- Jul 17, 2012
- 1,091
- 38
My DD is 10, and just started pitching this past summer. Started lessons in mid July with a JR instructor at the facility we go to. She's done great so far, in my opinion. Velocity is great for apitcher her age and experience, but accuracy is erratic. JR instructor didn't get too deep into the weeds of fine tuning mechanics. She focused on the basis.... weight back, powerline, footwork, big fast arm circle.
Now. 2 weeks ago, my DD was promoted to the primary pitching coach. She's tough. Older woman with a no nonsense personality. She's teaching something that I don't quite know how to digest.
DD had a habit of her hand being under the ball (palm up) at 9:00 in the motion and then rotating through release to palm down, thumb toward first base on follow through. Her new PC doesn't like it at all. She said she's over rotating, causing erratic releases, and control issues, not to mention incorrect spin. She basically implied that rotation is good, but DD is over rotating, resulting in problems with release. She wants the palm facingdown at 3:00, 45 degress at 12:00, facing 3rd base at 9:00, wants her to lead the elbow to the side, rotate the forearm and snap the wrist upward at the back thigh,then allow the elbow to release forward toward the target. Didnt demonstrate or teach the point the elbow, but rather just allow it to seperate from the side in a forward motion. She DOES NOT want the hand to roll over to the point that the palm is down. She wants the pinky to stay 1st base side, and wants long fingers to point to the sky. I actually asked her how the lower arm is supposed to rotate, without the momentum continuing the rotation beyond fingers pointing to the sky and her explanation actually made sense. She said she needs to learn to control her release position with her fasball to put a 12-6 spin on the ball in order to direct the flight of the ball, as it will only help her as she moves onto new pitches...stating the hand angle and spin is what dictates the motion pitches.
What are your thoughts on this. I noticed a significant improvement in DD's accuracy related to right/left when she did as she was told, and erradic results when she reverted to turning the hand over. No noticable change in velocity. In fact, I would say when she did it the way she was told, the ball had more zip on it.
I notice in the IR in the Classroom thread that Boardmembers hand turned over to a palm down positon after release. What are your thoughts on what she's being taught?
Now. 2 weeks ago, my DD was promoted to the primary pitching coach. She's tough. Older woman with a no nonsense personality. She's teaching something that I don't quite know how to digest.
DD had a habit of her hand being under the ball (palm up) at 9:00 in the motion and then rotating through release to palm down, thumb toward first base on follow through. Her new PC doesn't like it at all. She said she's over rotating, causing erratic releases, and control issues, not to mention incorrect spin. She basically implied that rotation is good, but DD is over rotating, resulting in problems with release. She wants the palm facingdown at 3:00, 45 degress at 12:00, facing 3rd base at 9:00, wants her to lead the elbow to the side, rotate the forearm and snap the wrist upward at the back thigh,then allow the elbow to release forward toward the target. Didnt demonstrate or teach the point the elbow, but rather just allow it to seperate from the side in a forward motion. She DOES NOT want the hand to roll over to the point that the palm is down. She wants the pinky to stay 1st base side, and wants long fingers to point to the sky. I actually asked her how the lower arm is supposed to rotate, without the momentum continuing the rotation beyond fingers pointing to the sky and her explanation actually made sense. She said she needs to learn to control her release position with her fasball to put a 12-6 spin on the ball in order to direct the flight of the ball, as it will only help her as she moves onto new pitches...stating the hand angle and spin is what dictates the motion pitches.
What are your thoughts on this. I noticed a significant improvement in DD's accuracy related to right/left when she did as she was told, and erradic results when she reverted to turning the hand over. No noticable change in velocity. In fact, I would say when she did it the way she was told, the ball had more zip on it.
I notice in the IR in the Classroom thread that Boardmembers hand turned over to a palm down positon after release. What are your thoughts on what she's being taught?
Last edited: