Why You're Failing at Winter Pitching

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Coaching Your Daughter Through Winter Pitching Practice in Chicago

As the winter months approach here in Chicago, we all know that the weather isn’t exactly ideal for outdoor softball practice. Cold, wind, and snow leave us with fewer options, some of which can be expensive, like renting cages for $60 per hour, in order to keep developing your daugther’s skills.

Consistency is key for any pitcher’s development, and becoming an effective pitcher comes down to one thing: repetition. The pitcher who can practice pitching full distance with a catcher 4-5 days per week, and does supplementary practice on the other days, is going to be the one who improves the most. At Practice Pro, we call this our "Something for 7 Days" approach. It’s about doing something every day, even when the conditions aren’t perfect.

That said, not every family has access to the perfect practice environment, and that’s okay! Plenty of successful pitchers have come from teams that didn’t have the best equipment or facilities. The key is to find a way to keep practicing, no matter what obstacles come your way. Here’s a list of equipment and facilities you can use, ranked from best to least effective, but remember: any practice is better than no practice.

1. If You Have a Catcher

Best Setup: Mound, Bucket of Softballs

  • If you have a bucket of softballs and a mound, great! Have your daughter pitch full distance to you, and if she overthrows a ball, just grab another one from the bucket. Collect all the balls at the end of the session instead of after each pitch. This saves time and lets her pitch with full effort without breaking the flow.

2. If You Don’t Have a Catcher

a. Full Distance with a Net and Real Balls

  • If you don’t have a catcher but you have a net, use it! Set up the net at full pitching distance and have your daughter do her prescribed workout, pitching directly into the net. The more balls you have, the less shagging she’ll need to do—at least two buckets would be ideal.

b. Short Distance with a Net and Real Balls

  • If space is an issue, shorten the pitching distance but still use real balls and a net. This is excellent for working on mechanics. You can even make it fun by placing pieces of tape or targets on the net and turning it into an accuracy game. While this won’t exactly mimic full-distance “feel”, it helps your daughter develop a bit more finger dexterity and control over the ball.

c. Short Distance Without Real Balls

  • If you have limited space at home (like a basement or living room) and real balls aren’t an option, you can still set up a net and use lighter practice balls like these or these. These won’t damage floors or walls, and they still provide good practice for mechanics, although they won’t help as much with accuracy. Encourage your daughter to aim for targets on the net to keep building that feel for her pitches, even if it’s not perfect.

d. No Net, No Real Balls

  • If a net isn’t possible, and real balls are out of the question, there are still ways to practice! Soft, lightweight balls can be thrown against a wall or even into a hung-up blanket. Just make sure the ball isn’t over 9 oz, as anything heavier could put unnecessary strain on her shoulder. Whiffle balls or foam balls are good options. The benefit of lighter balls is that they allow her pitch with the fastest arm speed possible (less ball-weight to move) compared to a normal ball.

  • This could also go up to #1 as the best way to develop mechanics - pitch without a ball looking into a mirror. A pitcher can see how good her arm circle is and if her stride is straight, and correct it immediately. The only thing is that this doesn’t improve her “feel” for a release point, but it’s the BEST thing she can do to improve her mechanics.

Why Close-Range Work Matters

If I could make one recommendation for all young pitchers, it would be this: start by pitching into a close net for the first two years of your daughter’s pitching development. Why? Because when she doesn’t have a target to focus on, she’ll be able to concentrate solely on getting her mechanics right. This helps her build the proper movement patterns faster and more effectively.

Think of it this way: Does your daughter have great mechanics in practice or when pitching into a net, but seem to forget them when she gets into a game? That’s because she hasn’t yet reached what we call “unconscious competence,” the stage where mechanics are second nature. Throwing into a net early in her development can help get her there faster.

Join Our Practice Club

If you’re looking for a structured way to help your daughter stay on track, our Practice Club might be a perfect fit. We offer a pitch-for-pitch workout plan for 10 weeks, designed to be followed with a catcher. But even if she doesn’t have a catcher, you can easily modify the workouts to fit whatever equipment or space you have at home.

Winter in Chicago doesn’t have to mean the end of pitching practice. With a little creativity and commitment, your daughter can keep developing her skills and reach her full potential, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

See you at practice!