A. Experience. Not just coaching but playing. I’ve pitched in everything from the finals of the World and National Championship games to the best International invitational tournaments in the world. I know what it’s like to be at the highest level of competition as a player/pitcher and I can translate those experiences into my coaching. Very few coaches out there have the actual background that I have, or the knowledge of all the intangibles of pitching.

Q. How does someone know they have a good coach? What makes you think you’re teaching the right and correct way to pitch?

A. these 2 questions go hand in hand. As a parent, team coach or pitcher, all you can do is ask many questions of your instructor. Someone’s own personal successes as a pitcher do not always translate into a great coach but it can be an indication of many things. As a pitching instructor with years of pitching at the highest level of International softball, all I can do is teach what has worked for me personally to get me where I have been. There are not a lot of instructors out there with tremendous amounts of their own pitching experience, let alone ones that rivals my own experiences. Yes, there is some quality ones. Ask a lot of questions and use this simple rule of thumb; if it doesn’t make sense, it’s probably incorrect!

Q. You’re not a big advocate of many drills done by many coaches, which drills are you a fan of and use personally?

A. Drills can be good and bad. Depending on what purpose they are being used for. If it is for corrective behavior only, I have no problem with them. However, we must be careful not to damage other things in the pitching mechanics while doing drills. Personally, I like to use the walk through drill where the pitcher takes 3-4 steps before throwing the pitch. This gets the legs into the pitch and warms up the pitcher’s rhythm. As he/she gets more and more warmed up, they should be pushing hard with the last step. I also like the sideways drill (often referred to as the “K” or the “X” drill). But, it’s important to make sure the pitcher is moving the front leg up and down at the same time as the arms. Everything must move together. Transferring weight is very important, as is keeping the shoulders back. When done correctly, this drill will help with both things.

Q. I want to increase speed, how can I? How fast do you pitch?

A. I honestly don’t know how fast I pitch, I’ve never seen myself in a game! Speed is not the most important thing, I’d take movement anytime. Yes it’s nice to be able to reach back for a little extra but, that will only take someone so far. After that, they’d better have something else. It’s important to be able to throw it past a hitter, just to keep them honest but changing of speeds is even more important. Velocity will improve with mechanics. It’s important to get the mechanics 100% sound, then start worrying about the increase in speed. People who use brut strength will only make it to a certain point in their development. Without the correct motion and using the entire body, they will plateau earlier than the pitcher with the sound mechanics.

Q. What is the most common error taught in pitching today? What are some others?

A. I think the most common error in pitching today relates to the follow through. Pitchers are taught every day that the follow through of the pitching hand comes straight upward, as if to touch the pitching shoulder. This motion presents problems on several fronts. A lot of velocity is being lost because the elbow is not being utilized correctly to help deliver the pitch. Also, it usually means the hips are not staying open long enough (if at all) in the motion. Remember; the pitcher should be completely sideways when striding at the catcher, on the arm’s downswing, the elbow should be bent as if it’s going to jam into the pitcher’s ribcage. As the elbow meets the ribs, the snap occurs at the elbow, wrist, then the hips. So, the actual follow through is somewhat diagonal, not straight up and down. This will give maximum velocity AND movement to the pitch.

Q. What is the best and worst pitches to have?

A. The best pitch to have is simply any pitch that gets the batter out or misses the bat completely! Ha ha. In reality, a pitcher needs 3 pitches only; rise, drop and change up. All three should have variable speeds and should be able to be thrown for strikes at any given time. Pitches to avoid are any kind that do not move up and down (i.e. fastball, curve, screwball). Many pitchers spend too much time concentrating on learning an arsenal of pitches rather than learning a few that will get any hitter out. The pitch should always be changing planes, not staying straight. If your curveball goes up or down as it curves, GREAT! If not, get rid of it! All it will be is an advantage for a hitter if it doesn’t go up or down. While curves and such seem to work at younger ages, you must remember to teach your pitcher what will help them win later on in their career, as well as right now. As your pitcher ages, so do the batters against her.

Q. What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had since you began coaching full time?

A. Trying to correct all the bad habits taught by pitching coaches who truly do not understand how to pitch and what it takes to throw a ball correctly. Many coaches today teach things that are so fundamentally wrong and it’s extremely hard to correct those things in young pitchers (and older ones!). I teach the way I pitch and what’s got me where I am in the sport today. That style and technique does fly in the face of what’s commonly taught today by many coaches. Personally, I take that as a good challenge because it shows that when it’s done correctly, pitching can take you to the top of the world, and all over the world.

Q. What’s the hardest thing about being a pitching coach?

A. It’s funny that both the hardest and easiest thing about it is the same. The answer is, convincing people what is the correct way to pitch. It’s hard because many folks have been drilled with so many wrong teachings and they’ve spent countless dollars on instructors that have reinforced those ideas. Yet, it’s easy because all I have to do is demonstrate how I do it, while explaining WHY I do it differently then the others and it becomes very clear. Putting on a pitching demonstration is worth its weight in gold for the skeptics because they can see how what I say is put into place. And, more importantly, WHY it’s done a certain way!

Q. Do you do clinics and private lessons? How much do you charge?

A. Yes, I do clinics and private instruction. If you see my schedule for clinics, I go all over the place to do them. I also work Internationally with several National teams and International Softball Federations in development of their junior pitchers for leagues and junior national teams. Clinics are a great tool to get programs on the right track but, like anything, without proper follow up, the lesson could be lost. So, it’s important to keep up with what it taught. My fees are all flexible. I really don’t have a set fee because everyone’s situation is different. The only demand I make of places that host me for a clinic is, any child from an underprivileged family that cannot afford the entry fee be allowed to participate anyway. I know times are tough for many families and I don’t want a kid to get turned away over a few dollars. I am sure I’ve been burned on that in the past by some people but, I’d rather have that happen than have someone miss out on the opportunity.