Thread: Abbott's "pitching while kneeling on exercise ball" drill

What's the deal with this ball and core stuff. IF Monica Abbott did this and came away from it 5-7mph faster than I would say great. But what did it prove with her? Did she improve? Or is it some other dumb drill that does nothing?

Originally Posted by CoachFP

What's the deal with this ball and core stuff. IF Monica Abbott did this and came away from it 5-7mph faster than I would say great. But what did it prove with her? Did she improve? Or is it some other dumb drill that does nothing?

I can't say I've actually had any experience doing this but I suppose the theory is by strengthening the pitcher's core muscles used during her pitching motion she will be able to have a more stable foundation during pitching and thus be able to be more consistent and possibly faster.

Originally Posted by CoachFP

What's the deal with this ball and core stuff. IF Monica Abbott did this and came away from it 5-7mph faster than I would say great. But what did it prove with her? Did she improve? Or is it some other dumb drill that does nothing?

I stand to be corrected but for now, I'd go with the Stupid drill scenario.

This looks to me like a drill that would go a long way toward increasing core stability and overall balance awareness. I know that Marc D's materials are very big on core strength and stability exercises as being integral to developing softball skills.

Just sitting on a physioball helps with posture and conditioning. I sit on one when I'm grading papers, and usually I break a sweat just staying upright. What Abbott is doing here has to be one of the hardest things I've seen done on a physioball--will it add speed? Maybe not. I'll bet it helps with balance and overall strength/stamina, though, and that means better control over more innings.

One of the things I see lacking in my 13 yo DD's package is core strength and balance. We've been really focusing offseason conditioning on exercises that force her to use her core muscles to keep balanced, with good results. She is becoming more and more aware of the parts of her body, especially when she throws bad pitches, she can usually tell me specifically what went wrong .

I don't think this is a central drill, and definitely not something anybody will have an easy time doing right out of the gate, but it's something that I could see helping with strength and balance. A good physical challenge, too.

I think that it would help with her all over balance. The young girls that I have coming to lessons have not learned to balance.

I asked an 11 YO the other day, if she had ever played hopscotch and she didn't know what I was talking about. They also haven't jumped rope. The things that my DD grew up learning, this new group of youngsters has to be taught. MOO


(Dave, I hadn't seen your reply, before I posted. I had the site open and then came back after awhile.)

This is very similar to the old 'Crane drill'.

Stand on the rubber with the stride knee up, stand on one foot. Throw the pitch but dont let the stride foot touch the ground until the catcher catches the ball.

Both are great for balance. The ball might be a little better for the core muscles.

What happens when you lose balance and fall off the ball??

I simply don't get it. I've seen this video a few times now and get more baffled by it each time. what is it accomplishing exactly? Core Strength? really? Ok. Aren't there other ways to obtain core strength? What about all the bad habits being incorporated into her pitching mechanics by doing this ridiculous thing? Lets see... she's teaching herself to pitch at the side of her hip, not through her hips. She's teaching herself to use all arm. She's not promoting any timing between arms and legs.

I ask this somewhat rhetorically but why are people so fixated on ridiculous drills that may "fix" one thing in the pitching motion but destroy 3 others? Personally, I think alot of these drills are making pitching harder to learn for kids. Looking at this, I ask myself: Honestly, how is this going to help a pitcher get better?

Than again, maybe I'm just missing something here.

Bill

I guess I'll have to disagree with my earlier post to agree with some of what Bill says above. Watching the video, I see that Abbott is throwing with her hips entirely closed while she's on the ball. I was so taken with her working so hard to stay balanced that I didn't really notice that part the first time. I can't say I'd ever think that doing reps from that position would be heading in the right direction.

As much as I admire Abbott's ability to balance and throw from an unstable base, especially one as unstable as this one, I can't see using it as a pitching drill. With that said, DD is already incorporating staying upright on her knees on the physioball as a (fun) core strengthening exercise/balance challenge, just without the pitching motion.