Improving command?

[Charger567]

I am 13 years old pitching the NE AAU Super Division. And I am getting the life beaten out of me. I throw as hard as anyone we face, but still get rocked because I can't hit my corners and keep it low. Is there anything I can do besides pitch more to improve it?

[virg]

It's easier to hit your spots at under max speed. So, constant speed change; infinite variation. Nearly any batter can i-d and react to two speeds. Most can handle three, few can deal with more than three.
Change speeds per your judgment of how the batter reacted to the last pitches.
Minor increments of speed change, half dozen to a dozen to who- cares. There will still be a batter or two to a lineup hit this, but not many.
As you warm up for the inning, let your last pitch be at max velocity: at least three guys are watching, will be awaiting it so it will work for you all the time as you fiddle with their minds at other speeds with other pitches.

[XFactor]

Blocked bullpen sessions.

What this is, is it's throwing 5-6 pitches to a specific spot, then taking a break (2-3 minute to avoid any lactic acid build up as you continue on, as it impedes skill learning [if you wanna know scientifically why, I'll share, otherwise continue reading]), if you're lucky enough to have a video camera that you're able to look at slow motion, do that so you can make sure to make any needed changes. Then repeat another 5-6 pitches

Before you pitch, imagine yourself, both how you feel (moving explosively), and external movie (ie. see yourself) pitch at full speed, and a strike where you want it.

Always be positively talking to yourself.

[TG Coach]

I am 13 years old pitching the NE AAU Super Division. And I am getting the life beaten out of me. I throw as hard as anyone we face, but still get rocked because I can't hit my corners and keep it low. Is there anything I can do besides pitch more to improve it?

Is your fastball straight? Do you throw a two seamer (breaks more than a four seamer). Do you have an effective offspeed pitch?

Command will come as you get bigger, stronger and gain experience pitching from sixty feet. Successful pitchers disrupt hitter's timing by mixing speeds. I'm not tossing out the need for command. But command will come with experience. If you stay away from throwing wasit high fastballs you should be OK in 13U. Good luck.

[Go Cardinals]

Sounds to me that your to concerned with your velocity and not throwing strikes. The speed will come, so you should slow it down next practice and hit your targets especially if your balls are being shelled.

[Postblank]

I am 13 years old pitching the NE AAU Super Division. And I am getting the life beaten out of me. I throw as hard as anyone we face, but still get rocked because I can't hit my corners and keep it low. Is there anything I can do besides pitch more to improve it?

Those blocked bullpen sessions sound like a decent idea. There's also a pitching target out there that has the strike zone blocked off into 9 squares. On days you can't find a catcher, you could use that for target practice on the low corners.

How many times do you throw a week?

[Charger567]

Those blocked bullpen sessions sound like a decent idea. There's also a pitching target out there that has the strike zone blocked off into 9 squares. On days you can't find a catcher, you could use that for target practice on the low corners.

How many times do you throw a week?


Six days a week, but I only pitch three or four of them. I just moved up to sixty feet this year, but it seems like I am one of the fewer pitchers in the league that can't hit my spots. It doesn't matter how hard I fire it in there, I get hit.

[XFactor]

Well you better focus on hitting your spots then. Are you missing way outside? Way inside? Up, down, do you have video? Please say yes

[jima]

Blocked bullpen sessions.

What this is, is it's throwing 5-6 pitches to a specific spot, then taking a break (2-3 minute to avoid any lactic acid build up as you continue on, as it impedes skill learning [if you wanna know scientifically why, I'll share, otherwise continue reading]), if you're lucky enough to have a video camera that you're able to look at slow motion, do that so you can make sure to make any needed changes. Then repeat another 5-6 pitches

Before you pitch, imagine yourself, both how you feel (moving explosively), and external movie (ie. see yourself) pitch at full speed, and a strike where you want it.

Always be positively talking to yourself.

X, a lot of what Mills talks about in terms of drills make sense to me. I agree with the above drill. I just don't know why the Mill's devotees spend so much time criticizing conditioning and long toss. What seems to make a lot of sense re: drills and mechanics loses validity when the conditioning issues come up. I would advise to get off that soap box. The majority of great athletes cross train. Its a fact that can't overidden by a bunch of specificity in training jargon/studies. jima

[TG Coach]

Charger ... How big are you? The transition from 46/50 to 60 feet is significant. A lot may be affected by your size. Consider this year a learning experience. Next year you will be bigger and stronger. The same will happen the following year. If you work hard and have the talent it will all come together eventually.

I realize you want to be successful now, but in a couple of years no one will be talking about 13U. It will be what you can do today (when that day comes).