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Jul 17, 2012
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My DD is 10, and just started pitching this past summer. Started lessons in mid July with a JR instructor at the facility we go to. She's done great so far, in my opinion. Velocity is great for apitcher her age and experience, but accuracy is erratic. JR instructor didn't get too deep into the weeds of fine tuning mechanics. She focused on the basis.... weight back, powerline, footwork, big fast arm circle.

Now. 2 weeks ago, my DD was promoted to the primary pitching coach. She's tough. Older woman with a no nonsense personality. She's teaching something that I don't quite know how to digest.

DD had a habit of her hand being under the ball (palm up) at 9:00 in the motion and then rotating through release to palm down, thumb toward first base on follow through. Her new PC doesn't like it at all. She said she's over rotating, causing erratic releases, and control issues, not to mention incorrect spin. She basically implied that rotation is good, but DD is over rotating, resulting in problems with release. She wants the palm facingdown at 3:00, 45 degress at 12:00, facing 3rd base at 9:00, wants her to lead the elbow to the side, rotate the forearm and snap the wrist upward at the back thigh,then allow the elbow to release forward toward the target. Didnt demonstrate or teach the point the elbow, but rather just allow it to seperate from the side in a forward motion. She DOES NOT want the hand to roll over to the point that the palm is down. She wants the pinky to stay 1st base side, and wants long fingers to point to the sky. I actually asked her how the lower arm is supposed to rotate, without the momentum continuing the rotation beyond fingers pointing to the sky and her explanation actually made sense. She said she needs to learn to control her release position with her fasball to put a 12-6 spin on the ball in order to direct the flight of the ball, as it will only help her as she moves onto new pitches...stating the hand angle and spin is what dictates the motion pitches.

What are your thoughts on this. I noticed a significant improvement in DD's accuracy related to right/left when she did as she was told, and erradic results when she reverted to turning the hand over. No noticable change in velocity. In fact, I would say when she did it the way she was told, the ball had more zip on it.

I notice in the IR in the Classroom thread that Boardmembers hand turned over to a palm down positon after release. What are your thoughts on what she's being taught?
 
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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Walk away, or if all else is acceptable, smile and nod. To add, 12/6 rotation using IR is just a matter of practice. If you persist with IR, she will advance much more quickly and will have less to overcome when she tries to unlearn the bowling method. For reference, ask the instructor if you can record some video of her pitching. Very likely you'll see IR if she was ever a decent pitcher.
 
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Jul 17, 2012
1,091
38
204dv.gif


If you look at the first GIF in the IR in the classroom post, Jennie is doing exactly what DD is being taught. Watch her hand at release. It doesn't torn over, but rather she finishes fingers up.... I tried to attach the GIF, but is ended up a still in my post. Not sure how to copy the gif into my post.

EDIT OK, Got the original GIF in the post, but the stray attachemnt won't go away!! lol
 

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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Finch IR's from palm upward at 3 o'clock to palm facing 1B after release. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're explaining?
 
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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Keep watching her hand. The hand follows through loosely to 1B. It is not forced to stop rotating and point the fingers upward (as I see it...)
 
Jul 17, 2012
1,091
38
Finch IR's from palm upward at 3 o'clock to palm facing 1B after release. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're explaining?
At 3 O'Clock.. Arm pointed toward home plate, her hand is palm down. At 9 O'Clock, her palm is facing 3rd base, holding the side of the ball, so to speak. Her forearm internally rotates, but she finishes with her fingers up after wrist snap, as opposed to rolling her wrist over to the point she's palm down on follow through.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Can you post a video of your DD's release? If what your instructor says is true, she's basically throwing a change up. Most of the time when bowling/HE instructors try to correct "over rotation," what they think they're seeing is the natural rotation/follow through. I've seen an instructor compliment a girl's perfect peel drop, then had her work on getting her hand behind the ball!!!
 
Jul 17, 2012
1,091
38
Keep watching her hand. The hand follows through loosely to 1B. It is not forced to stop rotating and point the fingers upward (as I see it...)
I agree, that the hand may turn over slightlty more than fingers pointed straight up. But it's not anywhere near the roll over demonstrated here.

1038uts.gif
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
At 3 O'Clock.. Arm pointed toward home plate, her hand is palm down. At 9 O'Clock, her palm is facing 3rd base, holding the side of the ball, so to speak. Her forearm internally rotates, but she finishes with her fingers up after wrist snap, as opposed to rolling her wrist over to the point she's palm down on follow through.
Apologies--I had my clock opposite of your's.
 
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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I agree, that the hand may turn over slightlty more than fingers pointed straight up. But it's not anywhere near the roll over demonstrated here.

1038uts.gif
One thing to consider is that I think #27 is throwing a rise, while BM is slowly demonstrating a fastball.



(Oops! Had typed #23 initially. Finch has more hair than Jordan.)
 
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