Believe it or not, increasing your pitching speed is not directly related to how fast your windmill is. The form of the circle and moment of release are more important than one rush of brute strength. Try these drills to increase speed and precision while pitching:
The Bend & Snap!
Trade your standard softball for a weight ball. Bend down on one knee facing your catcher about halfway between the mound and home plate. Flick the ball directly to the catcher using only your wrist. Do this 10-15 times. Back up 5 feet and repeat the drill until you get to the mound, when you will swap to the windmill using a regulation softball. Having practiced precision with the weight ball, your windmill pitch will gain some added oomf when coming off the mound.
Circle the Square.
Stand in your stride position, feet slightly wider that shoulder width. Check that your toes are on the power line, then wind up for your windmill. Make three circles as fast as you can before you release the ball. Taking those extra rotations can help you to increase arm speed before releasing the ball. Do this 10 times, then do 10 more pitches but with only two rotations. By the time you work down to the next 10, done with only one rotation, you should notice that your windmill is just a bit faster than it was before!
Warning: Windmills, especially if your shoulders are not loose or relaxed enough, can be painful. Make sure to take time between pitches as needed to recover. If it hurts, take a break to stretch your shoulder out.
