Thread: Pitching Arm hitting and brusing side

How do you fix a 14 year old that pitches at the highest level ASA A to stop hitting her side with her arm? (Speed 51-54 and pitches all pitches) The bruse created after a game or 2 is about a 4x12 and blood red around her side. It looks as if she was hit by a bat. Her genetics line her elbow up directly with her hip and she's thin and boney. Any help would by greatly appreciated.

I have had pitchers with the same problem. Usually it is a timing issue. I try to get the pitcher to make sure her hips are getting sideways and coming behind the arm swing. I also try to get her to "speed up" the beginning of her pitching motion. This keeps her from hitting her hip and gets more power behind the pitch. Pitchers that have worked on this with me have increased their pitching speed significantly.

Originally Posted by scpalazzo

How do you fix a 14 year old that pitches at the highest level ASA A to stop hitting her side with her arm? (Speed 51-54 and pitches all pitches) The bruse created after a game or 2 is about a 4x12 and blood red around her side. It looks as if she was hit by a bat. Her genetics line her elbow up directly with her hip and she's thin and boney. Any help would by greatly appreciated.

Her hips are not staying open long enough. Or, her arm circle is too close to the body, or she is leaning to the glove side at release. Imagine the circle the ball travels in as a hoola-hoop. Bring that hool-hoop out away from the body an inch or so.

If you can, try to watch her down motion to see if she has her elbow relaxed from overhead to the downswing. Just before she goes to the release her hand should actually be a bit higher than her elbow which is created by a relaxing of the elbow. Too many kids are stiff armed on the complete circle. Sometimes you may need to do this with a video camera and stop motion. If her elbow tucks against her hip bone to increase spin and she releases the ball under her belly button that should stop the arm slapping. One of the other posters observed, and is correct, that she needs to clear her hip (keep the hips open) and let the hand, wrist, and forearm past the hip before she closes.

Keep practicing.

It isn't genetics--unless you call basic female anatomy genetics. One defining characteristic of female anatomy is that the hips are wider than the shoulders. The hips spread when a girl "matures" (and I guess we can leave it to the reader to figure out what that means).

She is maturing, so her hips are spreading. In another year, her hips will be wider than her shoulders. When that happens, her speed will drop and she'll lose her control. So, she'll be finished as a pitcher if she doesn't change. (Which is why all those great 12 YOA pitchers suddenly disappear 2 years later.)

She has to learn to keep the hips open. The drill we used is called a "turn and throw". She gets in the pitching start position and does everything EXCEPT she leaves her foot on the rubber after she throws. It is going to take a lot of work, especially if she has had success.

She either changes or she will need to find a different position to play.

JRW