Arm slot training for whip

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JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
My DD has a really hard time feeling whipping action in overhand throwing and pitching, she has a lot of push in her motions. I have been trying to get her to just feel what whip is in general for a while now with varying success, using the I/R drills, Wasserman drills for overhand. I recently had what looks like some success by having her throw from 1/2, 3/4 arm slots during warm ups for both overhand throwing and for pitching. I find that in my throws from those positions the speed is all whip and there is very little ability to cheat by pushing so she can feel the whip better and then look for the same feel in her pitching and throwing. By starting here she seems to be able to feel the whip better and then throw faster. Anyone ever try anything like this?
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I make my students alternate between overhand and underhand pitching as we are finishing up the warm up portion of a lesson. A lot of emphasis on leading with the elbow. As Hillhouse says "windmill pitching is just like overhand, only its upside down!"
 
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
Put a ball in a sock and knot the end. Have her hold the knot and pitch the sock into a net or against a fence. It's almost impossible to push a sock.

-W
 
Apr 5, 2009
748
28
NE Kansas
Activating the glutes and learning the feel that ties them to the shoulder during the motion has a lot to do with feeling the whip. Thanks Java :)
 
Apr 5, 2009
748
28
NE Kansas
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/18135-drive-mechanics.html

It is all in there in full detail. I've studied it about 10 times so far and each time I pick up more nuggets of gold. It can be tedious or fascinating depending. Lol.

I highly recommend you commit to the exercises he shows. They will make a world of difference in your athlete. If you want to shortcut the exercises, put your student in a speed/agility class. They will end up teaching her most of the exercises he recommends. Mine loves them now. She used to move like a 2x4 :)


Edit: I'm assuming you are wanting to feel the flow thru your body like the image below. If not, please ignore. I've come to believe that the entire motion from plant on is "whip" if done correctly. :)


111nfdh.gif
 
Last edited:
Mar 12, 2009
556
0
Thanks! That's one thread I know I have to read but I just haven't started it because I want to have time to be on here for a long time when I start:).
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
A couple years back when I started with my pitchers it was summer and they had tanned arms... at least on the outside of their arms.

In teaching the whip I would say, "Down the back side, the light (untanned) part of your arm is out and your arm is bent back. At release you go quickly from THAT to the tanned part of your arm being out and forward and the bend in your arm is forward."

It was surprising how using the tanned and untanned side of their arm as cues really helped them, particularly the lanky one who was a bit clumsy. She now definitely has the best whip of the three I work with, and I knew it would naturally be that way if she could get the whip down correctly.
 

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