How do you improve your baseball pitching control?

I'm 14, can pitch about 75 MPH on my fastball, but my control is horrible. I can get it into the strike zone but my pitches are off center. If I try to pitch in the bottom right corner, it'll probably end up belt high on the right corner.

First of all, control is the key to success!!!! I don't know what kind of form you have but that has a lot to do with control. now if you watch most major league pitchers, everyone has a little bit of a difference, IE delivery, leg kick but all get to the same spot when throwing the ball. When you watch a major league throw a bullpen, they hit their spots all the time because they have practiced their delivery and have a consistent release point. When I have someone that is struggling with control--it really results from a couple of things.
1. They are not staying strong on back foot---either off-balance, leaning toward plate, on heel or toe.
2. Not concentrating on target. i used to practice picking up a piece of dirt and lineing it up with the catchers target--kind of like bowling--so guys look at third base in wind-up and wonder why they can't throw strikes--Concentrate!!!
3. Release point--not releasing ball in front of front foot--arm is dragging.
4. Aiming the ball and not throwing through target.

There are more but the big thing is you need to practice your mechanics. I will give you the basics of pitching mechanics you need to take this and make it your own. Practice this year, even in the off-season and you should see better results by your freshman season. God bless

Instructor: Chad Sadowski
Pitching

1.Balance position-straight up and down with no bend in back leg and front leg at its highest position. Make sure front leg is crossing over back leg. No leaning, all weight over back leg. Head is directly over back foot--Balance on ball of foot not on heel or toe. (Practice by holding position for intervals of 30 seconds.)

2.Hand separation before momentum- Take the ball with thumb down, it should only be about 6inchesout of glove before you start going forward. Glove hand starts to move up--elbow pointed toward target. Pick up target and then onto step three. I like to use reference points. I try to look at a piece of dirt or something and line it up to my catcher’s target, (like bowling lines on lane). Practice step one then right into step two. Make sure no momentum toward plate at this point.

3.Rotation with arm at its highest but strongest position- First lead with front leg keeping torso back and closed onto target. Front foot should land comfortably right in the middle (not on ball or front) at 45 degree angle. Also front knee at a great bend. Front glove hand should be up pointing to plate with no shoulder turn. Back leg is straight with foot still in contact w/ ground not on toe. Fingers are on top of ball and arm is parallel with ground at highest but strongest position. Make sure you have a good arm arc--you started with the slight separation then continue back with thumb always down and fingers pointing toward second base. When landed arm should be strong not completely straight and fingers toward third base on top of ball.

4.Finish explosive/transfer of weight- glove hand is thrusted down, fingers still on top of ball releasing the ball over the front foot. Key to velocity is the transfer of back leg weight to front foot. Front knee was bent on land but now should be straight with front foot flat (never on toe!) Finish through the front foot flat! Don’t collapse back leg. Then pitching arm should finish to the ground and touch your back lat. Your back is parallel with ground. Back leg should not drag but should be thrust into air. End with back leg parallel with front foot in a ready field position. Important that you don't follow-through by thinking finger toward target but rather down and through your target, don’t aim the ball. Make sure you use your entire body to decelerate your arm--For instance--watch major leaguers on their follow through. They aren't off-balance and rarely falling off-either way.

Little keys-

·In Practice, pitch with a purpose- 6 out, 6 in, 2 doubles (same side), 2 hard in- soft away (fb in, ch away or sl away). Follow a routine to get results.
·Always practice slide step. Make sure you use your lower half.
·Practice picking up spot on dirt then target. (Step two)
·Sometimes with two strikes set up next pitch, hard in then soft away or hard in and hard away, soft away hard in. etc.
·Throw with a purpose, 20 pitches at a 100% is better than 50 pitches at 75%

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