Combating Hello Elbow

Doug Romrell said:

Don't most pitchers have a pitching coach? Shouldn't all coaches know this? Given that, shouldn't all coaches respect this. If a coach thinks he/she wants to make a suggestion regarding pitching mechanics, it ought to be of this form.... "You might want to discuss this suggestion with your pitching coach. See what he/she thinks about it." Or, simply discuss the matter with the pitchers pitching coach.

I fail to understand why it has to be a whizzing match between coach and outside pitching coach.

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I think the problem is that every coach thinks they know best. Because of the wealth of knowledge on this board, I was forced to do the research and after hours of pouring over film I came to the realization that regardless of what they say, the top pitchers use the IR method, unfortunately not every coach is able to admit they don't know everything.

Most coaches I've been around do not try to change mechanics of a pitcher who is producing outs. IR, hello elbow, bowling, whatever. Does your DD have control issues? I know achieving accuracy takes more time with IR - at least in my experience - wouldn't want to go against the pros... HE produces strikes sooner in a pitchers development. Not saying your DD has control issues, but if this is the case, then sit out of pitching, work hard over the next year, and when your DD blows the coach away next year - smile...

She's still adjusting to the natural movement of her release (tends to fall away from a righty 1-7 rotation on her fast/dropball), but I wouldn't say she's wild. She only gotten one opportunity to pitch in a game this season (7 games) and she struck out 7 in 3 innings with 3 walks. Not the best (on the control front), but given the circumstance I think she did well. This coach seems to be displeased with the movement on her ball and thinks that it's unintentional and insists that she won't be able to throw consistent strikes unless she starts HEing (which I'd consider a mute point given the results, but this converstion took place after said game).

javasource said:

The coach wants balls down the middle... and every time my DD throws an inside pitch... she gets on my DD's case. She has taken video of her at practice to study at home (because my DD 'does this weird turn-over thing with her hand').

~JS

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Isn't it odd that so many coaches get into critiquing and coaching pitching without ever having studied successful pitchers? I'm a relative newcomer to this, but after only a few hours of watching D1 and NPF pitchers I could tel that regardless of what they advertise they were using the exact same method that's talked about on this board every day. They may simulate a HE motion at the end of their delivery, but, everything leading up to that is 100% IR. Not hard to pick out....

Three walks in three innings in middle school is definitely not wild...

SoGASoftball said:

I know achieving accuracy takes more time with IR - at least in my experience - wouldn't want to go against the pros... HE produces strikes sooner in a pitchers development.

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Great observation and probably the reason so many pitching coaches teach HE mechanics to youngsters because you can achieve "just throw strikes" sooner and parents and rec coaches don't have the patience to wait for little Suzy to find the strike zone using IR mechancis. I'm sure this is one of the reasons DD's fist PC taught "push the ball down the circle" and "pull up with elbow to the catcher after release". She probably also did some quick internet searches and saw Jennie Finch and company teaching this style and validated her coaching method. She could care less about the Hanson Principle as long as she was fully booked with clients, why change...?

It has to be an ego thing because if the pitcher is getting outs and/or blowing it by them, why would the coach care how she pitches? Thankfully, no coach has tried to mess with my DD. They know she has a pitching coach. If she isn't getting outs she isn't in the circle but has nothing to do with whether she is HE or IR. Can't imagine her being in the circle getting Ks and ground outs and the coach telling her she can't pitch? Ugh...Some people need to get rid of their ego and let them play

what about wrist flips? my dd hates doing them but people are constantly getting her to do them!! we never do them on our own. what would be a good option to give her to do when coaches tell her "time for wrist flips"?

colin said:

what about wrist flips? my dd hates doing them but people are constantly getting her to do them!! we never do them on our own. what would be a good option to give her to do when coaches tell her "time for wrist flips"?

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Simply advise them that you will be doing the type of wrist flips the top pitchers in the world do rather than the rec-ball I'm-no-sure-how-to-teach-pitching type. Hahahaha Of course, they will likely scratch their heads and think you are crazy.

colin said:

what about wrist flips? my dd hates doing them but people are constantly getting her to do them!! we never do them on our own. what would be a good option to give her to do when coaches tell her "time for wrist flips"?

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Do the 'dead stops' or 'finger snaps' Rick P and I mentioned... just into her own glove.