Are You Practicing—or Just Throwing? What Every Pitcher and Parent Should Know About Bullpen Work
Are You Practicing—or Just Throwing?
Your bullpen should have a purpose.
Every pitch doesn't need to be perfect, but every rep should have intention.
Let's be honest. Sometimes pitchers believe that if they throw a lot of pitches, they must have had a good practice.
More reps.More pitches.More drills.
But here's the question:
Are you actually practicing—or are you just throwing?
Throwing Isn't the Same as Practicing
You can throw 100 pitches and walk away without really learning anything.
You can also throw 50 purposeful pitches and walk away a better pitcher.
The difference is intention.
Before you start your bullpen, know what you're working on.
Maybe it's your changeup. Location. Tempo. Staying through the ball. Competing with different counts. Attacking the zone.
Whatever it is, know your purpose before you throw pitch one.
Quality Over Quantity
More doesn't automatically mean better.
If you're tired, frustrated, or mentally checked out, throwing another 30 pitches doesn't necessarily improve your practice.
Instead, ask:
Was that a quality rep?
If it wasn't, don't just throw five more trying to erase it.
Ask yourself:
What did I feel?
What did the ball do?
What changed?
What can I adjust?
Then throw the next pitch with purpose.
And remember—you don't have to fix everything in one bullpen.
Your bullpen is a place to learn, not prove perfection.
Your Bullpen Should Make You Think
I want my pitchers to do more than throw. I want them to pay attention.
What worked? What didn't? What changed? Did my adjustment help?
What do I want to repeat?
Those questions build self-awareness, and self-awareness is a huge part of becoming a pitcher who can eventually make adjustments without someone standing beside her telling her what to do.
That's the independence I want for my pitchers.
HOT TIP: Use a softball journal to document this!!
Parents, This Matters to You Too
It's easy to watch your daughter throw and think:
She needs to throw more.
Especially when another pitcher is throwing harder or seems to be progressing faster.
But more isn't always better.
Sometimes your daughter doesn't need another 30 pitches.
She needs to understand what she's working on, recognize when something isn't working, and learn how to adjust.
So instead of always asking:
“How many pitches did you throw?”
Try asking:
“What did you learn today?”
That simple question can create a completely different conversation.
Have an Intention Before You Throw
Before your next bullpen, ask yourself:
What am I working on today?
What is my biggest focus?
What do I want to feel?
What will I do if something isn't working?
Because something will go wrong.
A pitch will miss. Your timing might feel off. Your location might disappear.
That doesn't automatically make it a bad bullpen.
It's an opportunity to learn how you respond.
The Goal Isn't to Leave Exhausted
A great practice isn't necessarily the one where you leave exhausted.
Sometimes it's the one where you walk away thinking:
“I know exactly what I worked on today.”
Maybe you made an adjustment.
Maybe you learned something about a pitch.
Maybe you discovered you were rushing.
Maybe you realized you needed more recovery.
That's development too.
Development doesn't always look like throwing harder. Sometimes it looks like understanding yourself better.
Want More Than Just Another Pitching Lesson?
This is a big part of why I created the KVS Mentorship Program.
I don't believe pitchers need more information simply for the sake of having more.
They need individualized coaching, accountability, feedback, and guidance that helps them understand their own development.
We work on the physical side of pitching, but we also develop the mental and emotional side—because becoming a complete pitcher requires all three.
If you're a pitcher or parent looking for a more individualized approach to development, I'd love for you to learn more about working with me.
Ready to take the next step?
Complete the KVS Training Application to tell me about you, your goals, and where you are in your pitching journey.
From there, we'll determine whether KVS is the right fit for you.
One Pitch at a Time
You don't need to make every pitch perfect.
You don't need to throw the most pitches.
You don't need to leave every practice exhausted.
You need to know why you're there.
Prepare with purpose.Practice with intention.Pay attention.Learn.Adjust.
Are you practicing—or are you just throwing?
Own it. One pitch at a time.
— Coach Kally V
Comments