Here's a little background. I have a 12u player who has been a pitching student of mine for about 18months now. I was her only source of instruction, utilizing a Pauly, Balswick, Hillhouse, Java, Gay, Gillis, Tincher, and Boardmember hybrid of mechanics (as well as a few others). She is an amazing overall athlete (and knows it). She has been clocked as high as 55mph but typically cruises in games at 48/49 mph. She works with 3 basic pitches FB, DB, and CU... We haven't seen much improvement in her in the last 6 months or so. I believe its because she doesn't do my daily drills I've assigned her, and her single mom doesn't enforce her working out at home (can't/wont catch her). I've offered to give her extra time just to get more work in, but they're too busy most of the time to come over.
Back to the point of this rant....
While warming her up before a game last night I noticed a heavy emphasis on HE. She was slamming her hip completely closed and finishing on her chin..... I asked her why she's doing that because I certainly have never condoned that. She names off one of the 2 local HE instructors and says that he's told her to do so, and that "finishing palm down it'll negate all her speed. She needs to learn how to snap it off in order to gain speed"... She has apparently been taking additional lessons with him. I don't care if she's getting additional work in elsewhere, because it lightens my load, but HE????? Really? The saddest part is they were at the clinic with Rick, and have studied the highest levels of mechanics through slow motion video and have compared herself to the best. I thought they fully understood the difference?
Point is like that old saying...You can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink!
Back to the point of this rant....
While warming her up before a game last night I noticed a heavy emphasis on HE. She was slamming her hip completely closed and finishing on her chin..... I asked her why she's doing that because I certainly have never condoned that. She names off one of the 2 local HE instructors and says that he's told her to do so, and that "finishing palm down it'll negate all her speed. She needs to learn how to snap it off in order to gain speed"... She has apparently been taking additional lessons with him. I don't care if she's getting additional work in elsewhere, because it lightens my load, but HE????? Really? The saddest part is they were at the clinic with Rick, and have studied the highest levels of mechanics through slow motion video and have compared herself to the best. I thought they fully understood the difference?
Point is like that old saying...You can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink!
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