Basic arm-body synchronization

Fastpitch86 said:

1) When is a good time in the season to change from HE to IR? DD has been stagnant for a while with HE style.

2) What is a typical time frame for this transition?

3) Any other questions I need to consider?

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She first has to be converted to believing in the IR style--that it will increase her speed, but possibly at the expense (at first) of losing some accuracy. Aren't we going into the "off-season"? If so, do it now.

I wish this site and the IR in the classroom were available 16 years ago when my oldest daughter pitched. I firmly believe the nerve damage she has in her pitching arm is the result of HE-like pitching mechanics (palm down going into release).

Doug Romrell said:

She first has to be converted to believing in the IR style--that it will increase her speed, but possibly at the expense (at first) of losing some accuracy. Aren't we going into the "off-season"? If so, do it now.

I wish this site and the IR in the classroom were available 16 years ago when my oldest daughter pitched. I firmly believe the nerve damage she has in her pitching arm is the result of HE-like pitching mechanics (palm down going into release).

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Thanks for the feedback.

Fastpitch86 said:

Thanks for the feedback.

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Surely, you've bought into the IR style, right?

Doug Romrell said:

Surely, you've bought into the IR style, right?

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Yes. Going into sophomore year high school and wants to change to the IR style but was cautious with changing over. She is hitting spots with all her pitches. We have discussed changing styles and wants to make the change, but hate to see her have a setback where she goes into high school season being "in between" styles.

Fastpitch86 said:

Yes. Going into sophomore year high school and wantg to change to the IR style but was cautious with changing over. She is hitting spots with all her pitches. We have discussed changing styles and wants to make the change, but hate to see her have a setback where she goes into high school season being "in between" styles.

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Given I see the IR style as being much more natural, it is my opinion that the transition won't be all that difficult if she believes the IR style will, in the end, make her a better pitcher.

There is gold in this thread, if you take what JS has done with drive mechanics, what BM did with I/R and are able to synchronize the two then your pitching is in good shape.

In working with my little one I have a new appreciation for how sensitive the synchronization is in a new pitcher and working with her and her big synchronization issues helps me identify the more subtle synch issues with her older sister.

For a girl that is pitching with I/R and some brush I see the telltale sign of a timing misfire as a high-low miss. Usually the misfire is that the arm circle is LAGGING the drive and plant. I have yet to see the arm get ahead of the lower half. I use two little adjustments to help them feel their timing, I either have them shorten their backswing or accentuate the height of the stride foot. Both kind of achieve the same thing, a slight adjustment of the arm to be more in the 9-10 O'clock range when the plant foot bears weight ( I do not refer to touchdown anymore as there is a slight lag between when the foot touches and when it actually bears weight that can be used to power the whip) as opposed to the 11 o clock ish position when I see a misfire.

Closing the hip too much??

sluggers said:

The next sequence is Cat Osterman. Cat's sequence is almost identical to Sarah Pauly.

At 12, Cat's right foot has not touched the ground.

Note that Cat closes to about 30 degrees at 6, which is more than Sarah Pauly or Jenny Finch.

The hips close somewhat at release. I've never seen a kid who had problems closing too little. Every young pitcher I've ever seen has trouble with closing too much.

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the hips supposed to be about 45deg at release? Then close all the way with follow through?

He and IR

Doug Romrell said:

She first has to be converted to believing in the IR style--that it will increase her speed, but possibly at the expense (at first) of losing some accuracy. Aren't we going into the "off-season"? If so, do it now.

I wish this site and the IR in the classroom were available 16 years ago when my oldest daughter pitched. I firmly believe the nerve damage she has in her pitching arm is the result of HE-like pitching mechanics (palm down going into release).

Click to expand...

When I pitch I never think of palm up or palm down. At peak circle I have palm facing catcher and around 3-6 the my arm rotates to hand behind the ball until my arm lines up with my hip then I fire my forearm across my belly and finish by driving my elbow out into what Finch calls hello elbow zone.

Fastpitch86 said:

Yes. Going into sophomore year high school and wants to change to the IR style but was cautious with changing over. She is hitting spots with all her pitches. We have discussed changing styles and wants to make the change, but hate to see her have a setback where she goes into high school season being "in between" styles.

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I don't understand change. If she is pitching right she will naturally do arm rotation into her body to get arm alignment. I notice many coaches teach palm down early like right after the arm is behind the head even with the back shoulder. I think this causes stress on the shoulder but each to his own I always say. At the 2 position the C of your hand should be facing the catcher.
Many girls when they pitch do not so 12-6 rotation because of the arm mechanics.

timeframe

Fastpitch86 said:

1) When is a good time in the season to change from HE to IR? DD has been stagnant for a while with HE style.

2) What is a typical time frame for this transition?

3) Any other questions I need to consider?

Click to expand...

Instantly. It should not take any time at all. To check out her mechanics all you got to do is video and frame trough using a top level youtube pitcher like Adam Folkard