Bullet spin pitches / fastballs

Steve Huff, I notice this is your first post on this site. I read your post and the reference to Stacey Nelson and her fastball mechanics on youtube. I viewed the the video to see what you implied as being the proper mechanics for the fastball. I believe she has a great screwball and was her go-to pitch in her years at UF. In the video, she is suggesting a straight arm, slamming the door and has a follow thru to her throwing shoulder on her fastball.

Nelson's mechanics are optimal for an inside out screwball..........And of course........She doesn't throw using her own pitching tips........

She advocates a straight arm and push with the hand on top the ball at 12:00 vs. a whip .........



However, when she pitches she's "bent arm" and hand under the ball........What's new?



She advocates a replant with the weight ON the back foot prepped for re-push at plant........



Not..........

Locked elbow demonstrations

Hi BM,

A few times when demonstrating pitching and going through the motions, I am guilty of this locked elbow thing also.

When pitching, always had the bend in the elbow. HOWEVER, when demonstrating and 'Frozen" in motion at a certain point, as this young lady appears to be doing, I would have my elbow locked as I stood there for a minute. I was talking and I did not think about it until a parent or coach pointed it out.

Never thought about it when pitching. HAD TO think about it while frozen and demonstrating. Unless she is actually saying to have the elbow locked anr arm straight, she mat be making the same 'OOPS' as I did those times.

Ya I get it Hal.........But to quote her in her video at this exact point in the clip: "You want your arm EXTENDED......LONG and in line.........."



When I teach.......At this position I tell my pitchers I want to see a big "C" shape.......From the rear shoulder to the ball.......With the ball facing forward........Just like this:



You'd NEVER catch me (or my students) in the first position shown above at ANYTIME during a lesson....Frozen position or not.......Not even by accident.......

My "show it and throw it" drill wouldn't allow it.........That's why I call it "the greatest drill in the world".....

I just happen to have some video prepped that shows how Stacy Nelson actually pitches.

Chris O'Leary said:

I just happen to have some video prepped that shows how Stacy Nelson actually pitches.

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Definately a SCREWGEE! (As Doug Hollowell and I used to call it when Alicia threw for me)

CoachFP said:

Hal, I don't disagree that people can pitch with a closed style. Lisa Fernandez was very good but probably could have been a notch better with better mechanics. She also pitched a good part of her career at 40 feet and not as many girls were playing college softball as there are today. The hitters are stronger and better now. Just explain to me why there are no elite men's pitchers who throw "closed style". I have never seen one and I have seen and or played against most of the top ones in the last 25 years.

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Agree wholeheartedly! Lori Harrigan, the former Team USA pitcher is a good example of a pitcher who pitched too closed. She had 3 shoulder surgeries. There is no way a pitcher can maximize the "action" or spins they want to put on a ball with their shoulders squared to the plate! But you could throw a so called "good" bullet spin pitch!

tojo said:

Steve Huff, I notice this is your first post on this site. I read your post and the reference to Stacey Nelson and her fastball mechanics on youtube. I viewed the the video to see what you implied as being the proper mechanics for the fastball. I believe she has a great screwball and was her go-to pitch in her years at UF. In the video, she is suggesting a straight arm, slamming the door and has a follow thru to her throwing shoulder on her fastball.

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Yes it was. I just found the website. I never saw Staci throwing a screwball on youtube. Actually I looked on youtube specifically about proper fastball mechanics because of this "bullet spin" topic. I had a student in Croatia that was releasing the ball off the side of the index finger, and that is how most girls produce a bullet spin. I just wanted her to see Staci doing it right! One of Staci' strong points is her follow through.

If a girl has a bullet spin on her fastball, I just have them curl their index finger, as with a riseball, to keep the ball over the 2nd and 3rd fingers at release. I would prefer to have a ball move down, to moving side to side.