Advice for new poster

I just found this site a few days ago when doing a google search looking to increase my knowledge on pitching. My daughter is close to her first year of pitching. She is 11 and is getting a fair amount of mound time on her travel team. Top speed is 51. I would like to post a video in a few days to ask you all to give me some feedback.

Here is what I need advice on...I know there are many schools of thought on pitching. In reading on here I found the term "hello elbow" pitcher which is what she was taught to do by her pitching coach. As she has progressed he really doesn't press the elbow pointed to the catcher. It seems to me that he focuses on the main aspects of the motion. The other thing is he does want them to stride out, but doesn't really press that issue. My daughter does push off the mound, but she doesn't really extend her leg as high as others I have seen on video. Do we need to back up and have her work on her drive from the mound being more explosive? Her pitching coach has helped a lot of pitchers progress to the college level and he has a lot of experience. I guess with my limited knowledge I am unsure if what he is teaching her will hinder her in the future or help her. Right now we throw 3-4 times on our own and 1 day of pitching lesson. What are the meat and potato drills you always do? How long do your pitching sessions last? Do you use any particular training aids? What are your thoughts on what I stated about her drive from the mound or elbow? Thanks for any advice you can offer me and I will post a video soon. One more....what is a DD? I'm sure one of the words is daughter.

You might find this interesting... not to get into the difference of mechanics, and or styles, but to speak to the concise communication that this client has with their Coach, right or wrong. This young lady looks like she is off to a pretty good start. If you find yourself close to this you can be happy. Ask you PC to share some videos of a student that has meet his goals. As you can see some do !!! Actually the PC should be providing you with the videos, as is the case here...

Shay Anderson 11/5/12 - Coach's Eye

PC,

Please tell me this is not your daughters coach talking in this video. She is having the pitcher do a 'Forward Dip', although I have seen worse. I cn bet money her lower back hurts after a game.

Bending at the waist forward is NOT what you want to do. Bringing the center of your body weight ahead of your pivot point is what you want to do. Your whole body needs to be on a forward lean when you start your push off the rubber.

Trying to 'Hide the ball', is the biggest reason for coaches teaching the forward dip. Ortho surgeons pointed out that specific action as being the cause of spinal stress fractures to the lumbar spine

If an instructor teaches this, run away fast.

What EVERY pitcher wants MORE SPEED AND A FEW SECRET WEAPONS
My book will show you how to do that IMMEDIATELY.

Click to expand...

No Hal !!! I was showing the New Member a video on this site... It is under the Chicken Wing Thread...today. I was wanting him to see a good one in terms of videography. Great lighting ect...

I know your right... and when he puts up a video, he'll get some good help... the BEST !!! PC

No hello elbow

Stay away from hello elbow. It's asking for pain, injury and fatigue. It's only use is in rec ball. Work horse pitchers can't do it without repititive motion injury.

halskinner said:

PC,

Please tell me this is not your daughters coach talking in this video. She is having the pitcher do a 'Forward Dip', although I have seen worse. I cn bet money her lower back hurts after a game.

Bending at the waist forward is NOT what you want to do. Bringing the center of your body weight ahead of your pivot point is what you want to do. Your whole body needs to be on a forward lean when you start your push off the rubber.

Trying to 'Hide the ball', is the biggest reason for coaches teaching the forward dip. Ortho surgeons pointed out that specific action as being the cause of spinal stress fractures to the lumbar spine

If an instructor teaches this, run away fast.

Click to expand...

Hey Hal... Just a kinda dumb Question? Would you be considered a West Coast. People around refer to a West Coast Style? I know you live in California.

51mph at 11 yoa.....she has six pitches too i assume. Is that from 30 Feet. I got a 14 year old throwing 72 with 10 different pitches. I love the radar!!!!

Welcome to DFP!

A video would be helpful. Based on the two red flags you've already noted in the forced follow through and the step-style philosophy, I would encourage you to shop around for another instructor. Ask about follow through, open/closed mechanics, whip and drive.

Generally, if someone teaches:
-Palm facing forward through the release,
-A forced wrist snap,
-Forced follow through (hand must go "here" or do "this" after release,)
-Bend at the waist in either initial drive or at release,
...it may be time to move on.

There are several schools of thought, but if someone can't compare what they teach to slo-mo video of the world's best, they may have gone to the wrong school. Not saying that every elite pitcher is a perfect model, but you will find some mechanics that are seen repeatedly. Statistically, if you find a correlation in repeatedly observed mechanics with high level performance, it's much easier to justify teaching the same.

Hello elbow and step style are rarely seen much past rec ball, so it's safe to assume that if you and your DD (dear daughter, darling diva, dollar dumpster, etc.) want to go to the next level, you should consider learning better mechanics.


Hope that helps,
Ken

KenB said:

Welcome to DFP!

A video would be helpful. Based on the two red flags you've already noted in the forced follow through and the step-style philosophy, I would encourage you to shop around for another instructor. Ask about follow through, open/closed mechanics, whip and drive.

Generally, if someone teaches:
-Palm facing forward through the release,
-A forced wrist snap,
-Forced follow through (hand must go "here" or do "this" after release,)
-Bend at the waist in either initial drive or at release,
...it may be time to move on.

There are several schools of thought, but if someone can't compare what they teach to slo-mo video of the world's best, they may have gone to the wrong school. Not saying that every elite pitcher is a perfect model, but you will find some mechanics that are seen repeatedly. Statistically, if you find a correlation in repeatedly observed mechanics with high level performance, it's much easier to justify teaching the same.

Hello elbow and step style are rarely seen much past rec ball, so it's safe to assume that if you and your DD (dear daughter, darling diva, dollar dumpster, etc.) want to go to the next level, you should consider learning better mechanics.


Hope that helps,
Ken

Click to expand...

KenB, I just want to make sure I understand what you mean by a forced follow through and bending at the waist to launch. I believe I have seen you say you like Hillhouse's style. He doesn't say you have to follow through to your opposite shoulder but that's what he does. Is that considered a forced follow through? Also, he gets into a sprinter's position to leap forward. Is that the bending at the waist that you don't like?

A forced follow through is a forced follow through. Ideally, the focus should be on what it takes to get the desired spin, then let the hand go where it may after. There are some that suggest forcing a similar follow through with every pitch to help disguise each, but not sure at that point it really makes a difference.

Here's a video of Coach Hillhouse pitching:
Hillhouse - YouTube

Notice how his upper body stays in line with the stride leg and how little bend he has at the waist? IMO, this is very efficient and has low potential for injury/fatigue.