Couldn't seem to get it to show but here is a link to a similar pitch to the outside. Sorry for the shake.
VU8Jr0.gif (720x404)
VU8Jr0.gif (720x404)
Couldn't seem to get it to show but here is a link to a similar pitch to the outside. Sorry for the shake.
VU8Jr0.gif (720x404)
DD#2 is moving up to 14U this year, she turns 13 soon. We are heading into the off season and its time to start thinking about what we want to work on. I love this time of year as we can try new things. We have been messing around with a 2 seam fastball some but her pitching instructor wasn't to excited about it.
She currently throws:
4 seam fastball with good IR it runs 51-53MPH with pretty good control.Good drop ball, not great but generates a ton of ground ball outs. Sometimes she can really feel it and those games are a ton of fun to watch.
Horseshoe/handshake change up with good control however it is only about 9-10 MPH slower most of the time she just can't seem to figure out how to get it 2-3 mph slower. She sells it very well and has a ton of success with it.
Working on a riseball, but it is currently used primarly as a waste/setup pitch.
When we asked her pitching coach about adding a new pitch in the off season she suggested a backdoor change up. We worked on it last night she picked it up very fast and it is 15-17 MPH slower than her fastball. She suggested we might want to think of her horseshoe change as an off speed pitch and the backdoor change up as her true change up. I would have never considered this but the idea of having an off speed and a much slower change up is interesting. Her horseshoe change doesn't normally fall off the table at the plate it only works because she sells, however the backdoor change up just falls off the table hits the back of the plate kind of a pitch. My question is, is it common to have two different change ups? I'm also wondering what is the best way to use them, would you ever throw them together, meaning throw the off speed pitch and then the change up next or vice versa. Any thoughts or advise on how to leverage them is much appreciated.
My concern is putting time into a pitch that might not be used that much. Her other suggestion was to pick up a curve, we have tried it but haven't had a ton of luck.
To the OP:
I'm not a big fan of the screwball and curve because I just don't think the vast majority of pitchers get enough movement on these pitches to be effective and when they do, it's east/west not north/south movement. The one thing that has always resonated with me is when Hillhouse says you only need 3 pitches: drop, riseball, and change-up (i.e. pitches that work vertically and on two planes). I think there is wisdom in this approach.
To your other point, I believe it's important to have three speeds: 1) the fastest pitch; 2) off-speed and 3) change-up. FWIW - 14YO DD has been working on putting a knuckle on her dropball and curveball to make it 5 - 7 mph slower than fastball which is low to mid 50's. Her modified flip change is around 40 (which is a little too slow in my opinion). I say "modified" because its not a pure backspin flip change, but instead she put some side spin on it so it moves down and away from a RHB.
With that said, your DD is still young enough to experiment with other pitches. Maybe she has an awesome curve ball in her that is waiting to get out and show itself? How would you/she know if she never tries to throw it?
This is definitely true. The OP is about 14U though. I was wondering if having a really slow CU and a moderately slow CU might be useful. I have no idea, it was just a thought.
Please explain your definition of a backdoor change up...
Back the original poster...
My guess is that your DD can't throw any of these pitches particularly well.
People always overlook control...people get mesmerized by speed or movement, and they overlook control. Control is much more important than movement or speed...because, without control, your DD will never see the mound.
Anyway...it is better to have one or two really good pitches than a bunch of crappy pitches.
Work on her control until she can paint the corners with her current batch of pitches...yes, it is boring and it is difficult, but that is why it is called "work".
When she can make her drop drop 90% of the time and she can put exactly where she wants it 95% of the time, then maybe learn another pitch.