5 Pro Pitch-Calling Tips for Your Next Tournament

 Pitch calling is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. To help you dominate your next tournament, I'm going to break down five essential tips to keep hitters guessing and your pitchers confident.

1. Pitch To The Pitcher’s Strengths (not the hitter’s weaknesses)

Don't get too caught up in a hitter's weakness. Instead, focus on your pitcher’s best stuff. When a pitcher throws their strongest pitch, they do so with more confidence and better execution.

2. Make Them Adjust To You

Make the batter adjust to you, not the other way around. If a hitter is struggling to catch up to the fastball (late), don't bail them out with something slower like a changeup or curveball. Force them to prove they can adjust to your speed.

And if they are early on an offspeed pitch, don’t make the adjustment for them and throw it faster! Make them adjust to you.

3. Modernize Your Communication

Elite teams use technology to stay connected. With the Headset App, coaches can call pitches directly from the dugout to the catcher's ear using everyday gear like your iPhone and AirPods. This allows for real-time coaching on why a certain pitch is being called.

If you want a free 7 day trial of the headset app, click here!

4. Win the Even Counts

The "evens" are where games are won or lost. The statistical difference in batting average between a 1-2 count and a 2-1 count is nearly 200 points (1.70 to be exact). Stay aggressive and pound the zone to keep the advantage in your favor.

When I talked with an assistant coach at UCLA, their goal was always to go at least 2-1 in every count.

5. Conviction First

Confidence is everything. A "wrong" pitch call executed with 100% conviction is far more effective than the "perfect" call thrown with hesitation. Commit and execute the pitch! 

Hope you like this and give The Headset App a try!