The Importance of Good Fundamentals in Softball Pitching

When my pitches started to fall apart in the middle of my games, I was taught to go to the bullpen between innings and restore my rhythm. That involved going back to the foundation and fixing my fastball. Every time I started learning a new spin pitch, I had to first solidify my fastball to make sure my form was right. I can’t remember the last time I threw a straight fastball in a game. Yet every time I warmed up for a game, I always started with fastball drills. It’s my reset button, my foundation, and the reminder that without solid fundamentals, everything else falls apart.

When a young athlete first steps into the circle, it can be tempting to want to jump straight to the “cool stuff”- the fast pitches, the rise balls, the movement that makes hitters freeze. But here’s the truth: every great pitcher begins with great fundamentals. Without them, all the advanced techniques in the world will fall apart.

At Athletic Geniuses, we believe fundamentals are more than just the first step- they’re the foundation that supports everything else. Pitching is a skill with a steep learning curve, and bad habits form easily in the wake of trying to master all the little details of pitching. Too often, families spend their hard-earned money only to realize that their child is re-learning the fundamentals they should have mastered early on. That’s why we focus on teaching them right from the start.

Why Fundamentals Matter

• Consistency > speed. A wild fastball doesn’t help the team. Mastering form and accuracy ensures every pitch counts. Plus, the more solid your foundation, the faster and longer you will be able to throw.
• Habits are hard to break. When young pitchers start with poor mechanics, they often have to spend months unlearning bad habits before they can advance.
• Strong base, stronger growth. Fundamentals are like the roots of a tree- the deeper and stronger they are, the taller the pitcher can grow and the more spin pitches they will be able to develop.
• Confidence comes from mastery. A player who trusts that their mechanics are sound steps into the circle with purpose and composure.

More Than Mechanics

We also believe fundamentals go beyond arm angles and stride length. They include work ethic, discipline, and resilience– qualities that athletes carry far beyond the softball field. By teaching players to embrace the process of small, consistent improvements, we help them develop not only as pitchers but as people.

Our Approach

That’s why Athletic Geniuses develops pitchers stepwise through FAST:

• Fundamentals – the mechanics that matter
• Accuracy – learning to hit your spots with confidence
• Speed – increasing velocity without sacrificing form
• Trade secrets – advanced techniques only once the foundation is strong

We want every pitcher to graduate from our programs with a sense of purpose, a strong faith that they can accomplish that purpose, and an actionable plan to succeed.

In short: get the fundamentals right, and everything else becomes possible.