Game version
Strike-zone game: aim at target squares on a safe backstop, and a partner marks the zones you hit. Keep to your usual number of pitches.
Rise Ball Spin Intro
Learn the backspin of a rise ball with a pitching coach after you turn 13.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
With your coach, find the rise ball grip.
Core: Medium. Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 15 min
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Softballs, glove, catcher, pitching coach
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Pitching
The steps
How it works
- With your coach, find the rise ball grip.
- Spin the ball by hand first, without pitching, 20 times.
- Then throw 10 at half distance.
- Stop if your wrist or elbow feels sore.
Coaching point
Spin first, speed later.
Safety: For ages 13 and up only. Count every pitch, bullpen and practice included. There is no single official softball limit; some sports-medicine groups suggest about 50 pitches a game at ages 8-10, 65 at 11-12 and 80 at 13-14, so follow your league limits, rest after a big outing, play another position on rest days, and stop if your shoulder, elbow or back hurts. Learn new spin pitches only with a pitching coach, once your fastball and change-up are under control.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a target: Less (large), Core (medium), More (small). Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy.
Story
You are the ace painting the corners of the plate.
My best
Beat your own count
Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free softball week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.