First Swings of the Fall!

_MIA_ · Nov 17, 2016

MacLobo said:
That's how our entire state is. I don't really see anything wrong with it. What makes you sad about machine pitch?

We have machine pitch too for 9U..I hate it. Screws with timing in my opinion. My daughter swings ten times better when I am throwing to her even if
I am throwing much faster than the machine. Even if the machine feeder is simulating a throwing motion, it is hard for little ones to not just focus
on the ball coming out of the machine..

Eric F · Nov 17, 2016

MacLobo said:
That's how our entire state is. I don't really see anything wrong with it. What makes you sad about machine pitch?

It doesn't develop pitchers. Hitters learn how to hit - in limited fashion - but pitchers aren't improving their skills at the same pace. IMO, it's important that both hitters and pitchers are developing together.

MacLobo · Nov 17, 2016

Eric F said:
It doesn't develop pitchers. Hitters learn how to hit - in limited fashion - but pitchers aren't improving their skills at the same pace. IMO, it's important that both hitters and pitchers are developing together.

I suppose I can understand that. There are arguments for a machine as well, though....
Every game we played last season went the full 6 innings. The girls got a lot of reps at the plate, and a lot of reps in the field. We had 11 girls on the team and 10 can play in the field at this level, so almost every girl got to play 18 defensive outs a game.
So, while having the 7/8 year-olds pitch might help the 3 or 4 girls that want to pitch that year, I'd say that the pace of a machine pitch game benefits every girl.

Eric F · Nov 17, 2016

MacLobo said:
I suppose I can understand that. There are arguments for a machine as well, though....
Every game we played last season went the full 6 innings. The girls got a lot of reps at the plate, and a lot of reps in the field. We had 11 girls on the team and 10 can play in the field at this level, so almost every girl got to play 18 defensive outs a game.
So, while having the 7/8 year-olds pitch might help the 3 or 4 girls that want to pitch that year, I'd say that the pace of a machine pitch game benefits every girl.

Great! Lots of reps for everyone in the field and at the plate. Everyone is improving...except pitchers. In the game of softball I know, pitchers are kind of an important piece of the puzzle. Also, hitters aren't learning how to judge speed and location, so their development may not be as advanced as some people want to believe.

Yes, 7-8yo softball can be a painful walk-fest, but they get better when you put them in a situation where they have to try to get better. Little athletes will surprise you when you give them a chance and some guidance.

A typical scenario for 8U ASA rec ball in CA is hybrid coach/player-pitch...Player pitches until batter puts the ball in play, strikes out, or has a 4-ball count. After 4 balls, coach pitches until player puts the ball in play or strikes out. This is the process for the first half of the spring rec season. In the second half of the season, it's all player-pitch.

In 10U, it's all player-pitch (with full stealing, D3K, etc.).

MacLobo · Nov 18, 2016

Eric F said:
Great! Lots of reps for everyone in the field and at the plate. Everyone is improving...except pitchers. In the game of softball I know, pitchers are kind of an important piece of the puzzle. Also, hitters aren't learning how to judge speed and location, so their development may not be as advanced as some people want to believe.

Yes, 7-8yo softball can be a painful walk-fest, but they get better when you put them in a situation where they have to try to get better. Little athletes will surprise you when you give them a chance and some guidance.

A typical scenario for 8U ASA rec ball in CA is hybrid coach/player-pitch...Player pitches until batter puts the ball in play, strikes out, or has a 4-ball count. After 4 balls, coach pitches until player puts the ball in play or strikes out. This is the process for the first half of the spring rec season. In the second half of the season, it's all player-pitch.

In 10U, it's all player-pitch (with full stealing, D3K, etc.).

I don't want to sound like I'm arguing FOR pitching machine. I definitely see how pitching the girls early is beneficial. I'll be having any girl who may want to pitch next year, start practicing it some this year anyway.

I'm just saying that it's not horrible...heck, our Little League won the LL softball world series a few years back, so we can't be doing THAT bad!

Eric F · Nov 18, 2016

MacLobo said:
I don't want to sound like I'm arguing FOR pitching machine. I definitely see how pitching the girls early is beneficial. I'll be having any girl who may want to pitch next year, start practicing it some this year anyway.

I'm just saying that it's not horrible...heck, our Little League won the LL softball world series a few years back, so we can't be doing THAT bad!

If you like the way your system works, that's great. There's no doubt that my opinion is largely swayed by my own experience.

Rocketech1 · Nov 18, 2016

I second Eric's comments about pitching machines. Lots of issues with it such as the ball comes out of the machine flat with backspin to the same spot over the plate; doesn't develop pitchers or hitters at 8u; doesn't really develop catchers since they are catching the ball directly down the middle of the plate; pitching machines don't allow for the batter to time the windmill motion prior to release; and you have a machine right in the middle of the diamond that gets hit by ground balls and/or impedes the fielders from fielding the ball.

I know it's a lot of work to train beginning pitchers at 8u, but I think it is well worth the investment. My son's baseball was the same. 100% Kid pitch at 7/8 years old. As 5/6 year olds they did coach pitch and then went to the Tee to finish the at bat.

MacLobo · Nov 21, 2016

So, all the pitching machine talk aside....

Any other comments on the swing?

rdbass · Nov 21, 2016

MacLobo said:
So, all the pitching machine talk aside....

Any other comments on the swing?

Yes, it's a 7 yr olds swing:

Let DD continue to swing away and have fun. You with the 2,3 or 4 more years you and DD have, read and study as much as you can.

Shawn · Nov 21, 2016

Connected to the front leg meant that because the hips are being restricted the front leg isn't firming up.

With good hip rotation, the front leg (thigh) should firm up rather quickly.

The question is how to teach better hip rotation. Arch the lower back which creates a driving back hip which forces the front leg to immediately firm up because the hips snap against the front leg. Right now the hips are restricted from popping open so there no violent action happening.

First Swings of the Fall!

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_MIA_

Eric F

MacLobo

Eric F

MacLobo

Eric F

Rocketech1

MacLobo

rdbass

It wasn't me.

Shawn

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