The High-Level Pitching Formula: Accuracy PLUS Movement, Velocity, Change of Speed

When it comes to building a top-tier college pitching staff, the four wow factors of pitching—Accuracy, Movement, Velocity, and Change of Speed—are essential. Among these, Accuracy stands as the ACE, the cornerstone of effective pitching. I will never forget Lisa Fernandez, legendary Olympic pitcher and long-time assistant coach at UCLA, who once emphasized that a mere six-inch difference could turn a ground ball to second base into a home run over the right field fence. She mastered the art of placing a ball precisely on the inch she aimed for. In the world of competitive softball, this kind of pinpoint accuracy isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a game-changer. This blog delves into why Accuracy reigns supreme among the wow factors and how mastering this skill can elevate any pitcher to ace status on a college team.

There is no doubt that coaches are looking for players in the recruiting process who have all 4 of these qualities. In fact, of the 4, “accuracy” in the recruiting process is the least flashy to get you noticed. A 70 mile an hour fastball thrown right down the middle will get you noticed faster than a 55 mile an hour fastball on the hands that pops that #4 power hitter out to your third baseman. A drop ball that falls right off the table just before it enters the hitting zone will induce ground balls and swings and misses and turn a college coach’s head. And a tremendous off speed thrown with a deceptively similar motion to a fast ball will disrupt the hitters timing and cause multiple mishits that will also catch a recruiter’s eye. So it is absolutely important to work on all of these wow factors as well.

However, when you get onto the college team itself, Accuracy -not Velocity, Movement, or Change of Speed- will be the Ace of the staff. And here is the reason why:

A.) Velocity that is 70 mph but thrown over the plate will go out of the park repeatedly. Collegiate hitters are strong and they are trained daily to hit speeds up to 80 miles an hour. So without pinpoint placement (aka-accuracy), velocity can only be effective in small doses. It is WHERE you put that 70 mph pitch that creates a problem for the hitter.

B.) Movement is by far one of the most impactful pitching strengths to obtain, as late break causes the hitter to misjudge an end point and miss the barrel of the bat. However, a curveball that ends in the strike-zone routinely gets hit to the right center gap or over the fence. A riseball induces three things in high numbers: pop-ups, strikeouts, and homeruns. So the ability to place your riseball on the hands or spot your curveball just below the knees on the edge of the outside corner is the key to getting outs. Without accuracy, those movement pitches often end up in the parking lot. Again, we are back to accurate placement being the key to success.

In fact, at a recent National Convention, Co-Head Coach of Tennessee -Karen Weekly- said that she calls for a well-spotted fastball more than many of her pitcher’s other pitches. She also said that when thrown inside, many people think it is a screwball but it’s just a tight fastball placed perfectly. And this is a program that makes the D1 College World Series routinely.

C.) Last, we have “Change of Speed.” And this talent is by far the most effective way to disrupt a hitter’s timing. It is the second most important pitch for a pitcher to master (after the fastball) for this reason. However, trained hitting technique and composite bat advancement are equalizers to a CHANGEUP that isn’t placed in the right location. Some hitters will wait for the changeup and look for slow down the middle. Some hitters are taught how to have a flexible front knee so that when the weight transitions forward too early, the hands stay back and can still snap through extension for a great hit.

In fact, my cousin’s ace pitcher at DePauw University who is currently 14-0 with a 0.91 ERA and 122 K’s in 85 innings, says that according to their pitch tracking, changeups accounted for over 60% of the hits that Cami had given up through her first 10 wins of the season. Hitters are getting better at adjusting to slow. So to combat this trend and change that statistic for Cami’s changeup, they adjusted to throwing the changeup at the hands, outside of the strike zone, or dropping in the dirt before it enters the hitting zone. In Cami’s last four games since making this adjustment, no one has gotten a hit off the change-up, and in fact, she’s gotten 10 K’s just from this adjustment of WHERE she puts the pitch.

At the end of the day, it is WHERE you throw a pitch, not the pitch itself, that brings about the most consistent success. The ability to throw pitches with pinpoint accuracy comes from repeated practices that emphasize this skill above all things. And this is GREAT news for all of my pitchers at Practice-Pro. This means that all it takes to be the ACE on staff with accuracy leading the way is practice itself.

How awesome to know that greatness comes down to practice, and practice is within our control. It's the skill that transforms a good pitcher into a great one, ensuring that every pitch is a strategic weapon rather than a potential liability. For aspiring pitchers at Practice Pro, this is incredibly empowering. Mastering accuracy is within your grasp and comes down to diligent practice and unwavering focus. So, as we continue to hone our skills, let's remember that our journey to becoming the ace of any pitching staff is built on the foundation of pinpoint precision. Embrace the practice, trust the process, and watch as your accuracy turns you into the pitcher every team wants. See you at the mound, ready to practice our way to greatness!