Feedback on mechanics

My DD has been pitching for about 6 months now and turns 11 tomorrow. I am just a dad and know nothing about pitching other than what I've learned on websites. BoardMember's IR thread has been really helpful. I just wanted to get some feedback from some of you more knowledgeable members on what she should work on next. The side view has two pitches, a fast/drop pitch (I have bought into the viewpoint that a fastball is supposed to have 12-6 rotation so it always has some drop to it) and a flip change. The back view is just two fast/drops. Right now we are just working on more leg drive, more elbow bend (for more whip) from 12 oclock to 6 oclock and getting here stride foot consistently at 30-45 degrees (she squares up about half the time). I need some more advice so her pitching doesn't outstrip my knowledge before I can afford to pass her off to an actual pitching coach [video]https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=YfZfbbk9kdc&ns=1[/video]

thanks.

Welcome to DFP!

Compliments to both of you. Based on your post and video, it looks like you have studied well. I noticed, besides some decent looking form, that DD's three pitches were consistent east to west. Nice work.

Video from the side would be helpful.

Thanks Ken. I thought I had included the side view as well but being a newbie I screwed it up. hopefully this comes through.

Three things:
-Go to a farm supply or decent hardware store and buy a 4 foot x 6 inch strip of 3/8 inch stall/shop mat. Cut it in half and you have two pitching rubbers. Get a roll of "no residue" duct tape and it only takes 3-4 six inch strips to secure it to a carpet, floor or driveway. (If I had a choice of surfaces in preferred order, I'd pick dirt, grass, carpet, a smooth floor, then concrete only if no other option was available.)
-Work on leading the downswing with a flexed elbow and pausing at the side during the whip.
-Work on a more explosive drive, but at the same time, eliminate the walk through after release.

One more: wear athletic shoes if cleats aren't appropriate.


Ken

Thanks again Ken. Good advice on the practice area. I won't let her wear cleats on the concrete and she has worn holes in a few pairs of shoes already. I thought it was funny when I told her to get some shoes today and she grabbed the twinkle toe slippers but usually I make her wear tennis shoes of some sort. We'll work on a more bent elbow, more explosive drive and keeping her front side firm without the walk through.

My little DD is usually very good about cleats and mask anytime the glove comes out, but the other day she stepped out with flip flops!

My 2 cents I think you nailed what I believe is the most obvious thing to me = "more elbow bend (for more whip) from 12 oclock to 6 oclock".

Every pitcher needs to leave the mechanical motion of the straight elbow in this span and graduate to a "whipper". This is as much a teaching of a "feel" to the young pitcher as it is a mechanical correction. (lots of young pitchers do the locked-elbow thing when starting. They many times equate the "windmill" to a locked elbow.)

I think "feel" is a good point. Even elbow leading, palm up, etc can be mechanical and forced at first. When "feeling it" kicks in, that's when the magic starts. One distinction I like is the feeling of loose and whippy vs throwing it. The kids seem to get it.

I went back and looked at some video of her from 2 months ago and she had better elbow bend coming down. Then we worked on follow through aand long from step to LD and the elbow bend dissapeared. This is like whack a mole.

Welcome to the entirely independent sport of pitching.