Suggestions on mechanics for 10u pitcher

We started with an HE coach but left after I found this sites info on IR. I'm not sure that she is really getting the whip since we started working on the drive. I have mechanical concerns but I would like input from the pitching gurus on this site.

Thanks

Jason

[video=youtube_share;7QBMVL6h-M8]http://youtu.be/7QBMVL6h-M8[/video]

Here's another view.
[video=youtube_share;jBcYN3PF9Nk]http://youtu.be/jBcYN3PF9Nk[/video]

I'm no pitching guru, but I've been infected by them.

I think she's really progressing. However, I think she's over-doing it with the bent arm (3:00 through 8:00), as a couple of my pitchers did earlier on. I'm not saying she needs a straight arm. I just think it's too bent, particularly at the beginning of her circle to overhead. It's particularly evident in the first clip

Gurus, chime in and edify!

You may want to get video from the back and see if she brushes her side at all and to see how far the ball is from her leg. Its almost like she has the hook locked in and its not really a relaxed hook where the ball just lags behind the arm.

Also her push off is out of sequence and looks like the back leg is still loading while the stride leg comes through. 2 step drill

Still good for 10U. Keep up the good work.

Doug Romrell said:

I'm no pitching guru, but I've been infected by them.

I think she's really progressing. However, I think she's over-doing it with the bent arm (3:00 through 8:00), as a couple of my pitchers did earlier on. I'm not saying she needs a straight arm. I just think it's too bent, particularly at the beginning of her circle to overhead. It's particularly evident in the first clip

Gurus, chime in and edify!

Click to expand...

I noticed the same thing. The bent arm looks very similar to my DD's arm during a pitch. This is one thing we are going to work on once the season ends. Maybe my thinking is wrong, could this have an affect on velocity?

the experts here might say that she lacks brush interference. her hip doesnt close and thus is not in a position to cause any brush interference.
she looks like a shorter girl, so i wouldnt worry about the hook in the arm throughout the circle. her posture is decent, there is minimal bending at the waist either to 3rd base or over the torso.
she looks pretty good to me. if you wanted to work on one thing, i would suggest getting the hip into a better position, hers are open at release, causing her hand to be away from her body at release.

i would also read and re read javas sticky on drive mechanics. she looks to push out very linear, maybe you could work on getting that left knee higher on her drive.

keep up the good work.

Hi! She is very good and that is why you aren't getting many comments. One thing I want her to correct is that she is landing on her heal. She needs to stride out to her toe. (No different than her overhand throw.) I have an article somewhere about why this is important. It is about the absorption of the force of landing, and we want the ball of the foot to do that.

Here's a view from behind. I really appreciate all of your responses as you guys have been her pitching coach for the last 12 months. We are looking for a PC who understands IR but no results yet. My main concerns are:

1. She seems to have lost some whip once we started to practice driving out. The brush interference is not there like it was with less drive. I think some of it is due to the back leg swinging out. I've read back over the drive post and started making sure she is striding to the left side of line just a little bit. This has helped but the hip is still staying open and the drive foot still wants to turn out. When the hip is pulled out like this it's almost impossible to brush. Any ideas for helping this one?

2. Also mentioned, her drive is late and needs to get the knee up. I'm having a hard time teaching this one. I'll keep rereading the drive post and if anyone has suggestions I would appreciate it.

The bent arm will hopefully be an easier fix as I told her to do this when I started teaching her IR. Now I know if you hold the ball palm up enough bend will be there. Lesson learned...don't tell them to bend the arm... Just have palm up.

Again thanks for all those who have meaningful post relating to pitching mechanics. You don't know how many pitchers like my daughter you have helped.[video=youtube_share;-LNUQUrgkLI]http://youtu.be/-LNUQUrgkLI[/video]

Hi ga_smith,

Looking at the video from behind, I see something that hits very close to home (my 12U dd). Her arm circle is out too far away from her body. It is causing her center of gravity to shift to her throwing arm side and results in bending at the waist or "leaning" through delivery. She is still able to achieve IR, but there is little to no chance of getting any brush contact, which is where the real velocity gains are to be found. It's something I've had a difficult time trying to re-train with my dd, so be patient. I think it's very common when girls are learning to throw underhand.

Drills/cues my DD has worked on to help this issue:

1. Have her stand with arms extended in a "T" position while holding the ball. While holding the ball palm up, have her slowly bring her throwing arm down to the back hip, leading with the pinky, roll the forearm off the hip/thigh in a simulated pitch. Repeat this several times and have her focus on the natural design of her forearm/elbow to pronate (palm turn in toward her body).

2. Bicep brush the ear at 12:00. Use Boardmembers "Lock it In", "Liberty" and "Show It" drills to progress with emphasis on arm circle tight to body, fast, and loose.

3. Do not focus on accuracy, velocity, or general results while learning this. She will get frustrated very quickly if you do. It takes a while for it to *click* and feel right to them. "Leaners" tend to muscle the ball and releasing off the back hip is counter-intuitive, yet much more productive.

Good luck.

Hi ga
Check her stride length....it appears to be so long (note the spread between her legs/feet at landing) that she is sort of "hip locked". If she is 10U and a relative beginner it would be best for her stride to not be any longer than what she is tall. As she gets older/stronger she will increase her stride length.
Also, she kinda whimps out on the final pulling together of the glove hand(note how nicely her ball hand and glove hand are pulling in a balanced fashion and then the glove hand runs out of gas).....getting a balanced "pull together" is important.