Chelsea Wilkinson
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javasource
6-4-3 = 2
Always believed the bent finger served the same purpose... which is to assist the pitcher in maintaining some sort of wrist flexion... or cup into release. Rich points out that it helps raise the nose or narrows into release, too. Something I can totally appreciate and better comprehend now, when comparing all the variations on spin.
Went back and read JJ's post. IMO, the drunken reference to the thumb is spot on. The thumb drag is a big killer... really brings the bullet tip forward. I usually ask a kid to move that thumb to the right of center (rhp)... as anything close to center really sucks the flexion out of the wrist... and gets the thumb too far forward.
Kind of chuckle a bit when I see a 70 mph "rise" roll off the fingertips... and the commentators talk about the quality of spin making a top spin pitch magically jump. Pretty famous pitcher down south years ago that was throwing a drop ball on an upward trajectory...
Have to admit, though... there was some pretty good spinners this year... in comparison to previous years. Ton of swagger, too. Nice to see this game heading in the right direction.
Many props to Parker. Unflappable.
The OU catcher is a machine... one of the best I've seen in awhile.
At least one of the Romero's gets to hoist a trophy.
That whole team is stacked and young. Best defense in the league.... not a batter under 300. Seems like they will be the team to beat for another 2-3 years.
Went back and read JJ's post. IMO, the drunken reference to the thumb is spot on. The thumb drag is a big killer... really brings the bullet tip forward. I usually ask a kid to move that thumb to the right of center (rhp)... as anything close to center really sucks the flexion out of the wrist... and gets the thumb too far forward.
Kind of chuckle a bit when I see a 70 mph "rise" roll off the fingertips... and the commentators talk about the quality of spin making a top spin pitch magically jump. Pretty famous pitcher down south years ago that was throwing a drop ball on an upward trajectory...
Have to admit, though... there was some pretty good spinners this year... in comparison to previous years. Ton of swagger, too. Nice to see this game heading in the right direction.
Many props to Parker. Unflappable.
The OU catcher is a machine... one of the best I've seen in awhile.
At least one of the Romero's gets to hoist a trophy.
That whole team is stacked and young. Best defense in the league.... not a batter under 300. Seems like they will be the team to beat for another 2-3 years.
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Can you elaborate on the advantage of a cupped wrist and why it helps to have the nose/narrows raised? It might be good to have a pic of the grip to help put this into perspective. In a recent thread, you referenced a tip that really helps with the rise. Looking forward to hearing/seeing it.
Thanks,
Ken
Thanks,
Ken
javasource
6-4-3 = 2
Sure, Ken.
There are three rise spins... but only one that really matters.
1) backspin
2) bulletspin
3) topspin
As a catcher, they look like:
1) a blur
2) small dot
3) large dot
At release, they result in:
1) fingers working down the ball
2) fingers feathering onto the side of the ball, thumb forward
3) ball rolling off fingertips inside the ball
In reference to flexion of the wrist:
1) wrist flexion persists, enabling fingers in proper position, narrows raised
2) wrist flexion breaks down, thumb gets forward, narrows flatten out
3) wrist flexion is centrifugally removed, fingers inside, ball rolls off
John posted a good video a while back on this concept, if you need a visual.... something like "down the barrel, up the barrel." Hope this makes sense and helps... ~Mike
There are three rise spins... but only one that really matters.
1) backspin
2) bulletspin
3) topspin
As a catcher, they look like:
1) a blur
2) small dot
3) large dot
At release, they result in:
1) fingers working down the ball
2) fingers feathering onto the side of the ball, thumb forward
3) ball rolling off fingertips inside the ball
In reference to flexion of the wrist:
1) wrist flexion persists, enabling fingers in proper position, narrows raised
2) wrist flexion breaks down, thumb gets forward, narrows flatten out
3) wrist flexion is centrifugally removed, fingers inside, ball rolls off
John posted a good video a while back on this concept, if you need a visual.... something like "down the barrel, up the barrel." Hope this makes sense and helps... ~Mike
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Rich or Rick?
Forgot to add: In an ideal rise release, how much (if any) brush is involved?
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shaker1
Softball Junkie
I took the clip of Parkers rise, slowed it down with the Technique app, it looks to be all the way to the middle of her hand.
How did you do that? I've been trying to figure that out for some time but cannot seem to get it.
shaker1
Softball Junkie
Took a video of the slo mo clips from the game, with my phone off the watchespn app, saved it to youtube. Then uploaded it to technique.
Probably a better way to do it. But it served the purpose.
javasource
6-4-3 = 2
Rich. Brush? There should always be a trigger.
