locking the elbow?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

Mar 2, 2015
9
1
I've been instructing my DD on my own for a couple years but I felt compelled to seek out a PC in the area that came highly recommended. It's becoming very difficult to catch her from the bucket AND watch her form!
During our very first lesson the PC takes and ankle splint and attaches it to DD's elbow to essentially lock her elbow.
The PC wants her arm circle to be a big, "perfect" circle. PC claims this drill will increase her speed and force her wrist to snap more and produce more spin. DD just turned 12 & throws consistent 47 mph

Should I stick with this PC for a while or seek out a new one?

I posted a video of DD's current pitching motion.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjQaHckDmsw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I have no idea how coaches can catch and watch player at the same time.

I think I would move on, couple red flags in your post.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Bad advice. You don't want a "locked" anything in pitching. Does the PC also throw overhand with a locked elbow? I didn't think so...
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
The new PC will ruin her motion...run like the wind.

Your DD's motion is decent. You need to find a decent coach. You might have to drive, but it will be worth it. It is better to see a good pitching coach once a month than see an idiot once a week.

Do you live in Chicagoland?

Sparky and Ken both teach up there.
 
Mar 23, 2014
621
18
SoCal
Run, run and run some more. DD and I have spent hours upon hours "unlocking" her arm and every once in a while have to do it again.

I also work solo with DD (with guidance from Rick, Rich and Java). Options for catching - DH, a teammate catcher or net. It's hard trying to do both, catch and coach. Although having the bucket view does give you some good perspective too.
Video with slo-mo while she pitches into net or tarp.
 
May 9, 2015
263
18
West Virginia
I'm currently fighting the battle of a locked elbow and lack of whip due to it because of the arm restraint before we found the fine folks on DFP. As others have already said, run!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,831
Messages
679,492
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top