin.
Then we have the curveball. The position of your fingers will be crucial to the success of this softball throwing pitch. The pinky and index fingers should be spread as far apart as possible. Your middle and ring fingers should be positioned properly on the laces. Most importantly the thumb will need to be set at a six o' clock setting underneath the ball. If you're a right hander you will roll the ball counterclockwise and lefties will send it through rolling the ball clockwise.
At present, there are a tremendous amount of different pitches involved in softball. First, softball pitching may involve a fastball, which actually goes straight. There is a changeup, which is often referred to as a backhand, horseshoe, or circle change in softball throwing. Also, there is a slowed down pitch. Now this type can take many diverse directions. Then there is the dropball, known as a peel drop. Then there are simply drops too. Softball pitching may involve curveballs, which are customarily referred to as curves, and there is a screwball, which curves inside and then drops a little. Finally, there are pitches that are basically a faster fastball, such as rise balls, or rises.
When you want to throw a fastball, the motion starts out as a windmill. In order to have the appropriate grips you have to grab the two horseshoes. Now, you can use as little as 2 fingers or as many as 4, but this usually depends on the size of the player's hand. Just remember that the more fingers you use, the more easily it will be able to be controlled.
In any softball pitching, in order to control balance, feet should never be a shoulder's width apart, but instead a little less. The front of the pitcher's body should be facing the catcher. The back heel rises putting the entire weight on the strong foot. A rocking motion is then performed by the pitcher's body, which then shifts the weight onto the back leg.
Your pitching arm will begin to move towards the catcher, but through and eventually reaching a twelve o'clock position. In order to keep accuracy and balance at the same time, the glove arm will actually point towards the catcher's mitt. When the ball comes back through the wind-up, it will be released around the hip level and provide a wrist snap at the same time. Without any action or snap at the release point, the rotation or spin will be minimal.
Changeups in softball pitching are a little different. Granted, the wind-up and the grip are the same, but your wrist action will vary. The idea is to release the ball before you reach waist level, and flip both the wrist and the forearm. Doing so will create a slowed movement which creates the changeup.
When it comes to a dropball, the fingertips are utilized a bit more. They have to be placed on the stitching of the horseshoe. It's also important to shorten your stride when approaching home plate. The finishing touch will be landing on your glove leg as opposed to your pitching leg. It will also be important to pull backwards with the tips of your fingers and shifting your weight forward at the same time. This creates the forward spin.
Then we have the curveball. The position of your fingers will be crucial to the success of this softball throwing pitch. The pinky and index fingers should be spread as far apart as possible. Your middle and ring fingers should be positioned properly on the laces. Most importantly the thumb will need to be set at a six o' clock setting underneath the ball. If you're a right hander you will roll the ball counterclockwise and lefties will send it through rolling the ball clockwise.
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