In today's video, I'm going to teach you why softball throwing
needs to adopt sidearm throws as part of its everyday practice.
So sidearm throwing in softball is really important because of the field is small.
The game is fast, but it's a skill that's under taught and under utilized.
So if you're new to my channel, I'm coach Dan Blewett, I do tons of softball, throwing
drill videos, throwing mechanics videos.
I have online courses that teach you start to finish how to analyze your mechanics.
Links are below.
If you're interested in those and I'm here to help you improve your game.
And for me, it's a way for me to give back because I used to
be a baseball Academy owner.
I taught tons of softball players and baseball players over the years.
And I'm really interested in helping you wherever you are, just improve your
game and work on what matters most.
So again today, let's talk about sidearm throwing, because I think this is one of
the most under taught aspects of the game.
And it's yet, it's a really critical throw for all positions.
So as a catcher, you will have to throw side on when you're
running out the scoop up a bunch.
And make have to make a really quick throw without setting your feet,
bringing it back to center and all that.
So when you get a bond that's kind of far out there, you might have to bear,
hand it, pick it up and throw it the way you are and you can't do that over hand.
So that throws something that needs to be in your repertoire.
Outfielders.
You might not think like that you need a sidearm throw.
And in general I would agree, except the field again is really, really small.
So I've watched in games, you know, the right or left field is charging.
And it's a ball that just like barely squeaked through and they're
there, they're running up and now they're think they're gonna throw a
home, but then it's two to two and now they have to throw it a second.
And they've got a ton of momentum and the throw is not that far.
So the sidearm throw makes sense for them in that situation.
So I think it's worth practicing even for Outfitters as well.
And obviously for infielders, these are the big reasons that you have to throw
aside are number one, the field is small for throws that are less than 50, 60 feet.
Sidearm is much, much easier.
It's just a quick throw.
You pull your shoulder back, you pull your elbow back and then you release.
So it's a very quick, it's your fastest possible throw sidearm as
its weight faster than getting your front shoulder up, pulling your
front shoulder down and then getting your arm into this tilt of position.
Sidearm is just boom, boom.
And it's on its way.
So that's number one, the field is small and it's sidearm is your quickest throw.
It's just like, think of it being like a gunslinger.
You might have your rifle for really long shots if you're
like back in a Western movie.
But if you're in like a situation where you gotta like pull out your pistol,
that's what your sidearm throw it is.
It's your really quick thrown.
We all know that.
Right?
The other thing is again, because they feel so small, you're
going to charge balls a lot.
And when you're running, your shoulders are going to be level.
And I'll link to it below.
I have another video shoulder tilt and why it's important, but the
short story is your arm angle always will match your shoulder tilt.
So you can't throw over hand, like over the top, like this with your shoulders
being level, it fits doesn't work.
So if you're on the run, when you're on the run, your
shoulders are going to be level.
You're not going to be running with tilted shoulders.
Right.
So when you're on the run, Your arm angle has to match.
If you try to throw over hand, you will just push the ball and you
won't throw it very hard at all.
So when you're on the run, all those throws have to be sidearm.
Your body is going to force you to do it.
Otherwise you're gonna throw a poor mechanics and push it.
So, because the game is so fast and you're going to charge so many balls
because girls are speeding on the line.
Those doors pretty much have to be cited.
They have to be there.
Then when you're a second baseman or your shortstop, and you have a
quick feed throw to second base.
Especially if you're second base, when you have to go that way, you know,
you have to pivot and throw that throw has to be sidearm as well, because
you're going to pivot and your shores are going to be downward sloped.
And again, you can't throw over hand when your shoulders are
sloped this way towards your arm.
You've got to throw a subsite arm essentially from there.
So.
When you're throwing it quick.
So here's the, here's the way the math, I want you to think about it.
Small field equals quick throws, quick throws equals level shoulders, and then
quick, there was also means on the move and on the move equals level shoulders.
All this stuff adds up to side arm throw as being one of your most often
used tools as a softball infielder.
So here's how you can do that.
Number one.
I've preached about softball, about sidearm, throwing a ton on this, on
this channel for fast pitch players.
It's really, really important, but here are a couple of fixes that if you're
saying, Hey, I'm, you know, I'm a coach and my players, aren't very good at this.
What should I do?
Here's what I would do.
Number one, the full-size softball.
Is a little more difficult.
Everyone knows that it's big.
Right?
I would, number one, recommend either practicing with 11 inch softballs, just
for like maybe 10 throws in your pregame.
Maybe you just hit them some 10 and soft balls and they work
on making those throws out.
We just to get comfortable with it.
Cause smaller balls.
It does make it easier to work on changing your mechanics.
Number two.
Baseballs or wiffle balls.
All of them are good.
They can throw just as part of their warmups.
They can just Chuck with the balls at each other.
Um, baseball's were great.
Baseball is five ounces versus around seven ounces.
And there's actually like a little bit of a range, like 6.7 to 7.2.
These are all five ounces, uh, and much easier to handle.
So these are gonna feel lighter.
They're gonna feel a lot more confident throwing these.
There's nothing wrong with throwing a baseball.
There's nothing wrong with throwing an 11 inch softball from time to time
as just thinking of them as training devices, rather than the end game device,
you don't have, have to always stay with the regulation side of softball.
Again, this is just a training tool in baseball.
This is the, obviously the game ball, but in softball, this is
the game well, but this is just a training tool for softball players.
This can be a training tool for baseball players and baseball players
do throw a softball sometimes.
Pitchers do to get feel for different stuff.
And it's a weighted ball as well.
So there can be some advantages of throwing softballs 11 and
softballs and even wiffle balls.
Just for fun to give a station where they're just on the
run, they just throw it up.
Throw into a net and so much crushed my pen holder right here,
but they can just be on the run.
Throwing into a net is one of your stations in practice.
It's a great way to do it, but don't be afraid of using smaller, lighter,
baseballs, or variants, whatever it is.
The other thing is practice this in, in, in pregame practice
at between every inning.
So when your players go out there between the fourth inning and they're getting
their ground balls and toss them over.
Make them say, Hey, you're going to get one in the middle and throw it over hand
one in the middle, throw it sidearm.
And then you're gonna make one or handle the run and throw it on the
run side harm and make it back in on the run, throw it away right arm.
And then Ronnie either left or run either.
Right.
And make a really tough thrill as well.
Forced them to make the tough throws in between innings and make it part
of their premium routine as well.
The more you can mix these drill in drills in a they're fun.
And if you just let the girls know, Hey, it's not a big deal.
If you throw some away, no one cares it's practice.
The more you do it in practice, the fewer errors you're going to make in the game.
That's just the way it works.
Okay.
So I really want you to be, I think this is a cultural shift
that needs to happen in softball.
It needs to have an ambassador.
These throws need to improve.
We all know that throwing mechanics are not as good as they should be,
but learning sidearm, I think is one of those really crucial aspects
of this because everyone's trying to throw every ball overhand.
And the body's saying, I can't throw over hand when I'm on the run.
I can't throw over hand.
When you ask me to do it really fast, it doesn't work.
Let me throw the ball sidearm.
And you're going to get more oomph on it.
Your arm's going to feel better.
You're going to make stronger CRISPR, faster, quick, accurate throws.
And that's what everyone wants.
Again, the field is small.
It means we need quick throws, small equals quick, quick equals level shoulders
level shoulders means a sidearm throat.
All right.
So hopefully this video helps again.
I'm coach Tam blew.
It definitely hit the like button and the subscribe button for me today.
Check out my online courses for softball, throwing, which you're
also in the description links below.
Thanks again for watching and I'll see you here in my next video.