Development in regards to recruitment

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

Jan 8, 2013
334
18
South Carolina
I get these thoughts rolling around in my head and I need some direction from time to time from you good folks with a lot more experience than me.

Since my daughter began 12u her primary pitch was her drop ball backed up by her change. She had average speed, but was effective even against teams with big sticks simply because she could keep it low in the zone and change speeds.

She in now 15 YO and playing 16u on a very good team that play good competition and showcases. She has been successful against these team with average speeds in mid to upper 50s. The past year and a half she has worked on curve (and backdoor curve). However, it is the pitch she usually gives up the big hit with. Myself, I am not a fan of curves and screws, at least not for my DD.

She has worked a little here and there with a rise and the past few weeks it has begun to click and she even used it this past weekend some in a showcase she was playing in. Is there anything wrong with being a North-South pitcher and leaving the curve and screw alone? Does it hurt her any in regards to recruitment? I guess it depends on the coach? or for the most part is being an effective pitcher all you need to be regardless of how you do it? She has lived off of her drop and change for a long time so if she can progress with her rise that is 3 pitches to work with....please give me your thoughts and thanks for your time!
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I know a young lady who just set and broke several NCAA D-II Pitching Records and she was North and South with a change. Nothing wrong at all with that.
 
Dec 7, 2011
2,368
38
DD's current coaches loved the fact that she was predominantly North/South/Change. I think this was part of the overall attraction. DD had re-developed the drop-curve over the last year+ and last year she used it at JUCO. She was good at keeping this down and out so it served her well. The pitch I did not like was the "screw" that hung too meaty on the inside corner for RHB's at times. A REAL screwball I think is the hardest pitch to make effective (close 2nd is the rise). At JUCO last year the HC there had DD throwing the kitchen sink. Any pitch seemed like it would come out any time (except for the "screw" would mostly be there for lefty slappers). The year before that the HC at that mid-D1 looked like it was just FB/DB/Change. So I think it's very much the mode of the coaching staff. Which brings back to mind the point of if a new coaching staff comes in BEWARE the coaching staff that wants to convert a girls pitching style after being that style through 17 years of age.....
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I think most college coaches would prefer a north-south pitcher vs. an east-west. North-south requires less movement to be effective since you are working against the diameter of the bat instead of the length. You did not mention an off speed pitch. Regardless of which direction your DD pitches, she will need an off speed pitch or a change up to be effective at the older age groups and in college.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Papa, as evidence by what you hear on ESPN's commentary of games, if a coach wants to see east/west pitches simply throw something inside or outside and they won't know the difference. A rise ball can easily be made into a curve by spinning the ball sideways, which means turning the wrist but maintaining the whip of elbow and spin with fingers. But if she cannot do that, then I would tell the coaches the following... and any coach that hears this should be impressed with the answer:

"Coach, I can make the ball go east and west but I've been taught from day one to make it change planes on each pitch. So my curve will have some rise to it and my screw will have some drop to it. I really don't believe in throwing pitches that stay on the same plane as the hitter's swing path".

Then, throw an outside riseball... and an inside drop. Bingo, you've got your east/west pitches.

However, while it makes no sense to do it (and yet coaches do it ALL THE TIME) it's illogical to recruit a pitcher who's "stuff" you like (north/south) then try to convert her into an east/west pitcher. I had a student like that once, recruited to play at a mid major school based on her fantastic drop and complimentary rise. Only to get to school and be told she's going to throw east/west. It made no sense to me. Why recruit someone, then change them 100%? So, the best thing one can do is try to appease the coach but keep doing what you're doing by throwing it inside and making the rise go outside. IMHO.

Rubber, speaking only about GOOD slap hitters, a screwball is exactly what they want. A good slapper runs at the pitcher, not pulling off to first base too early. Therefore putting it on the outside of the plate gives them the easy opposite field placement they want. Statistically speaking, keeping slappers tight with drops will get easier outs and away pitches will. They will either hit a come backer to the pitcher or pull to 2nd base for the SHORT throw to first. Either way, playing the percentages, you're better off getting an inside drop. I say drop because from my own experience in the batters box (yes, I was once an ok hitter) it's harder to hit a ball falling out of my field of vision rather than one coming up into it. I would assume the same would be true for a slapper who's eyes are moving as they are running up (and usually cheating by stepping outta the box!!!!!!) Did I say that out loud??

Bill
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
China, agreed 1000000000000%. But there are still coaches who demand east and west. I recently challenged a coach (whom EVERYONE on here would know) to look at his stats from this year and what pitches were thrown when HR's were hit. 80% was curve and/or screw. 80%!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, 78 or so and I rounded up. But still.

unfortunately, softball is like the news cycle on TV... sensationalism sells. A pitcher with 15 strikeouts and loses 1-0 is going to get more attention than the girl who throw 80% drop balls, had 2 strikeouts and won the game 1-0. It's a sad reality that in a lot of cases what really sells for the college coach to scout can be easily overlooked.

Bill
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Bill is, of course, a leading authority on pitching. You can't go wrong following Bill's advice.

I'm a little bit more strident...

Screwballs "at game speed" don't exist. The mechanics of throwing a pitch with screwball spin (3-9 or 9-3) eliminates forearm pronation and thus significantly reduces the speed of the pitch. What people call a "screwball" is usually an inside pitch thrown with bullet spin.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rZzSBbFyvRk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
Jun 14, 2016
270
0
It seems my dd's travel ball coaches love the curveball and screwball. I'm trying to have her focus on drop and rise but they seem to call west/east pitches a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Here is what i think... kids are not trained to hit the ball. They are trained how to swing. So, a ball that a hitter chases can easily be made to look like it moved when it didn't.

At the younger ages, curve balls/screwballs are seemingly more effective because, again, a lot of girls are not taught how to hit... they are taught how to swing. this is why the BP that I offer during lessons becomes invaluable as they learn that not every pitch will be a soft toss, or on a tee. They have to learn which to swing at, which to leave, and how to adjust to hit moving pitches. This is where the myth typically begins that Sally has 8 pitches. I was an OK pitcher in my day but, I only had 3, sometimes 4 if you counted the risecurve or inshoot dropball. And now days there's even more than 8 pitches with the new additions of the "crop" and "backdoor curve". It's no wonder they need wristbands to call games, it's the only way one can keep track of 8-10 pitches!!!!!!!

Bill
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,473
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top