Here’s where we go wrong… And how to fix it: 

Mistake #1: We Dabble at Command: Command isn’t a sometimes thing; it’s an all-the-time thing. It can’t just be a focus during bullpens. It must become a habit in catch play, long toss, drill work, warm-ups, etc. Every throw should have purpose, precision, and feedback. 

Mistake #2: Vague Targets: If your target is a “general area,” you will get general results. Command improves when every throw has a clear, precise destination. The brain must be told exactly what to hit. 

Mistake #3: Poor Feedback Loop: Too often, we rate command based on outcome: “Strike = great,” “ball = terrible.” That’s emotional and imprecise. Instead, ask, “If I missed, how far did I miss? And in what direction?”. You don’t need perfection, just more precise and useful information. 

Mistake #4: Terrible Self-Talk: Many pitchers fall into destructive loops:
“Why can’t I throw strikes?”
“I’m so bad at this."
“Nothing I try works.”

This doesn’t help. Instead, ask better questions: 

“What small adjustments can I make to improve my command by one percent today?” 

“By three percent this week?”  

“By ten percent this month?”  

“And how can I have an absolute blast doing it?” 

Also, use tools that give immediate feedback. One of our favorites at the Ranch is the Advanced Command Trainer.  

It shows whether you hit your intended spot, right now. Track your results. Adjust in real-time. That’s how improvement happens.

Mistake #5: Lead Leg Instability or Late Postural Changes
You don’t need to keep your head perfectly still. However, if your posture wobbles or your lead leg collapses at release, your brain has to account for a moving target, and your consistency can suffer. At the Ranch, we use tools like stability pads and incline throwing variations to train stability and control. We avoid over-coaching or exaggerating things like the popular, trendy term "lead leg block." Why? Because overcorrection can create dysfunction in other ways. 

Instead, we focus on eliminating inefficient degrees of freedom, allowing each pitcher to discover their own optimal organization. 

And we track it—charting command during sessions so the process stays measurable and actionable. 

The following on some final thoughts on this important topic: 

Deliberate Practice
Command is like strength; it’s earned with reps—thousands of purposeful throws. Juan Marichal and Dan Quisenberry didn’t have traditional mechanics, but their walk rates were elite because they trained with intent. Constantly. 

Addressing Disconnections
Yes, mechanical inefficiencies can hurt your ability to throw strikes... But that doesn’t mean command is impossible. Improve your lead leg stability. Look for disconnections. Eliminate what’s unnecessary, keep freedom and athleticism, and give your body a better chance to self-organize consistently. 

Mental Focus and Routine
Command is often as much mental as physical. Your mindset needs daily reps, too. Hall of Famer Greg Maddux didn’t aim at zones; he aimed at buttons. At shoelaces. He trained himself to see smaller targets and hit them. 

Start Now. Not Later.
Don’t wait for the off-season to work on your command. Every rep today is an opportunity to improve. Eliminate arm pain and discomfort, because the best way to throw more strikes is to throw more often without setbacks. Every practice pitch should simulate game conditions. 

Commit to these strategies and you will see improvement. Remember, small hinges swing big doors. 

Coming Next: “Part 3—How to Improve Your Secondary Pitches to Create More Swing-and-Misses.” 

Let’s keep building. You’ve got more in the tank, let’s tap into it! 

Coach Ron Wolforth is the founder of the Texas Baseball Ranch® and has written six books on pitching including the Amazon Best Seller, Pitching with Confidence. Since 2003, The Texas Baseball Ranch® has had over 633 pitchers break the 90 mph barrier, 220 have toped 94mph or better, and 139 of his students have been drafted in the MLB’s June Amateur Draft. Coach Wolforth has consulted with 13 MLB teams, dozens of NCAA programs and has been referred to as “ America’s Go-to-Guy on Pitching” and “The Pitching Coaches Pitching Coach.” Coach Wolforth lives in Montgomery, TX with his wife, Jill. They are intimately familiar with youth select, travel baseball and PG events as their son Garrett (now a professional player) went through the process. Garrett still holds the PG Underclass All-American Games record for catcher velocity at 89 mph which he set in 2014 at the age of 16.

- - - - - - -  

Coach Wolforth will be hosting a special 90 minute webinar - "The Velocity Code: 3 Secrets to Improving Velocity and Staying Healthy" this Thursday at 7pm CST.  If you'd like to sign up for the webinar, please email info@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a registration link. 

Spring/Summer Events at the Texas Baseball Ranch® 

Join our 3-Day “Elite Pitcher’s Boot Camps”, designed for pitchers ages 12 and above. Camps begin Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-26) and run every other weekend through the first week of August. For additional details, visit: 

 https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/elite-pitchers-bootcamp/ 

Interested in learning what sets our boot camps apart? Request our comprehensive information package “What Makes This Bootcamp Different?" by emailing Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com 

Looking for a longer stay at The Ranch this summer?  Join us for our “Summer Intensive Training Program.  Stay for 3-11 weeks.  For more information, visit:  

https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/tbr-summer-program/