Been there ... do that !!!
Pitching Instruction
- Thread starter FrozenRope
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Been there ... do that !!!
You can't do this too long...its the baby steps some one requested. Too long hampers the keeping the glove up. I was somewhat challenged by the comments that a 10year old can't understand what I'm talking about... this is old stuff... I had her going up and down these same steps when she was 9 mo. old.
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Here is one from today...
To comment on the timing thing:
Pitching is like skiing downhill, if you stay on the bunny slope (ie, no incline), you never get anywhere. But instructors want you to start there.It is "safer" and creates more lessons, I guess. Skip the bunny slope.
Timing in a short description is landing the stride foot and letting go of the ball accordingly. Beginners try all sorts of things to be perfect (slowing the arm down, leaning forward) and parents harp on release and control, too, when the pitcher should be learning how to harness the momentum, with a large strike zone.
Pitching is like skiing downhill, if you stay on the bunny slope (ie, no incline), you never get anywhere. But instructors want you to start there.It is "safer" and creates more lessons, I guess. Skip the bunny slope.
Timing in a short description is landing the stride foot and letting go of the ball accordingly. Beginners try all sorts of things to be perfect (slowing the arm down, leaning forward) and parents harp on release and control, too, when the pitcher should be learning how to harness the momentum, with a large strike zone.
- Jul 17, 2012
- 1,086
- 38
Funny you post this, as I was going to ask this question and it seems you may have already answered. Last night she wanted to pitch again, so I told her that she needs a rest day from the 150+ throws she's been doing for 4 days straight. Keep in mind that's a lot of 1/4 circles and half circles mixed in with the full circles. So I told her to do her stretches, and then we practiced the footwork for 5 or 10 minutes then went right to full pitches. She probably threw about 40-50 pitches. On 80% of them,it looked like she wasn't getting her arm around to the release "zone"
in time. When I looked at the video, I saw what I thought I saw in real time. In most of the pitches her arm was still in the 1:00 - 3:00 position and she was throwing the ball into the very bottom of hanging carpet that was only 10 feet away. (To Be Clear, 3:00 is center field and 9:00 is the catcher) I was telling her she was releasing too early behind her hip, which she was, clearly in the video. On the few she got around to 4:00 - 5:00 at foot plant, she was releasing and the ball was going on plane to the target. So I guess I am in agreement that timing is critical. Her natural instinct is to release the ball in close proximity to foot plant, so when she doesn't get the arm into the release zone in time, she's still releasing WHEN she should, but it's not in the right spot. Is that a better "miss" than if she was releasing at the wrong time but in the right position? I hope that makes sense. So of course, my next question is, how do you "show" her, or explain to her how to get that arm into the right place at the right time? It seems like it may throw off tempo if you force her to start whipping faster. I always pictured the full circle as an accelleration throughout as opposed to instant full speed . It sems like the ones where she was "on time - in the right spot" were the times she had the longer, higher, more powerful "leap".
Does it make sense to give her a goal for the stride foot that will challenge her to jump out harder and stronger?
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- Jul 17, 2012
- 1,086
- 38
I assume the goal her is to get that stride leg UP and out as opposed to just just floating across the ground?
- Jul 17, 2012
- 1,086
- 38
Nice "Bucket"!!! Do you mind me asking the purpose of the string? I also noticed you don't have her leaping off the mound, but rather a strong stride. Is my DD getting ahead of herself by starting out in the very beginning with the leap as opposed to the stride?
Not trying to nit pick the pitcher or the instructor, but noticed a couple things about this video and wanted to ask for general input on what I see. I noticed she does not start the forward stride/drive until the arms are passing the body on the forward swing. Ideally, would the forward lean begin when the arms start the backswing? Later, would there be a little more knee bend/compression to load as the arms begin rearward swing? I also wondered about the upward hop in the middle of the drive. I liked the forward lean (vs waist bend,) the plant foot angle and upright finish with weight behind the plant foot. Also, it appears there was more push than whip at release (elbow not leading and palm forward in downswing through release.) Am I on the right track?
One suggestion for FrozenRope: stop by your local farm store and ask for horse stall mat. See if they will cut you a 6 inch strip of 3/8" mat. It comes in 4 foot width, so you should get two 6x24 inch pitching rubbers. Then look for some no residue duct tape to tape it to your surface. You might also pick up a strip of 3/4 inch material for outdoor use.
Thanks,
Ken
Funny you post this, as I was going to ask this question and it seems you may have already answered. Last night she wanted to pitch again, so I told her that she needs a rest day from the 150+ throws she's been doing for 4 days straight. Keep in mind that's a lot of 1/4 circles and half circles mixed in with the full circles. So I told her to do her stretches, and then we practiced the footwork for 5 or 10 minutes then went right to full pitches. She probably threw about 40-50 pitches. On 80% of them,it looked like she wasn't getting her arm around to the release "zone"
So of course, my next question is, how do you "show" her, or explain to her how to get that arm into the right place at the right time? It seems like it may throw off tempo if you force her to start whipping faster. I always pictured the full circle as an accelleration throughout as opposed to instant full speed . It sems like the ones where she was "on time - in the right spot" were the times she had the longer, higher, more powerful "leap".
Does it make sense to give her a goal for the stride foot that will challenge her to jump out harder and stronger?
Yes on the last question, but never say early or late with the release. You can't control that. You can control making your arm circle smooth and therefore quick and lengthen your stride. She is pitching way too much and I worry it is trying to find that "release point." You can't feel it and whether you can from 1/4 does not matter in getting it to happen at full, so don't do those at all.
I also do like K drills (in additional to the multiple circles drill), as they use the feet somewhat, and get the ball to the top where the gravity starts.
But the mistake most make is doing them close. You must do Ks at least 2/3s of the distance.
The circle accelerates up and falls with gravity behind, helped by whipping action. That's it.
Just keep doing the process until it happens, if you correct every "off" attempt that is detrimental.
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Is there nothing contributed to acceleration by the shoulder/upper arm during the downswing? I seem to get more speed when I relax, so I'm wondering if I should focus less on trying to accelerate during the downswing...?
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