The screw ball is one of the hottest pitches in softball! While it's easy to learn, it can cause problems if thrown incorrectly. Houston's Kyla Holas breaks down a comprehensive list of basic fundamentals and drills that your pitchers can use to develop a safe and effective curve ball and screw ball.

Starting from the fast ball position (to avoid tipping the hitter), Coach Holas covers the basic philosophy of the grip, the appropriate axis for the ball, the proper leg path and weight shift, head angle and arm mechanics to throw each pitch.

Holas implements many pitching tools that all coaches have handy to help with the development of her pitchers. She demonstrates with a small football to show the grip, axis, spin and arm movement for the screw ball, as well as a similar drill with a flying disc for the curve ball. Halas uses live demonstrators for each drill so you can see the mechanics in motion and to show you necessary check points to ensure that proper form and technique are being followed.

Using a variety of common equipment, Holas shows how your pitchers can use their footwork and momentum to deliver your pitch. She demonstrates proper release points and balance for the pitches and shows how to gauge accuracy and the break of the ball.

The screw ball and curve ball can become "go to" or strike out pitches if learned and thrown safely. By implementing these drills into your pitchers daily work outs you will see improvements and increase the productivity of your pitchers in no time. These drills can be utilized by the beginning pitcher as well as the experienced pitcher. A must get tutorial on the curve and screw ball!

2012.

Bring your best stuff onto the field every time-and prepare to win even during those times when "your best stuff" isn't there.

Utilizing video footage, props, demonstrations, and straightforward expert analysis that draws on unmatched personal experience, UCLA Pitching Coach Lisa Fernandez delivers a truly comprehensive clinic on pitching preparation.

Starting with the premise that confidence comes from preparation and mechanics, Coach Fernandez delivers generous amounts of highly detailed insights into how, exactly, she and others at her level prepare to win. She covers everything from instilling the proper 5-phase mechanics and control at the earliest age, to specific visualization techniques for the night before, to game-day preparation, to a unique method for marking the field and guiding the pitcher's stride only moments before she throws the first pitch.

She also presents specific approaches for handling all sorts of in-game adversity, including those moments when "feel" just isn't enough. With valuable tips for players literally at every stage, this is a video that will grow as your players grow, but is also immediately beneficial to women competing at the very highest levels of the sport today.

Take your pitchers into that magical zone where they're both hyped up and in control, dominating hitters from the very first pitch, because they've prepared properly from day one.

95 minutes. 2011.

Develop better control and more explosion in your pitchers.

This extensive library of pitching drills features more than 90 exercises from three-time national championship coach - John Tschida. Coach Tschida demonstrates drills that will help you work with your players to correct common mistakes in their pitching form to develop effective throws.

Starting with wrist snaps to build the throwing motion, Tschida demonstrates drills that encourage your players to maintain a loose wrist and loose arm. These drills will eliminate restrictions in your pitchers delivery, which will give you top velocity. Tschida moves to drills that will help keep your players balanced and develop a consistent stride to maximize the effectiveness of their pitches.

From there, Tschida shares drills that focus on the rotational part of the pitching motion and the follow through that work on finishing off pitches properly. Tschida closes with drills to increase velocity and build control. He also includes some competitive drills that bring all of the elements together and force your players to focus on the entire motion to throw a quality pitch.

Many of these drills presented provide your payers with immediate feedback so they can adjust their mechanics as needed. With these drills you will be able to work with your players to develop their pitching mechanics and fundamentals.

147 minutes. 2009.

As a former high school coach and now one of the most successful Division III Coaches, Christowski knows all of the key foundations to developing a successful pitcher. This video provides the young pitcher with step-by-step instruction on the importance of ball size, grip, wrist snap, release, stride and footwork. He also discusses foot placement on the pitching rubber, presentation of the softball, weight transfer and the delivery.

2001.40 minutes.

Coach Nancy Evans has been successful at every level of her playing and coaching career, as she developed into the top college pitcher as a two-time All-American and has the all-time NCAA best winning percentage (.938), currently plays professional softball and coaches at one of the premiere college softball programs in the US. Through her experience and instruction, Coach Evans has gained a comprehensive knowledge in every aspect of becoming a complete pitcher and shares in this video the step-by-step progression to develop and succeed as a windmill pitcher. Using one-on-one player-coach demonstration, Evans breaks down every step in the pitching process from choosing the best grip to the full pitch and fielding position. Coach Evans moves through a progression of drills to develop the correct mechanics in every stage of the pitch and strongly emphasizes mastering skills through monotonous repetition and consistent practice routines in route to better accuracy, correct spin, and pitch speed. This step by step progression of the basics and fundamentals of windmill pitching can be applied and practiced at any level from beginner to advanced, and is essential to learning how to pitch the correct way!

77 minutes. 2005.

SD-02348B: with Nancy Evans,
former University of Arizona Assistant Softball Coach,
#1 All-time Winning Percentage in NCAA (.938) as a player, 1998 National Player of the Year, 6 NCAA Championships (as player & coach)

When thrown effectively, the "ruthless" rise ball is a great strikeout pitch and a fun pitch to throw. Nancy Evans shows you how to throw the rise ball that catapulted her to the top of the records books in Division I collegiate softball. Evans demonstrates for you how, when, and why you should throw the rise ball. She includes grips, body mechanics, the release, and the follow-through. Full speed demonstrations show you the full pitching motion and how the pitch moves for all three variations of rise ball: the high, medium, and low rise. Coach Evans demonstrates her favorite drills that will give your rise ball speed and accuracy. When done correctly the rise ball is one of the best strikeout pitches you can throw.

48 minutes. 2005.

Nancy Evans provides valuable troubleshooting advice for 15 of softball's most common pitching errors. Coach Evans demonstrates practical tips and drills to correct flawed pitching motions that hamper a pitcher's speed, accuracy, and throwing motion. She includes general pitching corrections for pitches that are too high, too low, too far inside or outside, as well as mechanics and spins for the screwball, curveball, change-up, rise ball, and drop ball. These are the skills Coach Evans perfected during her playing days making her the all-time NCAA leader in winning percentage (.938) and helped her, as a coach, guide the 2004 Wildcat pitching staff to a 1.03 team ERA! Every coach and pitcher should watch this to make sure you are getting the maximum potential out of every pitch.

65 minutes. 2005.

One of the most frequently asked questions from softball pitchers is, "How can I increase my speed?" Coach Nancy Evans addresses this question by teaching and demonstrating the key catalysts, components, drills, mechanics, and principles that will increase your pitch velocity. Evans knows what it takes to become a dominant pitcher. She is the all-time NCAA leader in winning percentage (.938) and was an integral part of three NCAA championships as a starting pitcher. By sharing the key components that both contribute to and inhibit pitch speed, Coach Evans will help you to maximize your velocity on the mound. In addition, she discusses how your physical makeup and training program can influence pitch velocity and how to set realistic goals to strive for at various stages of development. Leg drive, wrist snap, arm strength, proper mechanics--Coach Evans includes everything you need to throw as fast as you can

48 minutes. 2005.

The three most common pitches thrown in softball are the fastball, rise ball, and an off speed pitch. Often, the only difference between a good pitcher and a great pitcher is an effective breaking ball. This informative DVD features two effective breaking balls: the screwball and the curveball. Nancy Evans teaches and demonstrates how, why, and when to throw the curveball and screwball. Coach Evans builds each pitch from the ground up. She includes grips, body movements, the releases, and the follow-through for both pitches. With the help of on-field demonstrators, Evans shows you each pitch in slow motion from three different angles and teaches drills that you can use to improve and develop your breaking pitches. These drills will help you practice your pitching motion and will give you instant feedback as to whether you are throwing the pitch correctly. Evans shows both pitches at full speed so you can see the finished product.

65 minutes. 2005.

The "challenging" change up is a great pitch to throw to keep opposing hitters guessing and off-balance. Nancy Evans presents the most comprehensive session available on DVD on how to effectively throw and utilize an effective change up. She demonstrates grips, mechanics, the release, and follow-through for seven variations of the change. Evans not only shows you how to throw the change, but discusses when to use it in a game to maximize its effectiveness. She provides progressive drills that help teach the pitch one step at a time and will improve your motion. Using full speed demonstrations, Coach Evans shows exactly how the pitch should be thrown and gives tips on proper placement. She includes a look at common errors pitchers make when throwing the change and how to correct those errors. When disguised and thrown correctly, the change up is a very effective pitch and a great compliment to the fastball and rise ball.

43 minutes. 2005.

Arizona Softball pitching legend Nancy Evans shares the "daily dozen" drills that catapulted her to 1998 National Player of the Year and have made the University of Arizona a "softball pitching factory" (Evans, Jennie Finch, and more) and a national powerhouse in collegiate softball. Coach Evans presents a wide variety of unique, practical pitching drills for pitchers of all levels and abilities. These individual drills will help pitchers develop and master all of the elements of successful pitching such as 'violent' wrist snap, correct spin, control and accuracy, muscle memory, effective leg drive, proper mechanics, arm strength, and velocity. Coach Evans strongly emphasizes building an arsenal of pitches using these drills by teaching the principles and mechanics of the fastball, rise ball, curveball, screwball, drop ball, and change-up. Effective teaching points and quality demonstrations will help you put a polish on your favorite pitches!

76 minutes. 2005.

SD-02348H: with Nancy Evans,
former University of Arizona Assistant Softball Coach;
#1 All-time Winning Percentage in NCAA (.938) as a player, 1998 National Player of the Year, 6 NCAA Championships (as player & coach)

If you want to become a dominant softball pitcher, you need to have three pitches you feel confident throwing in any situation. An effective drop ball is a "must have" pitch for your arsenal and with the insight and instruction provided, you will learn how to master the "deadly" drop ball pitch! Coach Evans provides teaching and demonstrations of the techniques, drills, and skills for throwing this tremendous pitch. In addition, she highlights a number of game-time situations where this pitch is most effective. Every step of the way she provides easy to understand instruction on techniques such as grip variations, mechanics, footwork, and release. She also provides a five-step drill progression to give you instant feedback on how you are progressing with the pitch. Having trouble learning the drop ball? Want to give your drop ball some extra pop? Coach Evans troubleshoots your drop ball by revealing common errors and how to correct them. The Deadly Drop Ball provides all the tools you will need to have your drop ball falling off the table.

38 minutes. 2005.

Why is it that two athletes of similar physical caliber often perform differently in the same situation? The answer is mental toughness. The mental toughness aspect of athletics is one of the most important, yet one of the most often overlooked. Arizona's Nancy Evans, 1998 Honda Award Winner and National Softball Player of the Year, shows you how to develop the mental toughness necessary to be a winner on the mound! With a degree in psychology (U of AZ) and the pedigree of a national champion softball pitcher and now coach, Evans combines her knowledge of the human mind with her on-field experiences to demystify the secrets of performing well under pressure, revealing nine areas that will help you maximize your mental toughness on the mound and help you excel under pressure. Excellent!

68 minutes. 2005.