Help! How can we improve my 11 year olds speed! Video.

[Amberwboone2]

Our 11 year (just turned 11) has been pitching one year. She had a pitching coach and made no progress. So we chose to dobtgis on our own
Which is working for the most part. Our problem is she is moving up to 12u this year with her older team. Bigger ball. Further distance. She is really struggling pitching as fast as the other older pitchers. She has smaller hands ans shorter arms. Also, when she does warm ups. Minus the premotion she makes the ball fly. Great wip
Add that motion in and it slows down her pitch. We have adjusted her premotion several times w no change. Any advice on speed as well as any general comments on form would be appreciated. Thanks so much for your time https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vqWBvtiEAdw

 

[DNeeld]

1. Arm is straight, ball is being pushed around the circle instead of pulled. No whip is being achieved.
2. Extreme glove swim isn't allowing proper shoulder/hip alignment.
3. The drag foot is an anchor. Turn the laces and come over the toe.

 

[Amberwboone2]

Thank you so much! The arm is such a struggle w us. She sort of got thrown into pitching by her little league coach. At that time he taught her to keep her arm straight. Well we had no idea he was teaching her wrong and we were enforcing it! Then once we got into competitive ball and noticed there was no progression we started studying up and changed his mistakes. Easier said then done. Sometime she whips the arm nicely
..others its stiff. Im unsure how to break this habit. You already have helped so much but I do have a couple questions. Her front arm, should it be straight in front lining up with the power line? And is therr anything that we could adjust w her premotion?

Again, thank you for your time.

 

[DNeeld]

Check here for what to do with the glove.

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/26187-glove-whirl-w-rick-pauly.html#post360638

Also, spend a lot of time working from the 9:00 position with the ball to the sky. That will help train her into the right position.

 

[Amberwboone2]

Thank You!

 

[Man10]

1. Arm is straight, ball is being pushed around the circle instead of pulled. No whip is being achieved.
2. Extreme glove swim isn't allowing proper shoulder/hip alignment.
3. The drag foot is an anchor. Turn the laces and come over the toe.

View attachment 10294

Reminds me of my DD to a tee, exactly our biggest enemies when we began the IR switch last year.

 

[lhowser]

This will not be easy. But perhaps the greatest speed multiplier you can add is a mechanics change that will create BRUSH INTERFERENCE. http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/24862-brush-inteference.html

Right now her whole arm is throwing the ball. By contrast when that upper arm slows at interference/resistance and the rest of the arm rotates through from the elbow down you will see a speed increase for certain. Other issues are secondary. This could be a difficult thing for her to get. Be patient and get it right.

 

[Ken B]

I think these could be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T4Jd7GKg5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqNnDS2YYzc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTFRgE6wwVM
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DZw6Nr3f4KXKJokOkoCQkldKP6c93VAaqaKtrG6Bp8Q/edit
Videos | Balswick Fastpitch

Use the above videos to learn how to whip while playing tons of underhand catch. Don't think "pitch" or "drive" while learning to whip.

On the side (and without a ball until she really has whip down,) start working on drive mechanics. For drive, there isn't anything better out there than what you'll find in these links:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18CuUI2qjz3TSNnj28xm2dXKg9xJBDUslQIEJrUY-xDo/edit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufRaP2LkbGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBvFc-8wWLU

If you get a chance, post a video from the throwing arm side and from much closer as well as one from behind and just to the right. This will make it easier to show you exactly what we're looking for.

BTW,
Welcome to DFP!!!

Ken

 

[sluggers]

Your DD's right foot should stay behind her left foot after release. (I'm sure the regulars are sick of this video. If I had a better one, I would use it.)

The attached video is Whitney Canion. Whitney was the best pitcher in the NCAA in 2011. Look at her foot work. She is a lefty. Her left foot stays completely behind her right foot.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-czxt7uUvXw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Amberwboone2]

Thank you so much! We are going to try to work in all these suggestions!