Creating Spin

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

A couple recent threads have me thinking about how spin is achieved for various movement pitches. I've struggled getting gadgets like the spinner or a roll of tape to work for me, so I've been hesitant to use it over a striped ball. For me, I can't get the same feel without adding my thumb to making the ball spin.

What are your cues/feels/grips/methods to get and teach spin?

Ken

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

This one makes me smile a little...

starsnuffer · Oct 21, 2013

Curious as to why you are against using the thumb to make the ball spin? With the exception of a peel drop, it makes sense to exert force on both sides of the ball to make it spin.

-W

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

Not against it. Just not sure it's necessary, any more than it is for a drop. I'm thinking that whipping the fingertips against the seams is easier.

starsnuffer · Oct 21, 2013

You're gonna make me break out the revfire. I've always used the thumb and incorporated a snapping motion to create spin, be it bent finger rise/curve spins or roll-over drop spins. With a ball in my hand I can't seem to make the ball spin faster without using the thumb, but I haven't measured it yet.

What do you feel you spin faster without the thumb since you practice it this way?

-W

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

I'd love to be your test subject with the RevFire! Are you in the NW!

Minus an armswing with whip, I can spin the ball pretty fast with my fingers and thumb. With whip, I can get some pretty decent movement by whipping the fingertips against the seams.

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

I think it helps to use the thumb to spin the ball to describe/demonstrate what we're doing to some degree, but when it comes down to it, its using whip (the fingertips being like the end of a bullwhip) that muscles can't beat.

Ken B · Oct 21, 2013

The question for me comes down what make the ball spin more efficiently:
-Exercises and drilling the fingers to twist the ball faster, or
-Using I/R to whip the fingers against a seam.

After something Hillhouse said recently, I'm going with whip over muscle training.

BoardMember · Oct 22, 2013

Listen to Bill. 100% correct IMO........Put the fingers in the right position and location on the seams to impart spin in the direction that whip creates........

starsnuffer · Oct 22, 2013

Not in the NW, norcal. We'll figure something out.

I agree with Bill, I'm not saying that whip doesn't have a huge impact on the ball, I was just trying to understand the desire to not use the thumb at all. IMHO if one side of the hand is turning, so should the other side. Your thumb doesn't move very fast on it's own, but if you use a bit of pressure against the ball and the opposing fingers, you can get quite a bit of speed (spinning a top).

-W

Creating Spin

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