Resources

The Rise Ball Solution: Drills for Staying on Top of Softball's Toughest Pitch

It’s the most dominant pitch in fastpitch softball. It starts at the knees and looks like a perfect, belt-high fastball—the pitch you’ve dreamed of all game. You load up, your eyes get wide, and you take your best swing... only to feel the vibration of the ball off the end of your bat as it harmlessly pops up to the infield, or you swing through it completely for strike three. Welcome to the rise ball. It’s the great equalizer, but it’s not magic, and it’s not unhittable. Conquering it isn't...

Training with a Purpose: How to Use the MC3 to Improve Swing Decision Metrics

The hitting world has been revolutionized by data. Exit velocity and launch angle are now common language in every dugout and batting cage. We have incredible tools to measure the...

A pitcher's job isn't over when the ball leaves their hand. Think of your pitcher as your fifth infielder. Their ability to field their position—handling a screaming comebacker, charging a bunt, or covering first base—can be the difference between a tough loss and a dominant win. This defensive skill requires the same dedicated practice you give your shortstop, which is why a dedicated PFP program, much like your high-tempo infield drills ▸, pays huge dividends. Yet, Pitcher's Fielding Practice (PFP) is often the most neglected part of training. Coaches hit...

There is no lonelier feeling in sports than being in a hitting slump. The ball looks like a pea, the bat feels like a noodle, and every out feels like a confirmation of your worst fears. Your confidence plummets, and suddenly the game you love feels like a chore. The typical reaction? More practice. More tweaks. You watch videos, you move your hands, you change your stance. But often, the harder you try, the worse it gets. The Vicious Cycle of a Slump A slump begins when you lose trust...

Beyond the Bleachers: Drills for High-Pressure Situational Hitting (RISP & More)

It’s the bottom of the last inning. The winning run is on third base with one out. The player who strikes out and the player who hits a sacrifice fly to...

The Ultimate Pre-Game Hitting Routine: 10 Minutes to Get Locked In

The clock is ticking. Your name is on the lineup card. Butterflies are doing flips in your stomach. As a baseball or softball player, those final moments before a game...

Fixing the 5 Most Common Swing Flaws (And the One Tool You Need)

It’s one of the most frustrating cycles in baseball and softball. You spend hours in the cage trying to fix your swing. You focus on keeping your shoulder up, but...

The Two-Strike Approach: Drills for Building Mental Toughness with the MC3

Every player knows the feeling. The long walk back to the dugout after a called third strike. The frustration of getting fooled by a breaking ball in the dirt. The...

Championships are built on defense. Every softball coach knows this. But building a rock-solid, automatic infield requires thousands of quality repetitions. For decades, the fungo bat has been the tool of choice, but it has a fundamental flaw: inconsistency. Even the best coaches can't hit the exact same grounder twenty times in a row. One is a little to the left, the next has too much topspin, another is too soft. This variability is great for random practice, but for drilling fundamentals and building muscle memory, you need consistency. This...

For a catcher, there is no skill more fundamental—or more game-changing—than the ability to block a ball in the dirt. A perfectly executed block is the ultimate safety net; it keeps runners from advancing, prevents runs from scoring, and builds unshakable trust with your pitching staff. But how do you practice it realistically? Coaches have spent countless hours on their knees, throwing ball after ball into the dirt. The problem? It's predictable. The catcher knows it’s coming. A standard pitching machine throwing straight fastballs doesn’t simulate the unpredictable spin and...

It’s the pitch that defines a season. The one that separates a good hitter from an unstoppable one. For a fastpitch softball player, that pitch is either a rise ball that seems to defy gravity or a drop ball that vanishes off the table. Mastering them isn't about a lucky swing; it's about understanding the science, anticipating the pitcher's strategy, and training for the specific challenges they present. This guide will break down these "unhittable" pitches and give you a clear plan to turn a pitcher's greatest weapon into your...

What Coaches Really Look for at Tryouts (It's Not Just a Pretty Swing)

It’s one of the most nerve-wracking days of the year. You walk up to the field and see fifty other players, all with the same goal, all looking the part....