Critique her pitch please

grcsftbll · Dec 9, 2015

We just started back up practice, this week, after a month off. I'm just linking to YouTube because you can slow it down there, not sure if you can if it's embedded. I'm focusing pretty heavily on mechanics right now, and while I've gained a lot of knowledge here on how it's supposed to be, it's all book learnin' for me. I have a hard time translating that into how she looks actually pitching. She's 9 (barely), has only been playing 10U for a couple of months though she's been practicing pitching close to a year now. I've mostly been leaving the mechanics stuff to her dad and PC but now I'm over that and working on it with her myself, since I have the most time with her. We are doing several drills mostly that I found here, but we did just start so I know there are still a lot of issues. I would love any suggestions to help her mechanics.

This first one is using the power pod thingie for the first time. She said it makes her foot feel too high, she's not nuts about it. A recurring issue we've got is leaning forward during the pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamf1ILzwV8

This one is without the power pod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9jKcb1rVyk

This is her back in June. Do you think she's progressed? Sorry for the name change. When I first signed up I used Facebook to sign in, but then it wouldn't let me change my username and I didn't like my whole name used so I just started from scratch.
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/24267-slo-mo-my-kid-pitching-thoughts.html

Ken B · Dec 9, 2015

It would help to see a video with better lighting and not backlit. I think I was able to pick out better whip in one of the pitches, but tough to tell with the lighting/video quality.

What does she think about the lean? Has she seen slow mo video of herself?

javasource's advice from the other post is a good place to start. I'd suggest taking a break from full motion pitching and focus on learning to whip with good posture. Play lots of easy catch with whip-off-the-hip (no target or into a net if needed to get rid of the control distraction.) Increase distance and arm circle as long as she maintains good form.

Work on her drive separately, but without a ball to start and reinforce the good posture at plant. Add a ball when she can consistently plant the drive with good posture/resistance, but with no specific target.

grcsftbll · Dec 9, 2015

I know, the light is awful down there. Thanks for the input! I was just reading the advice on the old thread earlier today.

grcsftbll · Dec 9, 2015

As far as working on the whip, looking at the I/R in the classroom thread, it seems as though progressing through the drills on the first few pages would be a good starting point?

Ken B · Dec 9, 2015

The IR in the Classroom thread is a very good place to learn. Along with that, these videos will be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T4Jd7GKg5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqNnDS2YYzc
Videos | Balswick Fastpitch

grcsftbll · Dec 9, 2015

Awesome videos. Thank you!

gator5 · Dec 10, 2015

Even though my daughter pitches, I pay a pitching coach because I clearly have no clue in this area. With that said, I will still throw in my non technical opinion.

On the summer video, why aren't you throwing from a rubber? You can buy the two stake rubbers from Amazon for under $20. I always feel like you should practice as close to the real situation every time. (side note: don't get the kind of rubber that has the spikes attached. Those don't last. Something like this: Amazon.com : Franklin Sports MLB Professional Spike-Down Pitcher's Rubber, 24" : Sports & Outdoors). For the indoor one - can you buy another rug so she lands on something other than concrete?

I really like your daughter's stride on her latest pitching video. That is something my daughter struggles with. I also like her arm speed. I can see a lot of potential. I agree with an earlier poster that now is the time to work on the mechanics.

grcsftbll said:
We just started back up practice, this week, after a month off. I'm just linking to YouTube because you can slow it down there, not sure if you can if it's embedded. I'm focusing pretty heavily on mechanics right now, and while I've gained a lot of knowledge here on how it's supposed to be, it's all book learnin' for me. I have a hard time translating that into how she looks actually pitching. She's 9 (barely), has only been playing 10U for a couple of months though she's been practicing pitching close to a year now. I've mostly been leaving the mechanics stuff to her dad and PC but now I'm over that and working on it with her myself, since I have the most time with her. We are doing several drills mostly that I found here, but we did just start so I know there are still a lot of issues. I would love any suggestions to help her mechanics.

This first one is using the power pod thingie for the first time. She said it makes her foot feel too high, she's not nuts about it. A recurring issue we've got is leaning forward during the pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamf1ILzwV8

This one is without the power pod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9jKcb1rVyk

This is her back in June. Do you think she's progressed? Sorry for the name change. When I first signed up I used Facebook to sign in, but then it wouldn't let me change my username and I didn't like my whole name used so I just started from scratch.
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/24267-slo-mo-my-kid-pitching-thoughts.html

Axe · Dec 10, 2015

The lean at release is something that we struggled with at that age quite a bit as well (now 11) and it still creeps in. I think it give them a feeling of control. She needs to focus on feeling that nose behind belly button at release to keep a bit a backward lean or least tell her stand tall at release. I've seen folks use a pool noodle as a device to let her know when she's leaning. She also walks through the finish a bit at least in part because of the forward lean. Getting her to bring the right foot to the left rather than walking through might fix both problems.

We have a very similar pitching set up in our unfinished basement. We bought a pitching mat with rubber attached from Better Baseball. We've used it hard 5 years (2 DD's pitching) and it's still in perfect shape. On the concrete floor some weights are needed to anchor it a bit so that it doesn't slide too much.

go4fpsb · Dec 10, 2015

When I watch her she looks like a lot of beginner pitchers I have worked with in that she bends at the waist when she releases the ball which causes her to bend her elbow or short arm the release. She also takes a step after she releases the ball. Tell her to be tall and proud when she gets to release, that should lengthen her arm at release to a slightly bent position. Have also work towards being able to be balanced at release to the point where she can finish on her front leg balanced and actually be able to put her weight back on her pivot foot when she finishes. Use a little negative posture at release to transfer the energy from the ground back up through her body and into the arm. Hope it helps.

Axe · Dec 10, 2015

Also very stiff in the release ( a little HE in there too). Probably also a result of trying to throw strikes. Winter is a good time to learn to be long and loose in that finish and not worry so much about throwing strikes. Throw into a tarp 20 feet away and focus on mechanics and speed without the feedback of having to throw strikes. Remember that this age they are pleasers. They want to make you or dad happy by throwing strikes and will do whatever they think is necessary to throw strikes.

Critique her pitch please

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

grcsftbll

Ken B

grcsftbll

grcsftbll

Ken B

grcsftbll

gator5

Axe

go4fpsb

Axe

Similar threads

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page

Online statistics

Forum statistics