I’m Coach Marisa, and I just couldn’t be happier about being the newest addition to the Practice Pro team! I’m super excited to have the opportunity to work with young players on their journeys to greatness within the sport of softball. I look forward to getting to know each of you as I put forth my best efforts to aid and empower you into becoming great batters and confident women.  

I’m sure some of you noticed that I used the word “batters” instead of “hitters”- very astute if you did! I firmly believe that there is a distinction that can be made, and for those of you who join my offensive classes, you are going to learn, execute, and dominate because of those important nuances.

From “just throw strikes” to “you need to master a fastball first,” there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about how what to teach a pitcher when developing her. Many of these beliefs are so common they feel like fact—especially for beginners. But here’s the thing: softball pitching is full of counterintuitive concepts, and the common beliefs often miss the mark.

Let’s clear the air. Here are the first 6 of 14 misconceptions we hear all the time—and why they’re holding pitchers back.

Welcome to the Ultimate Glossary of Pitching Terms, brought to you by Practice Pro. Save it, share it, and use it anytime you’re wondering what a coach, parent, or player is talking about.

🔑 Fundamental Terms

Stride – The forward step the pitcher takes toward home plate as part of her delivery.

Power Line – An imaginary line running from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate. Pitchers aim to stay aligned with this during the stride to maximize power and direction.