owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
Pitching is a complex motion made up of several small movements of the upper and lower body, sequentially executed with proper rhythm and timing. Bad habits are hard to break, so it's important to teach younger players the correct mechanics and build a solid foundation from the get-go.
Pitching coach Myndie Berka explains the correct mechanics of pitching, and offers 13 drills to help reinforce proper pitching technique.
Upper Body and Grips
Every pitch begins with a grip and is crucial to great spin and control. Learn how to throw the basic fastball with two different grips, including the 2-seam grip, which can be easier for younger pitchers with smaller hands. Learn the correct mechanics of the wrist snap and create looseness with the arm circle, which causes whip and leads to speed. Coach Berka also offers a variety of drills using grips that help reinforce and create great spin. Additionally, you'll see drills featuring three training aides (such as spinners, socks etc.) to develop consistency and efficiency.
Lower Body Mechanics and Drills
Isolate the lower body and learn how to properly setup on the mound as Coach Berka teaches how a pitcher should create leg drive by loading the legs, shifting weight, and aggressively striding out towards the plate. Most of these drills don't even involve a ball, which helps the player focus on leg drive and reinforces great technique.
The Wind Up
After isolating the lower body, Coach Berka adds in the wind-up. In order for a pitcher to be successful, a fast and tight arm circle is necessary. Coach Berka offers three different wind up options with variations within each one to help pitchers generate power at the beginning of their motion. This is also where the pitcher begins to combine upper body and lower body movement to learn proper sequencing. Drills are added to help pitchers understand different checkpoints throughout the pitch, proper glove side mechanics, as well as drills for balance.
Full Motion Drills
Coach Berka introduces seven drills she uses with her pitchers to practice pitching fundamentals, in addition to reacting to balls hit back at them. No catcher? No problem! Learn how to improve pitching by throwing self-pitches, where the pitchers flip the ball to themselves. This will help your pitchers improve glove mechanics, as well as practice upper body timing.
You will hear Coach Berka give positive feedback to her players on what corrections to make and why they are important. She also includes different challenges and competitions for pitchers that will help them stay focused and begin to develop their competitive drive.
It is often said that the mark of a great teacher is breaking down complex material and making it easy to understand. By that measure, Coach Berka is a great teacher. She takes the complex pitching motion and breaks it down to the basics and makes it easy for anyone to digest, understand, and teach to others.
74 minutes. 2016.
SD-04984B: with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
There's more that goes into pitching than just throwing a ball across home plate and hoping that batters don't hit it. All too often, developing pitchers focus on throwing strikes and fail to develop the discipline to throw to precise locations while mixing speeds.
Myndie Berka delves into the art of pitching, showing more advanced pitchers how to control and neutralize hitters by hitting spots and varying speed. She takes you through an ordered and detailed development of drills to help pitchers improve their ability to hit locations. You'll also learn a series of instruction on the development of alternative change-up techniques that will help keep hitters off balance.
Developing Focus Points
Teach your pitchers the physical adjustments they must make to hit their spots consistently. Coach Berka discuses focus points and release points, which helps pitchers develop the feel and visual focus needed to control the ball both in the zone when they need a strike and around the zone when they are ahead of the count.
Drills for Hitting Spots
Missed spots often result in the opposing batters making solid contact, so having good command is something pitchers need to excel at. Coach Berka offers 12 drills for pitchers to employ when practicing hitting their spots. These practical visual feedback drills require simple tools available to any pitcher. Advanced location drills are demonstrated and explained to provide a simple and effective training routine for pitchers to hone their location performance and begin to understand the selection of location, based on the count.
In one particular drill - One Skips - pitchers try to skip the ball off home plate to practice keeping the ball low. Gradually, pitchers progress to hitting a knee-high, then chest-high target. Throughout the drill, Coach Berka reinforces the art of pitching by helping players understand where they want to miss, if they happen to miss their spot. All pitchers miss spots, so it's important to know where to miss when it happens.
Change-ups
The changing of speed can be the most crucial part of controlling the hitter. Coach Berka teaches a variety of change-ups starting with the Flip, modifying it to develop a Curve Change, and then the Shove change using six different grip variations. For all change-up techniques, Coach Berka provides a logical sequence of drills and progressions for learning the pitch, as well as which one may be most beneficial based on the strengths of the pitcher.
Coach Berka teaches not just mechanics, but the art of pitching. This video will teach your intermediate and advanced pitchers how to control hitters by hitting their spots and changing speeds.
91 minutes. 2016.
SD-04984C: with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
Superior spin is the secret weapon of dominant pitchers. Blazing speed is an effective weapon for an inning or two, but late-breaking movement pitches can keep batters guessing for a full seven innings.
Too often, developing pitchers believe that once they have the grip, movement is automatic. Myndie Berka covers the rise, curve and the peel and turnover drop balls to give your pitchers what they need to get maximum spin on every throw.
She begins with variations of grips for each spin and ends with drills to help pitchers learn where pitches should be breaking. Coach Berka uses her own students to demonstrate each drill and includes feedback as they move through the progressions. This feedback will help you learn what to look for in your pitchers as you introduce them to the different pitches.
You will also learn when a pitcher is ready to progress from one stage to the next, appropriate cues to use so pitchers will know what the pitch should feel like and look like, different ways to challenge a pitcher to master a pitch. You will learn what are some fixes for some common problems that pitchers have when learning a pitch and what drills work when a pitcher is struggling with a particular spin.
Rise Ball
The rise ball is the ultimate strikeout pitch. Coach Berka explains the grip and snap necessary to develop late-breaking movement on the rise ball, and offers two drills for rise ball spins. She also explains eight spin stations with spin trainers to help the pitcher feel coming underneath the ball, which will create the backwards spin that makes the rise ball jump.
Curve Ball
Throwing the curve is similar to the grip and snap of the rise ball, except the pitcher snaps around the ball to give it the sideways spin that makes the pitch dance away from the hitter's bat. Coach Berka explains how to put proper spin on the curve ball and uses a spin progression with Frisbees to demonstrate. This is a fun drill that teaches pitchers the snap move of the wrist, while providing them with immediate feedback as to how successful they are. Coach Berka also offers five spin stations to help pitchers get the feel of proper spin.
Drop Ball
The drop ball is a great pitch to have in a pitcher's arsenal as it produces a lot of ground ball outs and is not frequently hit for home runs. The drop can be thrown two different ways, and Coach Berka explains each while having her pitchers demonstrates a four-step drill progression for learning and perfecting the wrist snap.
Body Position and the Full Pitch
Once the grip and snap is mastered, the goal is to put the body in the correct position to help the pitch spin. Coach Berka has her pitchers demonstrate three body position drills, which are different for each of the three movement pitches. She also offers a drill for each of the three pitches to help your pitchers execute late-breaking movement, and one light flight drill that can be used with any pitch.
Coach Berka breaks down the grips, wrist snaps, and body positions required to throw the rise ball, curve ball, and drop ball. You'll get 24 total drills which will help your pitchers feel the correct movement and execution of each pitch.
73 minutes. 2016.
SD-04984D: with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
Pitching is a complex skill that must be performed correctly for the pitcher to maximize her power and control. Because each movement in the pitching motion builds sequentially on the prior movement, any flaw or inefficiency can cause the pitcher to lose power, accuracy, or even result in injury.
Myndie Berka provides a great understanding of what the proper mechanics and key checkpoints in the pitching motion are by using slow motion video analysis software. She discusses correct pitching mechanics, then shows pitchers with inefficiencies and identifies 12 common flaws in the pitching motion. Coach Berka also offers 25 drills to help correct the flaws.
Correct Mechanics
For any motion, it's helpful to know what the correct mechanics look like in order to learn and successfully execute the movements. Coach Berka uses video to identify key checkpoints within the pitching motion from the set up, weight shift and load, and upper and lower body position at toe touch. She then works through the pull down phase into the release and finish position, again identifying key upper and lower body checkpoints. With each movement, Coach Berka explains why it's important to the overall pitching motion.
Lower Body Mistakes
Coach Berka identifies eight common pitching mistakes associated with lower body mechanics and four mistakes pitchers make with their upper body. Some of the mistakes covered include:
- The weight shift and load
- Drive foot problems
- Glove arm problems
- Balance problems
- Locking out the pitching arm
- Arms and legs not in sync
- Tight or unnatural follow through
For each mistake, Coach Berka shows the flaw on video, fully explains the issue by identifying what happens when pitchers haveeach flaw and how it hurts them, and then offers several drills to correct the issue.
Drills to Correct Pitching Flaws
After identifying particular flaws in the motion, Coach Berka introduces a variety of drills to help correct each of them. These drills are done using live pitchers and provide appropriate progressions and cues to help pitchers feel what an efficient motion should feel like.
For example, one of the mistakes is when pitchers lock out their pitching arm, which makes their arm circle and subsequently pitch slower. To remedy this flaw, Coach Berka offers a bottle drill, which involves a pitcher holding a water bottle and performing their arm circle. If the pitcher locks out her arm (the incorrect movement), the water will spill out of the bottle, while the correct movement causes no spillage.
Coach Berka's simplifies the pitching motion into key checkpoints and then shows what poor pitching mechanics look like. You'll also receive drills to correct common flaws, making this one of the best pitching videos on the market.
73 minutes. 2016.
SD-04984E: with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
Competition between the pitcher and batter is at the heart of the game of softball. With the ball in the pitcher's hand, the outcome of the game is usually also in their hands. Pitchers must practice these pressure-packed, competitive situations to excel in live game situations.
Pitching coach Myndie Berka introduces multiple competitive games that can be done individually or with a fellow pitcher. Consequences are also built into the drills to help pitchers learn how to deal with the failure or stress that can occur during a game. Coach Berka's games and drills will force your pitchers to be uncomfortable and she discusses different strategies of how to deal with the pressure situations and failures that often occur during games.
Mechanics
Having a good mechanical foundation is important part of pitching, as poor mechanics can result in inefficiencies or injury. Mechanics can break down under pressure, so Coach Berka starts off with four mechanical competitions. These drills feature pitchers competing against a partner and challenges the pitchers to conquer basic mechanical concepts like staying balanced.
Movement Pitches, Change-Ups and Target Pitching
Throwing late-breaking movement pitches is vital to success on the mound, as these are the pitches that will cause batters to swing and miss. Coach Berka has her pitchers compete with a different drill for throwing fastball/change-ups, drop balls, and rise balls. Location is another critical component for success on the mound, and Coach Berka has three stations of drills to prepare her pitchers to hit their spots when the pressure is on.
Conditioning
Pitching is a demanding cardiovascular activity, so pitchers must be in top shape to be able to throw full 7-inning games. Coach Berka offers four competitive conditioning drills to challenge pitchers to execute their pitches while fatigued. In one drill, players must throw a pitch and sprint to the catcher to retrieve the ball, and then sprint back to the mound to throw another pitch. In this drill, the pitcher is competing with the clock, as the goal is to get seven pitches thrown as quickly as possible.
Games
Coach Berka helps pitchers develop the mental toughness it takes to work through the adversity that can occur during a game. She offers two competitive pitching games and two drills to replicate game-like situations. These drills focus on important concepts for pitchers like throwing strikes, hitting spots, and also challenge pitchers to understand the strategy behind pitching.
Pitching is one of the most pressure-packed positions a player can assume on the field. Coach Berka's drills will help prepare your pitchers to thrive in competitive game situations.
77 minutes. 2016.
SD-04984F: with Myndie Berka,
owner/pitching instructor of BreakThrew Fastpitch
Myndie Berka has trained hundreds of successful pitchers. Her pitchers have:
- earned scholarships at over 60 different colleges and universities
- competed at the Women's College World Series at the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA and JUCO levels
- been named collegiate All-Americans
- been collegiate national strikeout leaders at both the NCAA DI and DII levels
Speed is a typical concern for pitchers; almost all pitchers want to throw harder. Throwing faster pitches puts pressure on opposing batters to make quicker decisions, which makes the pitcher more difficult to hit.
In this softball pitching video, Myndie Berka offers 25 drills and four circuits to make pitchers stronger. She breaks down the body into lower and upper body and drills each separately before putting it back together and training the whole body for producing power and speed. These challenging workouts teach hurlers not only the physical toughness they'll need to be successful on the mound, but also the mental toughness and discipline to become dominant pitchers.
Coach Berka does a remarkable job of explaining what some of the common flaws are and how to correct them during many of these challenging drills. She explains the value and purpose of every exercise and tool she introduces so you have a better understanding of the drills. Each drill reinforces proper mechanics as Coach Berka explains variations of many of the drills so you can cater them to each of your own pitchers.
Lower Body: Harness and Loading
The strongest part of the pitcher's body is their legs. Therefore, most of the power generated by a pitcher must come from the legs and lower body. Coach Berka introduces five harness drills that show pitchers what it feels like to get more power from their lower body. Three loading drills are also demonstrated, which put pitchers in a position to generate more power from the legs. Proper mechanical principals are emphasized and reinforced during these challenging drills.
Upper Body: Weighted Balls
If a pitcher has good mechanics, throwing with heavier or oversized balls can help strengthen the shoulder, arm and wrist, while also creating a faster arm circle. In these four drills, Coach Berka has her pitchers train with oversized softballs, over-weighted balls, and two softballs taped together to strengthen the arm and make pitchers be faster with the snap. She pairs this with throwing with a lighter ball to increase arm speed, resulting in stronger and faster pitches.
Walk-throughs and Distance
Putting the whole motion together, Coach Berka introduces three walk-through drills to help pitchers understand what it feels like to be more powerful. She also has her students demonstrate a distance throwing drill, and offers four drill options for throwing distance when confined in a small space. These drills are ideal for indoor practices when space is limited.
Circuits and Drills
Get in a challenging pitching workout while pressed for time! Coach Berka offers four pitching circuits, which combine several pitching drills and demand maximum effort from pitchers in minimal time. She also explains four other demanding pitching drills that are good for conditioning and can be used as an entire pitching workout. These drills will teach your players the physical and mental discipline necessary to complete a challenging workout.
The challenging drills taught by Coach Berka will help your pitchers develop physical strength and mental toughness, which will translate to more wins on the mound.
63 minutes. 2016.