Need help with speed

Edy.

Look at Java's Drive Machanics thread. This should improve your drive off the mound and also help with timing.

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/18135-drive-mechanics-15.html#post280717

Good luck!

Ken B said:

This is the second of three clips without warm up. I'd like to try this again after some warm up, focus and intensity. Gun said 51-52 for the three.

[video=youtube_share;1-B1pQhxGcI]http://youtu.be/1-B1pQhxGcI[/video]

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Ken, great job! Like Slugger said "it takes softball" to post video of yourself.


Thanks for all you do!

Ken B said:

This is the second of three clips without warm up. I'd like to try this again after some warm up, focus and intensity. Gun said 51-52 for the three.

[video=youtube_share;1-B1pQhxGcI]http://youtu.be/1-B1pQhxGcI[/video]

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Next time how about a tank top so we can see what is actually going on?

Seriously though this is cool that you are willing to put yourself out there. And even cooler that you taught yourself to pitch!!

Tank top! There'd have to a be a warning posted like, "Caution: bright, pale skin--viewer may consider sunglasses for their protection!"

In my mind, a teacher must be a good student. If I can post a clip of myself and get some input on what I'm doing and learn from it; hopefully I can pass on that knowledge to my kids and be better able to relate to how they feel/think. I'm fortunate to live relatively close to FFS, sutherlandfinch, Anna Miller, John Gay and bucket pinata--so hoping to connect sometime and learn more. I wish I lived a little closer to folks like Balswick, BoardMember, Pauly or javasource. There is that rumor about JS taking a trip out our way...

Breezy said:

We sure talk it better than we do it! I have to remember that the next time I get frustrated with a student! LOL!

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No kidding! I wish I had the time to practice and refine! I'd love to be able to beat the speed of my older kids!

Edy said:

Ken,

I don't have much to add, but I really like your mechanics.
It looks very fluid and natural. The timing seems fine to me.

My guess is that after warming up and making it more intense the speed will increase a lot.


Again, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge!

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It's been a long time since I've seen video of myself and it was good to see that I'm not practicing what I preach: I'd like to see the torso stay a little more square during the initial forward motion, a touch less pivot and more glove-side action. I also was not using brush, which prolly explains the high pitch...

Breezy said:

I'll join in: Men's Fastpitch: Men's Fastpitch - YouTube[/VIDEO]

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Breezy,
Do you have any video from the other side and a little closer?

Ken

Edy said:

I live in a country where softball is not so popular.

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Are you on the Olympic committee, too?

Edy said:

Special thanks to BM and JS. You guys are awesome for sharing so much knowledge.

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Thanks, Edy. I've the same level of respect for people like yourself, too. Love the fact that you took the time to share.

Edy said:

Having said that, I've been pitching for quite a while but my speed seems to be stuck.

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Curious... are you always performing the same routine? You ever just go nuts and pitch with everything you have? No fundamentals... just insanity...?

Edy said:

I tried to change my motion and make adjustments based on what I read but no matter what I do the speed remains the same.

My top speed was clocked at 58, but 90% of the time it's between 51-54 (most of the guys around have the same speed). I'm 6'1, so I think height is not a big issue. I'm wondering if bad mechanics are sucking the speed out or if timing is not adjusted. Maybe the kinetic chain is all messed... i don't know

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BM's comment about adduction is really, really noticeable. Sounds like your experimenting with this feel now, which is great. Great number one priority.

One thing I noticed was the amount of spacing between your stride leg and drive leg. Not sure if the league allows this... but in any event... using that much spacing requires that you overcome that spacing earlier in the motion. Meaning... your stride leg now has that much more distance to work through. If this is the way you pitch, that's cool... just know that your circle is going to be way ahead of your lower-half... which is going to rob you of speed, too. If you haven't already... I'd recommend viewing the video I posted on Pushbacks... and specifically note the parts where I talk about delaying the backswing. Try that drill... specifically all the pre-motion stuff... like waiting to move the glove and ball hand out until you're doing the rearward move (transferring weight rearward), and sending the glove and ball hand out away from the body first... before bringing them back into the body, etc. Doing these things will help you overcome that extra distance... and you'll really see some speed improvements once your circle is 'behind' your legs, as opposed to out 'in front'.

Edy said:

Judging by the videos, I can see the hips open at 12, the palm up at 9 (more up than facing down) and I can even see the whipping action through 9-6.

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Hips at 3... timing notes above will get you there.

Edy said:

ps: replanting is one of the issues I have to correct, but thi shouldn't affect the speed, (or should it?)

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I don't see this... ? Stride looks really decent. I do see a bit of gym-step, surprised OILF didn't jump all over that one...

You look really good, Edy. Keep on working on. Would love to see progress if time allows. Best, JS

javasource said:

Are you on the Olympic committee, too?

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I wish I were!!! It's very tempting to kick some butts there.. LOL
In fact, I live in Brazil and the only popular sport around is soccer (which I prefer not to have any sort of contact..)

javasource said:

Curious... are you always performing the same routine? You ever just go nuts and pitch with everything you have? No fundamentals... just insanity...?

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That's a good point. To be fair I have no excuses at all.. I can only point my ignorance as the main reason. I always had the impression I was doing things right, until I saw my own footage.

I used to have a step style and always had the same speed range (51-55) and this has been enough to beat a few batters.. I can also manage to put some spin on the ball so I felt that was enough for a time. And believe it or not, there are even worse motions in my league. I really don't have live models here.. I mean it!!!

Anyway, I eventually realized that I should go forward and do my best to learn proper mechanics. I've tested a more leap style trying to mimic the men's fashion I see online but that put me in trouble because of the replant (landing on the pivot foot - not allowed here)

So the motion you see on video has been an attempt to make my motion more kinetically efficient but it's quite clear that the change didn't help a bit (taking that the speed hasn't change, the leap didn't add anything good to it)
Of course I realize that the problem is not the leap, but the lack of proper mechanics

One major problem I also realized now is that the arm circle was kinda timed to my short step, but I could'nt fit it to a leap and drag drive.
That probably caused the horrible timing.

javasource said:

BM's comment about adduction is really, really noticeable. Sounds like your experimenting with this feel now, which is great. Great number one priority.

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Yes, the adduction... Such a great power that I can't handle... yet (and I'll tell you why in a second).
BM has brought so much light with just a few words.. that man knows things..

javasource said:

One thing I noticed was the amount of spacing between your stride leg and drive leg.
If you haven't already... I'd recommend viewing the video I posted on Pushbacks...

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Great video and great instructions.
In fact the spacing is not a problem in terms of rules (not in my league), but it's a problem to proper timing the motion.. I see it now (thanks to you!) and I'll definitely change it

javasource said:

I don't see this... ? Stride looks really decent. I do see a bit of gym-step, surprised OILF didn't jump all over that one...

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Read gym-step (ahead and out of the ruber). Just a linguistic confusion.. we call it replant around here
*SARCASM WARNING*
It's sad OILF is not aboard yet.. I miss her comments..



Well, now comes the best part.
Yesterday night I finally made to the Drive Mechanics sticky. My head is still spinning... I'm really amazed!!

I believe I got a clue of how power and speed are transferred to the ball by the kinetic chain, and it has nothing to do with the circle speed as I used to think (and from that belief came the crazy rushing motion).

How can I keep neglecting that? So, I've decided to work on a stronger and more balanced drive before trying to add the adduction monster to my motion.

I'll have to work hard to change my muscular memory and it'll take time, I know
But I'm sure I'll have good things from it. Hopefully I'll have a better motion to share next time
Again, thank you very much!!!
All of you who commented helped me to see things I never realized before.

Merry Christmas to all

Wow! As I look at the video of me compared with everything I've learned in the last 10 months, I'm surprised I didn't get more feedback! If I'd posted a swing that bad in the Hitting Tech or Practical forums, I would have expected 15-30 pages of this or that! I'll try to post an update when time allows and hopefully get more critical response.

Goes to show that DFP is an amazing resource. Thank you to Pauly, BoardMember, Balswick, javasource and everyone else who contributes to DFP. Thanks to Edy for starting this thread. Looking forward to a follow up post to hear how things are going for you. Ultimately, the kids we work with get the info we learn from this site and I'm very grateful.

Ken