How Pitchers Can Easily Improve Control

I want to address the physical side of a pitcher's ability to improve control and throw strikes more consistently. And it starts with form. As a pitcher, you must strive to be as consistent as possible in throwing each pitch the same way. If you are consistent about this, it makes it much easier to make adjustments when you're wild because you can "zero in" on the target.

A pitching coach once explained it to me this way: It's like a sharpshooter. If he is consistently missing his mark high, he simply lowers his sights. If he's consistently missing right or left, he adjusts to the other side. But if the sharpshooter is not holding his rifle the same way -- in other words, he holds it at his shoulder one time, and at his waist another time -- he will not be able to zero in on the target. So his actions must be consistent to adjust his sights and line of target.

The same is true of a wild baseball pitcher. If your pitching motion is the same on each pitch, it's a lot easier to make small adjustments and find that strike zone again. Consistency of your pitching mechanics is the key to consistency in throwing strikes and improving control.