The secret to amateur pitching.

Throw a curveball for a strike. It's really that simple. And, if you can do it on the first pitch of the at bat. WOW!

Of all the variables that go into being a successful amateur pitcher, nothing seems to have the effect of throwing a curveball or slider for a strike. It's THE secret weapon. Well, maybe it's not so secret. Here's why.

If you can't throw a curveball for a strike, amateur players and players at any level for that matter simply won't look for it. If they won't look for it hitting a fastball is essentially batting practice. That 80 something fastball gets timed and hit. However, throw something offspeed for a strike and they start looking for it. That 80 something fastball looks like 90 something and that pitcher is successful.

At amateur levels of baseball this concept is accentuated. Professional baseball players have the ability to hit breaking balls. Amateur players really struggle with the ball that moves. Therefore, when they get that curveball for a strike they can't hit it to well anyway. And, when the start looking for that curveball they can't hit the fastball anymore either.

The curveball for a strike. When you've got it- you've got 'em.