Comments/criticisms please

I have been lurking around this site for about 6 months now. I really appreciate all the info. What a great resource for a novice softball parent. My daughter finally agreed to let me post a video. My DD is 10 and threw for a pretty weak 10u travel ball team last year. She really struggled with her control. I'm sure there are many flaws that will be revealed in the below videos but any feedback ( good or bad) would be appreciated. Thanks.

http://youtu.be/2kH9F-tmCbI

http://youtu.be/sxYiCbvup10

I like having the rubber to work off of....

Just a bucket dad, so take my free advice for what it's worth. But this is what I see, and I'm sure someone will be along shortly to object to my findings. Nonetheless....

I started reviewing the video by watching DD's legs/leg drive. Without the correct foundation, I wouldn't worry about what's going on up top.

Anyway, (and I know there are different schools of thought on this) but ...

Her leg drive starts good, she opens up good, but her finish needs some work. Towards the end, she closes her hips and sort of takes a walk towards the catcher. If she planted her front foot and had her back leg contact her front leg to stop momentum and send more energy into her arm she'd throw harder. Instead, she throws her mitt out and rotates her body, almost like she's doing a pirouette. So, I'd work on her leg positioning/leg drive first and then worry about her free hand. The rest should fall into place.

I'm not an expert....I'm sure they will post something soon. But, she actually looks pretty good. The 1st thing that jumped out at me is that she's hopping. That's illegal. She also seems slightly off balance (as if she's trying too hard to create a path for her arm to come through). But she really looks good though. Are you her coach?

cbullard said:

I'm not an expert....I'm sure they will post something soon. But, she actually looks pretty good. The 1st thing that jumped out at me is that she's hopping. That's illegal. She also seems slightly off balance (as if she's trying too hard to create a path for her arm to come through). But she really looks good though. Are you her coach?

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This website is her coach. The hop has been a problem and that fall off to the right. She has a lean to the right and kinda "sits down" into the pitch which causes a pretty big gap between the ball and leg at release. Any suggestions on curing the hop other than just don't do it? Thanks for looking. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Perfect Circle said:

I like having the rubber to work off of....

Click to expand...

You gotta have more of a comment than that PC. A little critique of something other than the pitching rubber. Share some of your knowledge with me.

Ebbycalvin said:

You gotta have more of a comment than that PC. A little critique of something other than the pitching rubber. Share some of your knowledge with me.

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I was just bumping you up to the top till we get the heavy hitters on the job. Had to say something positive.

It's going to take 50 pitches everyday for 2 months, .............once you get set on your approach.
Here's how you do it inside...

FeetFirst

Movement

I'm Hoping you get everyone of the Gentelmen & Ladies to respond to your thread, that I was blessed to get to respond to mine...

Ebbycalvin said:

This website is her coach. The hop has been a problem and that fall off to the right. She has a lean to the right and kinda "sits down" into the pitch which causes a pretty big gap between the ball and leg at release. Any suggestions on curing the hop other than just don't do it? Thanks for looking. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Click to expand...

Someone can tell me if I'm wrong. The hop seems to be due to her leaping up instead of a more up/out leap.

In working with her leg drive, work on getting THIS (from Javasource's Drive Mechanics thread):

wow.
she looks a lot like my DD did, about when we started to learn I/R and good drive mechanics.
(a little over a year ago...)



I'm no expert on cures, but I can identify a few flaws to try and fix.

RED LINE: extreme shoulder tilt
GREEN LINE: no brush from elbow down
BLUE LINE: extreme body tilt

Most of this is addressed by correcting posture.
I suspect that her release point is still pretty far forward (at or beyond her front thigh...) and she still regards her shoulder as her main source of power in her pitch. But I am far from expert.

One difference I see between your DD and mine at the same point in development,
is that your DD doesn't "turn out" and maintains a palm-up position over the top and down to 9:00.
That's great!

Look like she's pretty athletic, and gets good velocity now, for a 10U.
You'll both be ecstatic on the improvement as you progress.
Stay with it, diligently, through the rest of Winter and Spring.
I predict a good season for her...