Artificial timing changes like counting didn't work for me.
I found that I needed to add things that I was DOING to my timing to slow it down.
My timing routine;
- Set
- Look the pitch all the way into the glove (NO movement of any body part other than the eyes.)
- Wait to be sure the Catcher caught the pitch
- Ask myself what the pitch was
- Click off the call on your indicator (if you really want to slow things down...I don't do this)
- Make my call
If you go the entire game without someone, anyone, making a comment that your calls are too slow...You're working to fast. Catchers will adjust to your timing, and won't complain if you're getting the calls correct.
99.99999999% of incorrect pitch calls happen because the timing was too quick.
I also toyed with the head turn to indicate where the ball missed for a while. As with the OP, I also found that it messed up my timing, so I don't bother with it any more. You become too worried about doing the head turn, that you loose track of the important timing issues. It also means you have Four different sets of mechanics...Strike, Strike Three, Ball, Close Ball. That's too many for us average Joe's. But, if you are going to do it, do it AFTER you make your ball call.
If you're getting the calls correct, you don't need to indicate where the close one's are missing, because no one will be questioning your calls.
One other thing to consider...If the pitch was so close that you needed to indicate why you didn't call it a strike, maybe you "should" call it a strike. I do !