Backswing or no backswing?

I'll make no bones about it... I prefer to teach beginners the motion with a backswing. I do not like really deep/high backswings... but I do like some. Any is some...

I teach speed first, accuracy later. I know how comfortable and complacent pitchers can become... so I make it a point to teach them how to maximize every motion, everyday... so that they don't plateau.

When they are ready for ESPN... they can style it any way they like.

IOW... I view cradling as a style. I view the backswing as a motion that improves fundamentals... not a style.

Well mine has always pitched with the idea of trying to keep it in her glove as long as possible, but in doing that she developed a short quick back swing that really goes no higher then her hip/waist. So even though I say she stays in the glove she does come out just not as early and as long as others.

Cradle and drop... love it.

Purely intuitive take on this, but I just like loaded moves. I like a coil in the swing and I like a backswing in the pitching motion, it just looks righter because it has a load and stretch to it.

When I see throws, swings or windups where I don't see enough stretched rubber bands in the motion they just look clunky and unathletic.

I think it is telling that you have to teach a motion that hides the ball in the glove but left to their own even a semi bright monkey will probably use a backswing when they throw underhanded.

I hope my highly scientific take on it is helpful.

JJsqueeze said:

...even a semi bright monkey will probably use a backswing when they throw underhanded.

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Yep. Not a big fan of the HE finish though...

Out in Left Field said:

I have never seen a male pitcher with a backswing, and they throw pretty darn hard, not even using their legs much. There is no need to stretch the arm back and create any stretch, delay or overlap with it, whatever all that means. There already is a circle for the arm and in fact you would want the arm to go up easiest as it can and with less goings on, to time with the legs.

The backswing arose because some girls were used to the slingshot and it carried over. The men went to windmill and leaping earlier, at least where I was. JF et all used it to help them rock backwards and then forwards because the thought then was that it created velocity (but only athletes can keep this up for a career and not walk the planet of batters). Then young girls thought it gave them a feeling of getting started. However, it adds nothing to the pitch but comfort.

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most semi bright monkeys....

Out in Left Field said:

I have never seen a male pitcher with a backswing, and they throw pretty darn hard, not even using their legs much.

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Out in Left Field said:

There is no need to stretch the arm back and create any stretch, delay or overlap with it, whatever all that means.

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If you don't know what it means... then how would you know?

Out in Left Field said:

The backswing arose because some girls were used to the slingshot and it carried over.

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Please provide proof of this statement. Genuinely curious.

Out in Left Field said:

...(but only athletes can keep this up for a career and not walk the planet of batters).

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What does this statement mean? It's really difficult to understand... Are you saying that a backswing creates walks? If so... I thought your position above was that it does nothing for the pitch?

If you have a career as a pitcher... wouldn't that make you an athlete? I'm pretty sure you can't have a career as a pitcher... if you're not an athlete...

Never have I seen someone that was so wrong, so often. It truly is a gift.

It is the byproduct of not having an actual viewpoint but just a general sense that you must dissent constantly. the fundamental problem of agreeing with someone is that by doing so you admit that they must be as smart as you for at least a second. By disagreeing with everyone, all the time, the sociopath can keep pretending they are infinitely superior to all.

This is not opinion, I got it from watching Criminal Minds reruns, so it is fact.

I love your posts Java! hiding the ball was never a thought when taking out the backswing. The thought process was she's going back and turning her body to the side, or she's not doing the same thing with her backswing every time so maybe it's throwing off her pitch. She keep missing to the right, PC thought it was because she was opening too soon and that the backswing was causing her to turn her body. (Keep in mind we are still in process of switching from HE to IR so missing to the right I know is not all bad) Then PC showed my dd the "circle windup" she thought it might help dd to push off and kep her body going forward and it actually seemed to help, but she lost speed and so far it hasn't come back. It's been almost 2mos. It rained all day today didn't get to practice, I have a video of her using the circle pump it's not very good video but I'll try to post it now. You'll see in the video it looks like she gets good whip on the first pitch but when that pitch goes in the dirt her coach says "throw strikes" and looks like she reverts back to pushing. Man I wish she never learned the dreaded HE! [video] https://www.coachseye.com/v/ayGX[/video]