Styles vs. Absolutes in Fastpitch Softball Pitching:When it comes to windups and pitching styles, there’s a clear distinction between what’s stylistic and what’s absolute.💡 Absolutes are non-negotiables every pitcher must master to reach maximum velocity and effort. These include:➡️ Ground force➡️ Horizontal force (stride & launch)➡️ Whip➡️ Front-side resistance➡️ Rhythm & timing➡️ Separation sequencing💡 Stylistic elements—like grips, windups, and routines—are unique to each pitcher, influence

The simpler your grips, the harder it is for batters and coaches to pick up on your pitches. At a younger age, I focus on changing the changeup grip versus the fastball pull for muscle memory, but once my pitchers master spin, we simplify.Most hitters at 9, 10, 11, even 14 years old are not reading grips. But at the high school level and beyond, everything changes. This is where we evolve, adapt, and level up.I didn’t fully realize this until my junior year of high school, but by my freshman yea