A pitcher's job is to get outs, no matter how its done. Too many coaches obsess over speed not realizing the best pitchers aren't always the fastest ones. If you can't win with the pitcher throwing ground balls, coach your defense better!
Bill Hillhouse
863 posts
Bill Hillhouse
@HouseofPitching
HoP is all about fastpitch softball pitching and whether you’re a pitcher, the parent, a pitching instructor, a coach or simply a pitching fanatic, it’s for you
Joined March 2011
- The change-up makes the average pitcher good, and the good pitcher great. It's the most important pitch, and is usually underused by pitch callers. THROW IT, throw it back to back pitches, 3 in a row. Stop under using it.
- A lot of pitchers and their coaches make pitching 10x harder than it needs to be. Sorry to say: you don’t have 7 or 8 pitches. The world’s best don’t throw that many, neither do you. I was an ok pitcher with just 3. Focus on 3 good ones not 8 mediocre ones. You’ll be better off!
- Don’t spend a second worrying about fall season wins/loses. If you throw a good riseball use the fall to work on your dropball. If you have a good drop use the fall to work on your rise. Those pitches need to complement each other. ALWAYS be working on your change-up. Always.
- Could you imagine telling someone that in 25 years the top 3 pitchers in women’s softball would all be from the Midwest, none from California? Bahl, Canaday, and Kavan all grew up about 2-2.5 hrs apart. I think this shows the teams, pitchers and coaching are catching up to CA!
- Velocity is only one element of pitching yet it's the thing most people obsess about. The fastest pitchers in the world are almost never the best pitchers in the world. Speed should not define whether or not you're a good pitcher. Mixing speeds wins more than just velocity.
- Non-softball post: My son Alex just qualified for the Paris 2024 Para Olympics in 3 events, winning a Silver and Bronze in the World championship this last week. Proud would be an understatement. I may have to crowd source to fundraise to go but, that's another story!
- I rarely post anymore but, this had to go up. My son, Alexander William Hillhouse has won 3 medals in Italy this weekend and has qualified for the World Swimming championships in Portugal in June. I'll see you in Portugal.
- My son, Alexander William Hillhouse just won his 2nd Bronze medal at the World Swimming championships this morning in Portugal. 2 medals in 3 events. Proud doesn't even begin to describe it.
- Ladies and Gents, I present your GOLD medal, 100m Butterfly, and new para-Olympic record: Alexander Hillhouse.
- Young kids are usually under the bad idea that the fastest pitchers are the best pitchers. This is WRONG. Command will win more games than velocity. Command is the ability to hit your spot, to change planes with the ball. 21 outs is needed to win they don't all have to be K's!!
- A lot of pitchers going into Colorado this week will learn the hard way how important the dropball is. Quite often the CO thin air forces pitchers to adjust their game strategy because, the majority of HR's this week will be off riseballs. Play the % and keep the ball down!
- Hey pitchers,ever notice the towel in college pitcher's back pocket? It's called @GorillaGold and if you're not using it, you're truly missing out big time. It's a difference maker for your pitches. No I am not paid for this, I just don't get why more don't use it. Awesome tool!!
- There is no excuse for a pitcher not doing something daily to improve their skills, even if it's just spinning a ball on the couch watching TV (or House/Pitching videos on YouTube!). The work between lessons is more important than the work during lessons. NEVER.STOP.IMPROVING!