The Pace Car or the Race Car?

Which do you drive? Everyone wants to throw fast. We think that is great! The purpose of speed is to make the batter make a quick decision. The purpose of movement is to make her regret that decision. The faster you throw the more you force a hitter to make a hasty decision as to where the ball may be when it reaches the plate.
What are factors that allow a kid to throw fast?

We asked some of our Instructors to list the qualities of their kids who take it to the next level. I love the NASCAR example so we worked their suggestions into the racing model. It fits well in this discussion. If someone wants to win racing championships, does he buy a new car, drive down the interstate with hands on the steering wheel at 9 and 3, and stay under the speed limit? If he does not wreck , would you take this an indication that he is ready to get on the track? No. The best racers push the car to the limit, leave a lot of sheet metal on the track, and learn to deal with extreme speed and appropriate reactions.
The first thing it takes to win is a winning car. It must be powerful, efficient, and have a pit crew that knows the car so well they can adjust on the fly. The best driver in the weakest car can never win at high levels. Too many pitchers think they can compete with a weak or poorly tuned body. Proper strength training not only builds the engine, but restores balance while allowing the pitcher to feel things she never felt before. This allows her to adjust on the fly.
Next, let’s talk about form. We all know that a driver cannot win with a flat tire. If everything in your body is not in sync you may throw fast at first, but just like the car that is being pushed too hard, something will fall apart or you will crash the wall.
The best driver is not looking for perfection. He will “trade paint”, touch the wall, or drive into a corner too fast until he learns to make those tiny adjustments that allow him to use every advantage at full speed. He cannot be fearful or careful, and he uses the gas much more than the brakes. The best pitchers, in their own way, are fearless, with an eye on faster lap times every single pitch.
The best driver becomes part of the car. He feels every single movement, knowing exactly what is happening without thinking about it. The fastest pitchers are in touch with their bodies, knowing when something needs a little different tweak, and knowing how to reach for more when it is needed.
The best drivers have the best crew. But, the crew cannot drive. This is where parents become important. They are involved in helping provide the opportunities, perhaps catching thousands of pitches, helping her learn to deal with success and failure, and helping her learn to compete in her own unique way. You cannot drive the car for her and cannot make her drive it in the way that you would. I have kids who are “goofy and fun”, those who are intellectual, those who like to study other pitchers carefully, those who are totally serious, and those who are so competitive that sometimes we wonder if it is healthy, but each can be very successful if we help them develop their strengths into a winning formula.
The winning driver is the one who rises to the occasion. The best pitchers want the ball in the biggest of games and reward the coach’s decision by performing on that stage in ways that continue to surprise everyone. Even when they don’t have the best equipment, great drivers find a way to get to the front when it counts. Great pitchers do not whine about the umpire, the conditions, or defensive errors. They have a “killer instinct” and they close the deal.
The best drivers learn how to use tiny things we would never consider like working with the air coming off their car, or a competitor’s car, to gain advantage. Fast pitchers look at every technique they learn as an opportunity to get even faster, working it, adjusting it, and pushing it further than the Instructor ever expected.

Fast drivers don’t work hard, but work smart. You do not see them fighting the car, struggling with the steering wheel, or constantly trying to recover. They practiced every single move, in every condition, learned from it, and came fully prepared for whatever might come their way.
The best driver finds a way to “get in the zone”. While others are fighting themselves, the track conditions, or the competition, they are almost in a trance. They go to a different place when the race is on the line. They practice in this mode as well. Great pitchers follow suit. As one of our Instructors calls it, a “hyper focus” where there is no room for doubt, confusion, or fear.
The best driver wants to be the fastest, but knows the competition is always raising its game, so “good enough is never good enough”. Are you driving the pace car or the race car? The pace car is there to help keep everyone safe. The race car is there to drive fastest. Both have their role. Only one gets to take home the trophy.