How does a pitcher "hit their spot?" (Don't care where that spot is; just care about hitting their spot.)
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Uh..., um, ah, 
you must have not read over the 17 pages of the topic "location". 
I finally got a chance to talk to my pitcher about that week long discussion, last weekend, about bullpen routines, location, hitting "spots" the "mitt/glove"
as the target. It might just well be that there was so much BS thrown into that topic (by all) that it may be kind of hard to figure out the question that you have asked by reading over that topic.
How does a pitcher hit his spot? The general concensus (if you ask a pitcher) is that most of the time that he throws a pitch, it is most likely going to miss the intended target. That's just the way it is, for most pitchers anyway. One of the reasons son doesn't really care about location during his pens, because in reality (actual games) it doesn't happen every time you throw at the target (and be aware the target could be anything from the mitt/glove, to the knee, to the elbow, it IS different for every pitcher and it IS different (the goal) for different levels. It is also different for those that have different velocity, if you are throwing 96-100, it is much harder to be accurate than pitching much less, the same way for movement, if the ball has a lot of it, it may be hard to locate that spot at times. And everything is relevant to age. For him, he likes to concentrate on how the ball feels in his hand, at the release, is he on top of the ball, etc. more than if he hits all of those "spots".
Anyway, I am surprised no one has answered. As you are well aware, certain mechanics are needed for pitching, some people may claim that you use different mechanics to hit different "spots", this is not true. What is true is that through lots of practice, years of practice (for proper muscle memory) a pitcher, along with the proper grip, pressure, wrist movement, etc learns to hit his spots (by repeating his mechanics over and over and over and over, etc.)
This, by the way, can be achieved not only with working on the mound or by flat ground work as well as long toss.
I finally got a chance to talk to my pitcher about that week long discussion, last weekend, about bullpen routines, location, hitting "spots" the "mitt/glove"
as the target. It might just well be that there was so much BS thrown into that topic (by all) that it may be kind of hard to figure out the question that you have asked by reading over that topic.How does a pitcher hit his spot? The general concensus (if you ask a pitcher) is that most of the time that he throws a pitch, it is most likely going to miss the intended target. That's just the way it is, for most pitchers anyway. One of the reasons son doesn't really care about location during his pens, because in reality (actual games) it doesn't happen every time you throw at the target (and be aware the target could be anything from the mitt/glove, to the knee, to the elbow, it IS different for every pitcher and it IS different (the goal) for different levels. It is also different for those that have different velocity, if you are throwing 96-100, it is much harder to be accurate than pitching much less, the same way for movement, if the ball has a lot of it, it may be hard to locate that spot at times. And everything is relevant to age. For him, he likes to concentrate on how the ball feels in his hand, at the release, is he on top of the ball, etc. more than if he hits all of those "spots".
Anyway, I am surprised no one has answered. As you are well aware, certain mechanics are needed for pitching, some people may claim that you use different mechanics to hit different "spots", this is not true. What is true is that through lots of practice, years of practice (for proper muscle memory) a pitcher, along with the proper grip, pressure, wrist movement, etc learns to hit his spots (by repeating his mechanics over and over and over and over, etc.)
This, by the way, can be achieved not only with working on the mound or by flat ground work as well as long toss.
1. The reason why is that we are all fatigued after the last thread...even us observers.
2. It is too generic of a question....how does a bird fly? etc.
3. Careful TPM he may be a plant....
2. It is too generic of a question....how does a bird fly? etc.
3. Careful TPM he may be a plant....
I am very aware of the long, convoluted location topic. I specifically explained in setting up the topic that I was interested in hitting spots - regardless of location. So, how do they do it (do they aim, pray, etc.).
I think that BOF is correct, there really isn't ONE specific answer, keep in mind that all pitchers are unique in how they go about getting results. Hitting that spot, has a LOT to do with lots of stuff, release point, grip, wrist, movement, position on rubber. The target as well, some pitchers do not always use the glove/mitt as the target.
Not sure, what it is that you are really looking for (as an answer)? If it is to start the same topic all over, then it's going to end at page one.
Not sure, what it is that you are really looking for (as an answer)? If it is to start the same topic all over, then it's going to end at page one.
Amazing this internet thing: people can presume knowledge (be careful TPM) and ignorance at the same time, all without knowing the poster. FWIW, I am an avid reader of TPM's blog and she provided valuable insights into a private discussion between us on college v. Pro. Let me assure you that I am not a plant (or a rock). I'm restate the original question: how does a pitcher hit a spot? Is is a mechanical adjustment (release point, foot plant), mental adjustment, does he throw to the glove, does he throw to a point in space, etc.? Serious comments and input only please!
quote:Originally posted by Goosegg:
Amazing this internet thing: people can presume knowledge (be careful TPM) and ignorance at the same time, all without knowing the poster. FWIW, I am an avid reader of TPM's blog and she provided valuable insights into a private discussion between us on college v. Pro. Let me assure you that I am not a plant (or a rock). I'm restate the original question: how does a pitcher hit a spot? Is is a mechanical adjustment (release point, foot plant), mental adjustment, does he throw to the glove, does he throw to a point in space, etc.? Serious comments and input only please!
I have tried here to be serious, I am not sure about anyone else. Thanks for clearing that up.
Sending you a private pm.
TPM, your response was exactly what I was looking for (rubber position, using/not using mit as Target and the other things you mentioned). I have heard about aiming at particular points (e.g., umps left shoulder for breaking pitch, catcher's mask for fb, etc). GBM I'm assuming you didn't understand the question.
quote:Originally posted by Goosegg:
Amazing this internet thing: people can presume knowledge (be careful TPM) and ignorance at the same time, all without knowing the poster. FWIW, I am an avid reader of TPM's blog and she provided valuable insights into a private discussion between us on college v. Pro. Let me assure you that I am not a plant (or a rock). I'm restate the original question: how does a pitcher hit a spot? Is is a mechanical adjustment (release point, foot plant), mental adjustment, does he throw to the glove, does he throw to a point in space, etc.? Serious comments and input only please!
Seriously, it takes a lot of practice and in the end it is a mental thing where you look at your spot and your body pretty much is trained to do what the mind wants to do. Pitchers aren't really aware of where they are stepping exactly, what their arm slot is or where their release point is- it happens more subconsciously. Hitting spots is a mastery of the mental game coupled with forming a mastery of muscle memory which happens more subconsciously in the end.
quote:Originally posted by Goosegg:
GBM I'm assuming you didn't understand the question.
After you have gone through this to some degree in 17 pages of debate, one must have a sense of humor.
My son was always taught to step slightly in the direction he was throwing. In other words, if he's throwing down the middle (don't start), step directly towards the center of the plate. Throwing outside, step towards the 1st base side slightly. Throwing inside, step slightly towards 3rd base side. This is a righty to a righty obviously. I know he still does it because if he is off on a particular outing, I'll ask him about why. Sometimes he'll be pitching on a mound with a deep, narrow hole at the landing area and he'll say if he strode towards where he wanted to throw the ball, his foot landed at an angle. it made it harder for him to hit his spots.
The concept is that you stride in the direction you want the ball to go and the rest of your mechanics stay the same. So, if you're on the mound and you want to throw home, that's where you stride, if you want to throw to 1st, that's the direction you step. You just do it on a micro level when you're pitching. The difference of where you land between a pitch down the middle and one on the outside corner may only be an inch different. But if you vector that one inch, by the time the line you would draw reaches the plate, it might cross 6 or 8 inches over in the direction you step. Hope that makes sense.
The concept is that you stride in the direction you want the ball to go and the rest of your mechanics stay the same. So, if you're on the mound and you want to throw home, that's where you stride, if you want to throw to 1st, that's the direction you step. You just do it on a micro level when you're pitching. The difference of where you land between a pitch down the middle and one on the outside corner may only be an inch different. But if you vector that one inch, by the time the line you would draw reaches the plate, it might cross 6 or 8 inches over in the direction you step. Hope that makes sense.
I think the most direct answer to your question is practice. At its simplist form its eye-hand coordination at work.
How do you throw a rock to hit a tree or in colder climates, a snowball to hit a car. The quick answer is at first you dont hit it but you keep at it and improve your craft. Similar to pitching in many ways and the science of command.
You can always improve but at the same time some are born with better eye-hand coordination than others and the improvement that a mature person could expect (given proper mechanics) is probably within some kind of range, imo.
No matter how hard he tried Rick Ankiel was never going to have the command of Greg Maddox. I've heard some people talk about "Kinetic IQ"- knowing where your body is positioned at any point in time and how to make course corrections.
How do you throw a rock to hit a tree or in colder climates, a snowball to hit a car. The quick answer is at first you dont hit it but you keep at it and improve your craft. Similar to pitching in many ways and the science of command.
You can always improve but at the same time some are born with better eye-hand coordination than others and the improvement that a mature person could expect (given proper mechanics) is probably within some kind of range, imo.
No matter how hard he tried Rick Ankiel was never going to have the command of Greg Maddox. I've heard some people talk about "Kinetic IQ"- knowing where your body is positioned at any point in time and how to make course corrections.
quote:Originally posted by igball:
I think the most direct answer to your question is practice.
I think that is probably close to the best answer you may find here, practice, practice, practice and learn to make those adjustments as you mature and move forward.
DK is out in Arizona, the air is so different the ball reacts differently. Just another example of how so many things affects hitting spots.
There are so many factors that go into the question asked, if it were easy everyone would be a pitcher!
When it comes to a 4 seam fastball the best advice I have heard is stride to the location that you want the pitch to go. The best advice I have heard is in regards to learning focal points. Most young pitchers just get up there and throw and then do not understand why pitcher that move, or break go all over the place. When you start to get them to understand to if I want a pitch to break to point B you have to start it at point A. I have seen this work wonders with young pitchers.
Use one baseball.
Holland tonight. Ahead in the count, not in the middle of the plate.
Another Great Question!
I'm beginning to love this site.
A pitcher can hit their spots when there is consistency with their mechanics; meaning all of their momentum is going straight toward home plate.
When a pitcher is off balance its hard to hit spots and the inconsistency with any of their pitches becomes predictable.
When pitchers have optimal balance (core stability) the only difference between an inside and and outside pitch is very minimal at release of the baseball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H3_Hr1e6U
I'm beginning to love this site.
A pitcher can hit their spots when there is consistency with their mechanics; meaning all of their momentum is going straight toward home plate.
When a pitcher is off balance its hard to hit spots and the inconsistency with any of their pitches becomes predictable.
When pitchers have optimal balance (core stability) the only difference between an inside and and outside pitch is very minimal at release of the baseball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H3_Hr1e6U
