Total Reading Time: 5 minutes

Happy Monday. In this issue we’re talking Command, not control, and taking a look at the speakers and topics (so far) with this year’s Pitching Summit!

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Command - the Missing Link to Game Success

Velocity is the latest pitching obsession in both softball and baseball, and we’re seeing some incredible increases in pitching speeds. But velocity without command just results in faster balls, or harder hits.

Something else is a huge issue. We work all year with our pitchers in the bullpen. We see them improve their speed, increase their movement, expand their zone control and improve their pitches. In the bullpen.

And yet something doesn’t transfer to games. The changeup she dominated in the bullpen is no where to be found in the game. She can’t control the strike zone and her pitches are all over the place.

Why is this? What does she lack in a game that keeps her from accessing all this bullpen development?

I’ve been diving deep into this whole issue of the gap between bullpen and game success and I’ve discovered it revolves around the concept of “COMMAND”. I’m not talking control. Command is different than control. I’d never thought about this before so the idea has captivated me!

Control is the ability for a pitcher to throw the pitch into the strike zone, anywhere into the strike zone but probably doesn’t know where the ball will land. Control is measured by balls and strikes.

While Command is the ability to throw the pitch where you choose in or out of the strike zone. Command is a multiplier and makes the speeds and movements of your pitches better.

This topic isn’t something I can cover in just one article so this is the first in a series of articles diving into this issue of command. We’ll explore things like what command percentages look like for different age levels, how to practice command, and some great posts that share additional info on the topic of command.

The biggest source of my info on command comes from the book, Pitching Command, Measurement, Development and Bullpen Plans by Wayne Boyle. Wayne is a electronics and software engineer whose spent 30 years working with MLB teams on the issue of command and the host of the podcast, the Pitching Command Show.

Elements of Command, that we’ll explore in upcoming newsletter issues include:

• Analyzing Miss Directions

• Good and Intended Misses

• Practicing Days for Velo / Movement / Command / Combined

• The Value of Pitching to a Static Target, Not a Catcher

• The Command Trakker Practice for Practicing Command

• Command Trakker Command Levels

I’m excited to explore this topic with all of you in hopes of helping more of our pitchers do better in games!

Come to our upcoming PITCHING SUMMIT while we further explore the details of Command!!

Don’t Miss Out on This GREAT Lineup at PITCHING SUMMIT 2025

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Thanks for reading this week’s Curveball Chronicles. I hope it helped give you some insight to help your pitchers, and to give yourself some grace.

Make your week Great!

Missed some previous issues? Don’t worry, I’ve got them all for you on my website: https://pitchingcoachcentral.com/curveball-newsletter/