A good fastball is often the primary pitch in a hurler's arsenal. Even pitchers who do not blow batters away with their velocity use their fastball to set up their other pitches. To move his fastball in and out and up and down, a pitcher needs to have command and control of the pitch. When his fastball is consistently high, there are a number of things a pitcher can do to fix the problem.
Release Point
Throwing a fastball well is all about consistency. You must follow the same routine when you throw a fastball and the release point is one of the key factors. Use an overhand motion and when the ball is at shoulder height release the pitch. If you release the ball too soon, your pitch will likely end up high and out of the strike zone.
Back Leg Thrust
Pitchers should use the pitching rubber to push forward and generate velocity for their fastball. If you don't push off the rubber correctly, you put all the pressure on your arm and shoulder. Push hard with your back leg -- right leg for right-handed pitchers; left leg for lefties -- to generate more speed and control. Pitchers who don't push hard with their back leg often throw the ball high.
Concern With Base Runner
One of the pitcher's top priorities is keeping base runners close to prevent them from getting a good jump on a stolen base attempt. However, pitchers also often try to speed up their delivery to get the ball to home plate faster and give the catcher more time to throw out a runner trying to steal. Hurrying a fastball can also cause the ball to be high in the strike zone. Pitchers need to remember that their primary job is to prevent the batter from getting on base.
Fatigue
Pitchers also tend to stray from using the correct form when they get tired. No matter how well a pitcher has conditioned himself, fatigue is almost always a factor when using an overhand motion. An overhand delivery puts strain on the arm and shoulder. When those muscles are fatigued, pitchers sometimes use shortcuts that affect the accuracy of their pitches. Shortcuts include not pushing hard off the rubber, not bending enough when delivering the ball, slowing their arm speed and changing the release point.
References
- The Complete Pitcher; Pitching Fundamentals: Steven Ellis
- "The Fundamentals of Pitching"; Bill Ripken and Cal Ripken; 2004
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