The struggle

javasource said:

This is THE struggle when instructing. Couple of thoughts in making the transition from static to dynamic movements...

1. Create overlapping drill movements. Example: Don't allow your DD to reach the top of her backswing in drill. Start backchaining the motion later than usual... only removing the hand from the side once her forward STEP (not leap) is well established. Her forward momentum should pull the arm "out of the backswing".
2. Incorporate a lean prior to stepping forward. Start with both feet on the plate... pitching side foot at a 45... and have her start to lean/fall forward. As in 1... have her keep her hand from moving (backchaining) until the stride foot leaves the ground. It should be a struggle (and a goal) to get to Show-It position.
3. Perform "Rocker Walkthroughs". There is no leap... just a forward step. The key... and the MAIN FOCUS of this drill is what I call 'Big Toe Kinematics'. The heel of the 'drive' foot must only make a rocking movement over the big toe.. AND ONLY travel forward. It (the heel) cannot move in any other direction. Simply rock it up. You'll notice that this articulation (when performed correctly) creates knee flexion... which allows the throwing-side leg to be in the throwing lane. Be strict... the heel can only raise up... and ONLY TRAVEL FORWARD. Any other movement is an immediate fail.
4. Don't let the front foot rotate the back foot. Stepping into a 90-degree plant makes it difficult for the rear foot to rock up and over the big toe (shoelaces to catcher) as noted in #3. Plant at 45 or less. She might square out a little... but that's ok - as long as she knows that her torso (four corners) must stay still.

#3 is your transition drill... but without proper performance of the others... it's a very, very long road. Slowly add juice to the walk-through. Don't forget to toe-out A HAIR when doing them... but be sure it's not too much... as excessive toe-out makes external rotation of the femur easier... which will pull the throwing-side leg out of the lane... and is easily the one of the largest reasons kids can't find brush (the heel travels rearward, then forward... figure-4 kicking.... crow-hopping... etc.)

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I wish I understood this more. I have no doubt it does but I'd love to understand how this plays in to transitioning to BI and IR mechanics.

quincy said:

Don’t beat her over the head with it but get some videos on your phone to show her.

(Videos of her)

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We do that quite a bit now. Not sure how they taught pitching before phones. Lol

Awesome ideas for sure. I usually pick one main thing and one or two small reminders during a lesson. I've seen , usually well meaning parents, bark out several things that only frustrate and paralyze the athlete. How do you eat an elephant

Mike-Coach Q said:

Awesome ideas for sure. I usually pick one main thing and one or two small reminders during a lesson. I've seen , usually well meaning parents, bark out several things that only frustrate and paralyze the athlete. How do you eat an elephant

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Here's a clip of her throwing. What would you suggest be number 1 on the correct list?
Ball up at 9, more brush or not leaning? I'm thinking fix the lean because it may help with brush as well.

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/26160-progress-video-hows-she-doing.html

Man10 said:

Here's a clip of her throwing. What would you suggest be number 1 on the correct list?
Ball up at 9, more brush or not leaning? I'm thinking fix the lean because it may help with brush as well.

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/26160-progress-video-hows-she-doing.html

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I would start by addressing the position her hip/leg/ankle are in when she drags/separates from the pitching plate.
See how she drags her whole instep of her shoe?

Ideally, you want those laces turned forward, and only the toe-tips drag; AND they drag forward straight down the power line.

Right now, her back leg is more of an "anchor" and her back-half isn't contributing much to her pitch.

Fix that, and the 3B-side lean will self-correct,
and then her ability to achieve close-proximity of her pitching wrist to her hip will also become much easier.

This will help with this specific issue
(Note: I am not saying all pitchers do this but it will address this specific issue)

When your daughter is bringing the ball around the circle they should be coming up the circle with their thumb facing preferably inward showing the catcher the ball or somewhere between there are straight up.

As she comes over the top NEVER allow the thumb to rotate past facing the catcher. In other words if you are a righty the thumb can never point towards third base or the left side of the infield. If they can mentally commit to controlling the thumb position. They will not get behind the ball with their fingers and they will at minimum lead down the back side with their pinkie.

Hope you can visualize that because it will work.

I think the excellent list Java gave will address the foot drag issue, and I'm along the same thinking of Ihowser about the hand position with the ball, a lot of unessary rotation going on.

My DD has the same problem as yours Man10..... clearing a path for the arm to get past the hip, which does not allow the proper deceleration of the upper arm to transfer the energy down through the lower arm..... and results in a "Carry Through" release. Missing that point of "POP" where everything comes together.

Show her THIS young lady. I know I showed it to my kid. First thing she said is "How many times did she launch the ball into her hip trying to do that?" I probably lied when I said Zero.

JJ, Since I didn't ask for permission, I'll ask you for forgiveness for using your DD as an example here.... Just think she looks great. Kudos on all the work.

FrozenRope said:

My DD has the same problem as yours Man10..... clearing a path for the arm to get past the hip, which does not allow the proper deceleration of the upper arm to transfer the energy down through the lower arm..... and results in a "Carry Through" release. Missing that point of "POP" where everything comes together.

Show her THIS young lady. I know I showed it to my kid. First thing she said is "How many times did she launch the ball into her hip trying to do that?" I probably lied when I said Zero.

JJ, Since I didn't ask for permission, I'll ask you for forgiveness for using your DD as an example here.... Just think she looks great. Kudos on all the work.

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Curious...What is her age and mph? I am recently theorizing that this type of stopping on the ground, limiting shoulder rotation and stopping the upper arm at brush allowing mostly forearm and wrist whip accounts for a lot of speed.

FR- no forgiveness needed...I was (and still am) concerned that it is just too much brush and needs to be applied more towards the elbow than down towards the wrist.

and you did lie...she used to whack her thigh pretty good with the ball when she turned her hand too early but it only takes a couple of those for them to stay pinky forward except she never learned to do this, she has done it since day 1 of trying to pitch. It has refined over the years and thank GOD we didn't listen to her first pitching coach who tried to remove it.

When her little sister learned to pitch she DID whack her thigh a lot at first because she had to learn the brush but even then it was just a couple of weeks of whacks before she stopped doing it.

LHOWSER- She is 13. She is 5'9" and her top speed ever is 58. She doesn't hit that very often though. She hits 57 every practice (it is part of our routine that she has to do some speed training and hit her target speed a few times in a row at the end of practice) game speeds are 55-56 but I don't measure a lot of pitches, I just take a reading or two to make sure she is firing on all cylinders.