critique daughter's pitching 12U

[Playaction]

Problems: bent wrist, bad circle, power line, closed at release,etc....


We started working on it today. She is in Volleyball now so she won't pitch in a game again until the end of Feb. We are going to start from scratch.

We discussed the ball over the power line and did some slow motion circle reps with her facing the ball forward(no bent wrist-glass of water analogy)- without releasing the ball.
I told her the ball should stay on this line and her feet should toe up to the line. I have used pink board insulation sheets rigged to a tripod to work on her circle before. I will probably break it out again.

We then tried the show it and throw it after both of us read back over BoardMember's post. She kept closing so we tried backing her arm down to a T position with the ball facing upward( no bent wrist). I hope this is ok. She was finally able to stay open after a bucket of reps. She was following through to her left shoulder in a totally open position. I think we will start with this and progress to the show it and throw it, then add the step.

I appreciate the help. Keep it coming.

 

[MandM]

one thing that helped my DD was doing "air thru" drills in front of a mirror where she could see the position of the ball during her arm circle at least to some degree so she could keep in the correct position- then she did this over and over (and over and over....)

The thing was she thought she was doing it right and really couldn't feel the difference between what she was actually doing and what she thought she was doing until she could see it for herself. the mirror really helped her get the position of the ball and her arm circle corrected

 

[Playaction]

show it and throw it drill

http://www.dailymotion.com/user/dm_502fc800a47ff/1#video=xswmb3[/video]

4 different clips
How is this?

I think her push foot is still going left instead of straight but it is a start. Feedback?

 

[Playaction]

any improvement?

We have been working on several things.......
-staying open
-not twisting push foot
-no overhead windup.....backswing still too much?
-glove swim.....she is hitting her hip occasionally though
-ball position- I can see that we aren't there yet

[video=dailymotion;xtn877]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtn877_9812pitch_sport[/video]
She has more of a 12-6 spin now. They are tailing down.

Thanks for everyone's help. We are watching and reading the forum together trying to figure this out. Almost forgot. I have ordered the Hillhouse video. Feedback more than welcome.

 

[BoardMember]

Critical Flaw.........

You MUST break the habit of of turning the ball out AND cocking the wrist on the way up the circle. It's KILLING her arm circle and it's KILLING her posture......Her ELBOW is responding to what she's trying to do to the ball with her wrist as she leaves the back swing and starts up the circle...........

STOP the wrist cock............Stop WIPING THE WALL.........

 

[Playaction]

That's what I mean by ball position above. We are working on it but she has been doing that for a couple of years. She was also taught hello elbow and we were able to get away from that. She wasn't taught IR but from what I can tell she does it.

We discuss a relaxed wrist-not bent, the ball toward the catcher at 12, palm up at 3, palm down at 9 after release. Hopefully she will be able straighten that arm out before her follow through and fix her posture.With enough reps and the boards help we will get there.

I also have an 8 year starting to pitch and I want to avoid the same mistakes this time around. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Playaction]

Is this correct?

We discuss a relaxed wrist-not bent, the ball toward the catcher at 12, palm up at 3, palm down at 9 after release. Hopefully she will be able straighten that arm out before her follow through and fix her posture.


I know it will not happen overnight but with enough reps and the boards help we will get there.

 

[Ken B]

I wonder if it would help to ask her to think about the back of the hand pushing out towards the catcher then leading the ball through the circle?

 

[Rooster's Dad]

BoardMember's "Show it and Throw it" drill should help. I'd incorporate it in her warm-ups as well and make sure she's showing it to the catcher.

 

[Playaction]

Is the show it and throw it in the above video correct?

What about ball position throughout pitch?