“Cheri has captured cutting-edge information on fastpitch softball and has provided the instruction protocols to improve skills at all levels of competition.”
Dr. Tom House
National Pitching Association
“Written by Cheri Kempf, the best pitching instructor in the country, this book will educate you and equip you. You will find yourself referring to this book over and over again. A must-buy for any serious softball coach and player.”
Yvette Girouard
Retired Head Softball Coach
Louisiana State University
Heralded as “a must-have” and “the best guide on the subject,” The Softball Pitching Edge has long established itself as the go-to resource for pitchers and coaches alike. Now updated and enhanced, this e-book raises the bar for pitching instruction.
This enhanced e-book with video offers an in-depth look into the art and science of softball pitching. Cheri Kempf, widely recognized as one of the best softball pitching coaches in the United States, helps you develop elite-level fastpitch skills through drills and expert technical advice. The 77 video clips throughout this enhanced e-book will help you develop the skills to become a dominant pitcher. Kempf breaks down the fundamental mechanics and details common mistakes to help you develop proper pitching mechanics. She offers specific instructions for developing the drop, change-up, rise, curve, and screwball.
The Softball Pitching Edge: Enhanced Edition shows the correct way to deliver the ball from the rubber to the plate to maximize effectiveness and minimize the risk of injury. It dissects the pitching motion through video demonstrations, photos, and illustrations of the correct mechanics and explains how to master those mechanics so that you can throw with greater control and speed.
The Softball Pitching Edge: Enhanced Edition presents the best information from a top-tier coach to help you master pitching. Use this enhanced e-book to improve your technique and add new pitches to your arsenal for more strikeouts and greater success on the mound.
This enhanced e-book with video is now available for purchase through Amazon’s Kindle store and the Apple iBookstore.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Part I Proper Mechanics
Chapter 1 Premotion Presentation
Chapter 2 Feet and Legs
Chapter 3 Arms and Posture
Chapter 4 Timing of the Motion
Chapter 5 Consistency, Location, and Speed
Part II Effective Movement Pitch Technique
Chapter 6 Drop Ball
Chapter 7 Change-Up
Chapter 8 Rise Ball
Chapter 9 Curveball
Chapter 10 Screwball
Part III Five More Factors for Excellent Pitching
Chapter 11 Catcher
Chapter 12 Practice Routines and Game Preparation
Chapter 13 Mental Makeup
Chapter 14 Physical Conditioning
Chapter 15 Communication
About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Cheri Kempf was the owner and pitching instructor of Club K for 15 years. At its height, Club K was the largest indoor training facility for female fastpitch softball players in the United States. Kempf has taught and trained thousands of athletes through her lessons, camps, player and coach clinics, books, and videos. Recognized for her pitching expertise, she was a member of a five-person panel assembled by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to develop universal standards by which to teach fastpitch pitching.
Kempf’s experience as a player and coach spans four decades and covers all levels. In college, Kempf was a three-time All-American, an NAIA Collegiate national champion, and a National Tournament MVP. She spent four seasons with the world-renowned Raybestos Brakettes, the ASA Women’s Major Level national champions in 1991 and 1992. In 1992 Kempf was named to the U.S. national team that won the gold medal in the World Cup in Beijing, China.
Kempf has been inducted into the NAIA Collegiate Hall of Fame, Missouri State ASA Hall of Fame, and Missouri Western State College Hall of Fame. She has done extensive research with some of the top biomechanists in the country and coached softball at the NCAA Division I level for four years. She also invented the Spin Right Spinner (a patented training device used to teach the correct mechanics of the pitching movement to softball and baseball pitchers), the Colors of the Zone Plate, and the Power Line Pitching Mat. She also developed the weighted ball pitching program designed to increase overall speed for softball pitchers.
Kempf has been an analyst covering NCAA softball for more than a decade and has covered the sport on ESPN, Fox Sports, Cox Sports, Yes Network, MLB Network, and Comcast. Kempf can be found behind the mic and at the SportsCenter desk throughout the NCAA season and at the Women’s College World Series.
Since 2007, Kempf has been the commissioner of the National Pro Fastpitch League.