bullet spin

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May 13, 2012
599
18
History: members of this board got me and DD headed down the road of IR early last yr when she started pitching again @14 playing 18u. Done ok in tb last summer some control problems but survived. Found a good instructor fixed some hip/shoulder issues and control vastly improved this winter. Start HS this yr. Numbers run 7-9 hits 2-3 k and 2 bb speed around 53-55 with fb, cu, roll over drop for 5 innings thru first half of season. Cant quite go 7 yet. Start 2nd half starts going the distance spreading pretty much same numbers over 7 innings. Her key point was of the hits she gives up around half would be hard hit others flares, bloopers etc. Mostly due to decent movement on fb.which spins like the gear i see posted on here. Last 3 outings she is giving up more hard hits and I notice the ball is really bullet spinning. With the schedule I really dont get time to work with her and really dont know what I would do anyways. The rotation was natural. What ques can I tell her to look for/try until we can start lessons again. I dont see any changes in body mechanics so I'm thinking its a release hand position problem.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Bullet spin is typically a result of a feathered release or a cupped release that almost looks like a failed attempt at a curve ball. Be sure palm is up at 9:00 and fingers are inside the ball at long as possible, let IR happen naturally. This will put her fingers behind the ball at release and a violent peel drop with straight spin will be the result.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Most IR fastballs have a downward bite like a peel drop, my DD's has a screwball "tail" on the end when she really hums it.
 
May 22, 2014
23
3
Indiana
My DD struggles with this also. In her case, she was "leading with the pinky" for too long. Watching the video frame by frame we could see that she wasn't really completing the IR by release. When she does it correctly, she gets a nice 1-7 slightly off axis spin similiar to BM's description in the "Working on correct spin" thread. That gives her a slight down and in movement. However, when she doesn't complete the IR by release, her hand is still inside the ball at release (i.e. still leading with the pinky at release). I'm thinking that's what coachjames means by a feathered release. What has help her is trying to feel like the ball comes off all 3 fingers at the same time as opposed to the pointer finger being more dominant.
 

Merrill Danner

Relax and breathe!
Sep 26, 2012
130
16
74441 - Oklahoma
In her case, she was "leading with the pinky" for too long.
Mine too, if she releases about her midline she hits nice 6-12 spin, if she is releasing at the back hip it goes bullet.
We have tried to fix this but without success. So just leaving it alone for the moment and concentrate on other aspects of pitching.
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
Coach James and shotgun, you pretty much nailed it. Spent 10 minutes working on our words "rotate forearm". Ball started coming off finger tips accuracy came back with rotation like the gear. Pitched 7 innings next night back to usual numbers. Won the game. Big thanks to everyone who responded, it was painful previous games watching the balls look like BB going to fence.
 
Dec 10, 2012
73
8
Waterloo Ontario
Bullet spin is typically a result of a feathered release or a cupped release that almost looks like a failed attempt at a curve ball. Be sure palm is up at 9:00 and fingers are inside the ball at long as possible, let IR happen naturally. This will put her fingers behind the ball at release and a violent peel drop with straight spin will be the result.

I thought the palm should be facing 3rd at 9?

Do you have any info on keeping your fingers inside the ball? I can't visualize this?

Thanks,

Jason
 
Jan 7, 2014
972
0
Western New York
I thought the palm should be facing 3rd at 9?

Do you have any info on keeping your fingers inside the ball? I can't visualize this?

Thanks,

Jason

You could argue Lacey's palm is not directly pointed at the sky but it's pretty darn close if you note the position of her forearm....there is just a an ever so slight angle towards 3rd.

lacey waldrop 9 oclock.jpg

Hard to see her hand here because of the blur but note the position of her semi-pronated forearm coming into release...put your forearm in the same position and you will feel what it means to "keep you fingers inside the ball"

lacey waldrop release.jpg

Here's the clip I pulled those frames from:

vg54r9.gif


CP
 

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