New-found Speed and Accuracy

javasource said:

Personally... I like how he strapped the camera to his head...

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Java, .... and I have you to thank for buying that damned Sony HDR-AS100v. The head-mount was what made it really fun!! as you can tell!!!

Now I'm a video junkie. However, it sure helps me see things, particularly when I put it on the tripod off to the side about 8 feet to the pitcher's front right.

When I have that thing on my head, I look like a Borg. "Resistance is futile."

She looks great, Doug. Love that whip!

SBmom8992 said:

Doug you sound so different than I expected. Not sure if anyone else has these preconceived ideas if what DFP folks look/sound like.

Sorry for the off topic comment.

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I thought the same thing. I always read Doug's posts with the voice of Coach Lou from Major League in my head. haha

Doug Romrell said:

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At 12:00, her hand seems to be directly overhead. Is that what you want?

WaSpeed02 said:

I thought the same thing. I always read Doug's posts with the voice of Coach Lou from Major League in my head. haha

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Well, Doug is in need of an avatar.

BLB said:

At 12:00, her hand seems to be directly overhead. Is that what you want?

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No, not what I want, but there are bigger fish to fry, and I'm going to walk gingerly in frying fish. Even with the ball/hand going straight over her head (she is extremely lanky), her arm is currently her biggest strength, particularly what goes on from 10:00 through release. I'd like to see her let her arm go after release--go through toward the target. Also, she doesn't quite lead with her elbow from 2:00 to 12:00, but definitely leads with it down the back side. It's something to tweak, but not among the biggest fish, in my opinion.

Okay, there's also that glove arm. If she were to have that be a little longer as she pulls it down, and a little more pointed toward the target as she pulls down, that is, through her adduction, I think it would help keep her shoulders open a little longer.

BUT, her main issues (the biggest fish to fry) are in her legs. It's been her main issues all along.

Our current focus are simple (few):

1. HEEL

At the beginning when she takes her weight back, her left heel will go down, but she needs to not let it get attached to the ground. That is, I want to be able to put a marble under it when I see it in her clips from the side. It will help her generate that sense of urgency in her drive.

2. TOE

This is actually a focus on keeping her left heel up as she pushes against the edge of the plate with her right big toe. Currently she tends to take a mini-step forward with her right foot and her heel sinks to the plate. Yes, that right heel will sink some as the pitcher pushes against the plate, but I don't want it sinking any more than to the size of a baseball. That is, I want to be able to put a baseball under that heel when she's pushing out when I'm filming her from the side.

3. TOE

While I don't think all pitchers need to land on their big toe, given the way this pitcher tends to land on the entire inside of her landing left) foot, causing a roll in her ankle (dangerous)... I want her trying to land on her big toe, and landing on it with her foot pointed more toward the target. Her current landing is often perpendicular to the target (I think you call that 90-degrees). The goal for me is 30-35 degrees. My goal with the bottom of her foot is the ball of her foot rather than the entire inside of her foot.

HEEL, BIG TOE (push), BIG TOE (landing)

I think all of these will help get her a bit taller (less collapsing) when she is at release. And, I don't think this will mess up the good timing she has right now.

Of course, there is a subtle hint of straightening that glove arm a bit to help keep the shoulders open a hair longer.

All in all, this is a simple focus, but the benefits are huge.

Doug, when in her actual pitching motion...don't you want her left heel to sink? This is the only way she can get all of her weight over the left foot/rearward IMO.

drc9805 said:

Doug, when in her actual pitching motion...don't you want her left heel to sink? This is the only way she can get all of her weight over the left foot/rearward IMO.

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I do want the left foot to sink as she takes all we weight back, but I want the spring loaded in that left leg. I don't want all that weight on that left heel, as that would result in no spring, thus a slower stride out. Keeping that back heel from sinking all the way keeps that back leg springed and explosive. Doing this does not prevent her from shifting all her weight to the left leg/foot. There is a lot of foot for that weight to be on. I want that weight mor forward on that left foot than back.

Thanks...the only reason I asked is because what you are describing is the way I interpreted the push-back drill but not in the 2-step/actual pitching motion.

drc9805 said:

Thanks...the only reason I asked is because what you are describing is the way I interpreted the push-back drill but not in the 2-step/actual pitching motion.

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Not quite like the push-back drill. I want the heel to almost touch. That would keep the back calf muscle more engaged (spring loaded). This is especially important with her due to her "lazy legs".