How To: Pitch like a Pro

1. Don't Give up, this can be a crucial step if you do give up, you'll never do it, and if you never do it, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Make sure you follow other guides after you read this one, because I can't possibly tell you everything you need to know about pitching.

2. Throw strikes, if you can't throw this, you can't pitch. Don't worry about "junk" pitches, all you need to do is throw strikes. Once you can master throwing strikes, then you can throw more difficult pitches such as the curveball, knuckleball, changeup, slider, circle-change, screwball, forkball, splitter, thumb ball, palmball, changeup, knucklecurve and all the others.

3. Follow through, make sure after you delivered the pitch, you move your arm from the air, to the side of your hip. Which will give the ball more power, and more accuracy.

4. Experiment with new pitching styles, if you can't get it over the top, try sidearm, but this should be avoided until in high-school. If you can't throw sidearm, through submarine, This can be an amazing hitter's worst nightmare. Make sure when you throw submarine, that you extended your arm, almost touching the dirt, and release when it's coming up. This should be able to throw strikes every time. And when throwing over the top, make sure you release at a comfortable position and you fire it.

5. Find a good "from-the-top" or "windup" style. You can distract the batter if you have a unique windup. I suggest stepping back, over the head, move forward, then fire it. This can make the ball go really fast

6. One of the most common mistakes when pitching is to make sure it hits the catcher's glove. This can decrease speed immensely , and this can also make the ball travel wild. Try to throw fast, but controlled. Don't look at the catcher the entire time, check the bases, then fire.

7. If you are throwing it to high, try to extended your leg farther when you pitch. This will help you bring your arm down, and bring it into the strike zone.

Tips:

* Make sure you practice, practice, practice. The day before you pitch in a game, rest, and play long toss. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and stretch.

* Drink plenty of fluids on the day of the game, don't try to practice all morning, then pitch, this can make your arm really sore and decrease speed and accuracy.

* Do not take steroids, this can be dangerous to your arms, even though it might help you throw, just don't take them. You will not regret it.

* Listen, and improve, when you do this, you will increase your speed and accuracy remarkably.

* Follow Through with the pitch, this will give you a better form, and help you in the long-run.

* Never cheat to win, play to win, and you'll win every game.