--Perform a full pitch or a K drill in front of a mirror. A full length mirror is best but any mirror where you can see your arm path will work.
--Be specific about the things you are working on and what you are trying to get better at. Examples might be a good arm circle, stepping onto my power line, not pivoting my front foot too early.
--Make sure to wear your glove so that the drill is more realistic!
--Perform a full pitch with or without a ball in your hand. If you are using a ball practice getting the sign and grip from your glove. Practice telling yourself certain “cues” you use to throw that particular pitch (for example “stay aggressive if you’re practicing a changeup or “finish close to my body” for curve or rise).
--If you are not using a ball, like mirror pitching, be specific about things you want to work on mechanically.
--Alternating between a full speed dry pitch and a pitch closing your eyes is a good way to FEEL if you are making that mechanical adjustment.
--Perform a full pitch or from a K position using a medium sized towel or any object with a flexible end (the top part of a hitting tee for example) that will make a “WHOOSH” or “whipping” noise
--Keep a loose/relaxed arm while holding the object so that the end of the towel/object lags behind your arm (shoulder, elbow, hand) and will catch up creating a whipping noise
--This will help ensure you are creating an arm whip which helps with arm speed and thus speed to your pitch
--Use a normal ball or a weighted ball to practice your spins
--You can spin the ball into your glove to yourself or from your knees into a soft spot of a couch from about two feet away. You are just working on your spins here so don’t wind up and throw it hard into the couch.
--Really focus on getting the correct spin depending on what you are trying to throw. FEEL how it is coming out of your fingers and what your hand/wrist is doing relative to your body. Repeat the correct feeling over and over.
--From a figure K position, snap fastballs into your glove to work on your whip. You can try to work on other pitches than your fastball for this but it might be awkward.
--Choose to step from the K position or just focus on moving your arm. If you step make sure you are stepping on your powerline and not across it.
--Feel how the ball is coming off your fingertips. Feel the sequencing of your arm (shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist/hand, fingers). Be loose and whippy.
--This drill is like a combination of a full “dry pitch” and a figure K into your glove.
--Practice your full motion with weight shift, freeze once you get into the K position.
--Check your mechanics from this stopped position. How is your arm circle? Make sure it is on-line (not behind your head), how is your arm? Make sure there is a slight bend in the elbow (not locked out and stiff), how is your step? Make sure you are staying on your power line (not stepping across).
--Make sure your knee remains in a good position, under your hip with a slight bend, not over-rotated and facing away from you
--Although this is a great drill to do when you do have a catcher you don’t need one to work on this leg-drive drill.
--Sit on your couch with your feet in position like you are on the pitching rubber.
--Perform a full pitch and practice driving out from the seated position. Feel the load into your front leg and see how far you can stride out.
--Next time you are able to fully pitch with a catcher, try to feel the same load into your front leg.If customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.
--Squeeze a squishy ball (like a dogs toy or a foam ball)
--Use rubber bands around all of your fingers and extend your fingers out to stretch out the rubber band
--Grab something longer and with some weight and do some “snaps” with it working on your forearm strength (I am trying to think of something other than a dumbbell..maybe a half gallon of milk?, or a liter of soda?)