The double pump and softball submarine wind up - a comparison

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halskinner

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May 7, 2008
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Guess this tactic I teach works with open and closed mechanics. :)

"Adam Folkard threw Australia's second no-hitter of the day to beat Argentina 2-1 in nine innings at Albany tonight.

Folkard struck out 17 batters, including three in the bottom of the eighth inning after he threw the ball past first base while fielding a bunt to allow Argentina's only run."
 
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halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
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in Australia By Tim Gavel and staff

International career over? The rule change means Adam Folkard may never represent Australia again. The international career of one of Australia’s top male softballers hangs in the balance after the sport’s governing body changed the rules due to his dominance.</P><P>Adam Folkard was one of Australia’s stars in the Steelers’ International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship victory over New Zealand last year.</P><P>Folkard was so dominant that he pitched a no-hitter to end the Black Sox’ reign as world champions.</P><P>Responding to concerns from rival countries that Folkard’s pitching was limiting the role of batters, the ISF changed the pitching rules.</P><P>The rule change only affects international softball, meaning the ACT-born pitcher can still play for his club team in the US but, as a result, Folkard has been effectively been stopped from playing for Australia. He is not only the most dominant pitcher in softball but also one of the fastest, with recorded delivery speeds of 130 kilometres an hour.

In essence, the key to Folkards success has been his ability to disguise his delivery rather than his speed.</P><P>The new rules effectively prevent pitchers from shielding the ball from the sight of batters, and they appear to be a deliberate attempt to blunt

Folkards influence on the sport. The pitcher himself has played down the notion the rule is solely to lessen his impact from the mound. There’s a fair few people overseas, especially in American clubs in the club league there, that all pitch the same way as well,￾ he told Grandstand. People say its because I was dominant at the worlds but I had a good game just like they could have had a good game. Theres no use punishing someone for having one good game. It’s unnecessary and it’s not that big an advantage to pitch the style that they’re banning. But Australian men’s head coach Bob Harrow said there was no doubt in his mind that the rules were modified to rein in Folkard’s dominance.</P><P>“There is a lot of pitchers in the world pitching like he does now, and it’s going to hurt a lot of people, he said. Lets face it, in our Australian squad there are three others that are probably going to be affected too, just in certain areas they haven’t been calling [the foul] yet.

Harrow said inconsistencies in how the rules are enforced could be damaging for the sport, despite the changes being made to make games more entertaining to watch. The bottom line is I don’t think even the umpires are completely aware about how the rules should be called yet, he said. I had a meeting with the umpires last night on the phone and they’re starting to take a look now because theyre going to lose a lot of ballplayers like Adam Folkard and we just can’t afford that.</P><P>“They say they want to see a lot more runs in a game – when you get 17-15 scores, nobody wants to see that in men’s softball.â€￾</P><P>Folkard was selected in the Australian team to play New Zealand and Argentina in Canberra in December, but he has pulled out and his international career is now in jeopardy. He said he did not want to embarrass himself on the international stage by fouling out for his action. Theres no point being in the team and taking up a spot when I won’t be able to pitch,â€￾ Folkard said.Obviously it wasnt an easy decision to make but its one I had to make.Its an honour playing for Australia. It’d be pretty cool if things could get sorted out and we could get back to the way things used to be.â€￾</P><P>The Australian Softball Federation is hoping the international body changes its mind on the rule change._
 
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halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
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"The rule change only affects international softball, meaning the ACT-born pitcher can still play for his club team in the US but, as a result, Folkard has been effectively been stopped from playing for Australia. He is not only the most dominant pitcher in softball but also one of the fastest, with recorded delivery speeds of 130 kilometres an hour."

My students have been throuigh that same kind of thing, being dominant to the point they changed the rules.

"Hal, just wanted to tell you that 2 years after you retired from instructing pitchers, our local league banned a couple of your tactics because NOBODY was hitting the ball. From the 8's to the 18's, same story. They want them to use them when in tournaments but not in their own leagues. Very impressive. I have been in fastpitch softball for nearly 50 years and it's the first time I have EVER heard of anything like that happening."



Rich A., NorCal


The Softball Submarine wind up was one of those that got banned.

In 1979 my team won the ASA Mens A div National tournamernt, I got the MV Pitcher trophy. Early in tyhe 1980 season I quit that team. A month later I was noyified that the local 'Rating committee' had re-classified me. They came up with a brand new classification just for me, 'A-Restricted'. Nobody had ever heard oi it before. As I understood it, the only teams I would be allowed to pitch for were teams that had at least two pitchers or more that were classified 'Major - A'. There were NO A-division teams that had 2 Major pitchers. They were forcing me to move up to the higher venue.

I appealed it and won and kept my 'A' rating.

That commitee met three times per season. At the 2nd meeting they again rated me Major A, I had only pitched in one tourney. However, thji time they rated not just the pitchers but EVERY PLAYER at EVERY position, outfielders, catchers, everyone. That played a huge role in the death of mens fastpitch in the central valley of Calif. With no boys feeder crop coming up, it died quickly.

If you dominate, they will politic you out one way or another.
 
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