Switch Pitching 101

Young ambidextrous pitchers For a right-hand dominant player, it is very important for the ambidextrous thrower to get experience pitching left-handed in games. Left-handed pitchers tend to get more time on the mound.  For a left-hand dominant player, I suggest starting out pitching right-handed in a game, then switch to throwing left if needed. From my coaching experience, alternating throwing arms between batters, in Little League (under 13), usually throws off the pitcher's rhythm. My suggestion is for the young ambidextrous pitcher to  only throw with one arm each inning .  Start out throwing with the non-dominant arm, then switch to the dominant arm if needed. Be your own relief pitcher. This strategy makes warmup easier and you can focus on throwing strikes. Plus, you don't need a special ambidextrous glove to pitch! Starting Pitcher Number of innings | pitching strategy 1-inning warmup left pitch left one inning 2-innin...

Where can I buy an ambidextrous baseball glove? Ambidextrous Baseball Glove by Akadema Akadema makes about 100 ambidextrous gloves a year. The Akadema ABX00 is the only ready-made ambidextrous baseball glove on the market. The cost of the Akadema ambidextrous glove is around $110 on Amazon Wait - before you purchase an ambidextrous glove, please read:  Baseball Glove Options for Switch Pitchers  >> If you are looking to buy a six-finger ambidextrous glove like Pat Venditte uses for switch pitching, then you will have to custom order one from Mizuno.  Learn how to order a Mizuno  GMP1A Ambidextrous Glove   >> Custom ambidextrous baseball gloves Both Louisville and  Mizuno make high-end custom ambidextrous baseball gloves, costing $400 - $450. Plan ahead since the custom-made gloves take 4-6 weeks to deliver. Custom Ambidextrous Glove by Carpenter Carpenter Trade will make a custom ambidextrous bas...

Over the years, there have been a few patents issued for  ambidextrous baseball gloves . It's interesting that there are any patents for ambidextrous baseball gloves, since there aren't many switch pitchers in the game.  In the past fifty years, there have been around  50 ambidextrous pitchers featured in the news . Pat Venditte, the minor league ambidextrous pitcher, has created a lot of interest in switch pitching – and he uses a six-finger custom glove. However, very few kids are willing to put in the work to become a both handed pitcher. Until recently, it has been hard to buy a ready-made ambidextrous baseball glove, since the big companies didn't produce them. But I found out that some of the baseball companies created preliminary designs and made prototypes of ambidextrous baseball gloves. Rawlings produced a prototype of an ambidextrous baseball glove that I found  posted for sale on eBay . The last bid was $565. I don't think Rawlings prod...

Inventor :  Floyd William Kortum Patent number : D198560 Filing date : Feb 13, 1964 Issue date : Jul 7, 1964 Ambidextrous Baseball Glove, 1964 patent Four-finger glove with double webs and two thumbs slots Patent USD198560 Read about the inventor Dr.  Kortum's  bio

Getting enough throwing practice can be tricky in the cold and wet weather. But if you want to be a good ball player, then you have to practice on a regular basis. Perfect practice will prepare you for games. Stay focused, and make every warmup throw count. How much practice is needed?   Throw at least 10-15 minutes each day - if you want to be good. How often should I throw?     Throw hard daily , if possible. Or throw every other day if you are doing another sport. Tip: If you want to gain velocity, then throw hard in practice .         - good advice from a college pitching coach Can you give me a sample throwing schedule?    Below are throwing schedules for pre-season and the regular season -- used by a very successful ambidextrous pitcher in high school. Remember to do dynamic warmups and tubing exercises before throwing. Then do cool down and stretching. Run short sprints. No long distance running!...

DJ gives a switch pitching demonstration

Mike Scott demonstrates how to throw long toss Gaining distance on long toss will happen slowly. Focus on accuracy and technique, your arm strength and distance will follow. Throwing over the top will create further throws, and a solid backspin. Remember to use the legs and drive down the line to your target. Don't try to throw with everything you've got, long toss is a 70% - 80% exercise, not a 100% throw like you're trying to throw someone out at home. Last, find someone who can comfortably throw the same distance. - Mike Scott Mike Scott baseball videos Long Toss Throwing Routine ...

Lawrence J. Corcoran Larry Corcoran switch pitcher Born: August 10, 1859 in Brooklyn, NY Died: October 14, 1891 (age 32) Positions:  Pitcher and Infielder Batted: Left Threw:  Both   (primarily pitched right-handed) Height: 5' 3"   Weight: 127 lb. Teams:   WhiteStockings/Nationals/Giants/Hoosiers 1880-1887 Glove:  None, pitched barehanded Larry Corcoran - 
Chicago White Stockings (1884) Larry Corcoran pitched using both arms in a game between Chicago and Buffalo. He alternated arms pitching, for four innings, before switching positions to shortstop. Pitched Three No-hitters Corcoran became the first pitcher to throw three no-hitters, setting a record that would stand until 1965, when Sandy Koufax threw his fourth no-hitter. He is also know for being one of baseball's few ambidextrous pitchers. Pitching signals Larry Corcoran is  credited with being the first pitcher to work out a set of signals with hi...

Elton Chamberlain baseball card St. Louis Browns Elton P. Chamberlain Born:  Buffalo, NY, on Nov 5, 1867 Died:  Baltimore, MD, on Sept 22, 1929 Positions:  Pitcher and Outfielder Batted:  Right Threw:  Both     (primarily pitched right-handed) Height/Weight:  5' 9", 168 lb. Teams: Reds/Browns/Colonels/Athletics/Spiders (1886-1896) Glove:  None, pitched barehanded Elton "Icebox" Chamberlain -
 Louisville Colonels (1888) Chamberlain was 18 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 13, 1886, with the Louisville Colonels.  Chamberlain threw with both arms during an American Association game between Louisville and Kansas City on May 9, 1888. He pitched only two innings in the game. Ambidextrous  pitching  – without a glove While in the Falls City, Elton became one of three 19 th  century hurlers known to have pitched ambidextrously. (The others were Larry ...