Is "Internal Rotation" technically illegal?

Rocketech1 · Dec 7, 2014

There is a little known rule that doesn't get much attention but has always concerned me about I/R pitching mechanics:

ASA Rule 6, Section 3. Legal Delivery (E):

"The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip and the wrist not farther from the body than the elbow"

I would guess that the "wrist not being farther from the body than elbow" rule is written to keep pitchers from not throwing side arm but a strict interpretation would make most internal rotation deliveries illegal according to this definition and the only way to be in compliance would be using the dreaded hello elbow mechanics?

What do you think?

MK37 · Dec 7, 2014

DD pitched in a tournament this year where the plate umpire thought she was pitching illegally for this reason. He didn't say anything to the team or DD. He had two other umpires come and watch. Both said she was fine. I had a nice chat with the umpire after the game about it. A month later I see him at another tournament and I say hi to him. He remembers me and says he still thinks DD is pitching illegally. DD is warming up and she hears him ask another umpire to watch her and see if she is pitching illegally, he says no.

He did mention that it was brought up because a pitcher didn't get called all season during high school for illegal pitches but during the state championship game she was called for a few, they lost game and it created some controversy.

riseball · Dec 7, 2014

I have often wondered the same thing. I think this is yet another example of a rule/law that is still on the books but typically never enforced.

JJsqueeze · Dec 7, 2014

riseball said:
I have often wondered the same thing. I think this is yet another example of a rule/law that is still on the books but typically never enforced.

like needing to drag your pivot foot or keep your rear foot on the rubber

dmaeganx2 · Dec 7, 2014

Ok well it really would not be the internal rotation part you can do that and keep the wrist with in the elbows distance, However flexion in arm, palm up at 9, and brush is where it becomes very hard to keep the ball with in the wrists distance.

well not really palm up at 9

lets split hairs if just part of the wrist is with in elbow distance it is fine by the rule.

so what it really attacks is brush and flexion

Ken B · Dec 7, 2014

By my estimation, a straight-armed bowler's wrist would be farther from the body at release than someone who whips with IR:

corlay · Dec 7, 2014

If you are using I/R (bicep), supination (forearm), and brush interference correctly; then I think you are pitching legally, even with the strictest interpretation of this rule.

If "brush interference" means upper arm/elbow contact, but not forearm; then I think you are probably violating the rule.

But unless you have a blatant side-arm delivery, its not likely to be called.

dmaeganx2 · Dec 7, 2014

your right ken But some girls I have seen Get there elbows to far behind there bodies and have higher bends in there arms at release for instance my DD is notorious for it. Amanda and sarah both have very good ability to what it looks like extension while in the process of the IR Something My DD is struggling with. Which truly makes them gifted at the craft.

Comp · Dec 7, 2014

He did mention that it was brought up because a pitcher didn't get called all season during high school for illegal pitches but during the state championship game she was called for a few, they lost game and it created some controversy.

If you are talking about the WIAA championship game from 2013, somewhere there was video posted of the calls last year but I cant find it now. My recollection from watching the video was she was definitly getting sidearm on some of her pitches.

MK37 · Dec 7, 2014

Comp said:
If you are talking about the WIAA championship game from 2013, somewhere there was video posted of the calls last year but I cant find it now. My recollection from watching the video was she was definitly getting sidearm on some of her pitches.

Yes, that would be the game the umpire was talking about.

Is "Internal Rotation" technically illegal?

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