Fixing the overhand throw

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Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Thank you. I'm so low on softball money that a $99 book is a tough one -- but I get that I need a solution and it might not be free. I'll read up more on the techniques.

Thing is, this is how I throw. I don't remember being taught this way, but I played ball up until college and would "pass" the water bottle test. Just lucky I suppose. I'll check with my daughter who throws better than average and see how it does for her.
 
Last edited:
Jan 5, 2018
385
63
PNW
Thank you. I'm so low on softball money that a $99 book is a tough one -- but I get that I need a solution and it might not be free. I'll read up more on the techniques.

Thing is, this is how I throw. I don't remember being taught this way, but I played ball up until college and would "pass" the water bottle test. Just lucky I suppose. I'll check with my daughter who throws better than average and see how it does for her.

Wasserman book is great investment. We didn’t regret it!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Thank you. I'm so low on softball money that a $99 book is a tough one -- but I get that I need a solution and it might not be free. I'll read up more on the techniques.

Thing is, this is how I throw. I don't remember being taught this way, but I played ball up until college and would "pass" the water bottle test. Just lucky I suppose. I'll check with my daughter who throws better than average and see how it does for her.

This is a duplicate of some of the stuff I posted before, but also adds a little more. It'll get you started in the right direction...https://www.highlevelthrowing.com/softball-throwing-drills/

Some players figure out a correct pattern. Some don't. A poor throwing pattern can not only lead to limited velocity, but also injuries.
 
Aug 12, 2014
112
28
Buffalo, NY
The book was absolutely worth it. As a softball pitching instructor I always tried to help my pitcher's throwing mechanics in the beginning of the lesson. I felt like I got no where in 20+ yrs of teaching . I always told the parents to go to a baseball pitching instructor as they were more in tune with the right cues and fixes and that I wasn't an expert. After the book I now understand that throwing has a lot to do with sequencing (timing) and resistance. And those old school wrist snap and L drills were making kids worse. The one thing that the book didn't touch on, that is a HUGE problem with most girls I see, is that they never get turned on their throwing foot to start. Their throwing arm foot points at me the whole time or only slightly turns. It seems like a no brainer and easy to fix but it is a consistent problem. One trick I picked up is to have them take their throwing hand and tap their throwing foot heel, then tell them to pivot that heel before they move the hands up to the throwing position. It helps a little.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
The book was absolutely worth it. As a softball pitching instructor I always tried to help my pitcher's throwing mechanics in the beginning of the lesson. I felt like I got no where in 20+ yrs of teaching . I always told the parents to go to a baseball pitching instructor as they were more in tune with the right cues and fixes and that I wasn't an expert. After the book I now understand that throwing has a lot to do with sequencing (timing) and resistance. And those old school wrist snap and L drills were making kids worse. The one thing that the book didn't touch on, that is a HUGE problem with most girls I see, is that they never get turned on their throwing foot to start. Their throwing arm foot points at me the whole time or only slightly turns. It seems like a no brainer and easy to fix but it is a consistent problem. One trick I picked up is to have them take their throwing hand and tap their throwing foot heel, then tell them to pivot that heel before they move the hands up to the throwing position. It helps a little.

With my DD's former team (10U-12U travel ball), we taught the girls to shuffle their right foot (RH thrower) behind their left foot, with the right foot planting with the instep facing the target. This forces their hips and shoulders to also get lined up with the target, encouraging much more consistent directional control and better body sequencing. A step forward with their left foot as they are receiving or fielding the ball, followed by the shuffle-behind, creates continuous movement flow through the catch/field and throw process. As they develop and their body builds a proper throwing sequence, the shuffle-behind isn't as critical, but in the learning stages, being a bit militant about it pays off.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
(sorry--had to bail on finishing this post... Softball calls...)

I like Eric's cue. I use several for new kids and would be open to hearing opinions:
-Start the throw before you catch--go to and through the ball
-Get both hands moving to the ball
-Show your partner your number or
-Show the backside of your glove shoulder
-Carioca step into the throw
-Throw with your shoulder
-Snap the elbow
-Use the glove (reach out and grab an imaginary curtain and wrap it under your armpit.)


Many kids throw with their arm only and can't find the connection to the ground from the back foot. Using these exaggerating cues helps them to feel the connection and how to get the flow of power going from the back foot/ground to the ball.
 
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Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Luckily we have the footwork down and got that right. It's the "water bottle" movement a few girls are missing. It'll be interesting and fun to get that working right and see fewer errors down the road.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
With my DD's former team (10U-12U travel ball), we taught the girls to shuffle their right foot (RH thrower) behind their left foot, with the right foot planting with the instep facing the target. This forces their hips and shoulders to also get lined up with the target, encouraging much more consistent directional control and better body sequencing. A step forward with their left foot as they are receiving or fielding the ball, followed by the shuffle-behind, creates continuous movement flow through the catch/field and throw process. As they develop and their body builds a proper throwing sequence, the shuffle-behind isn't as critical, but in the learning stages, being a bit militant about it pays off.

This sounds a lot like Wasserman's "Double shuffle" drill (which you can really turn into a "single" shuffle if you want). And I agree that it helps a lot. I'll often go to this "early" in instruction (it seems more advanced than some of the other drills because of the footwork involved) because something about it forces the girls to be more athletic in their movements. Many of them naturally find a better throwing motion when doing this.

I've also found it helps to remind them to throw the ball hard when doing this. Not trying to over-extend or anything that could lead to injury, but if I say "throw hard and don't worry about where it goes," they're less likely to have a pushing/aiming arm pattern.
 
Dec 26, 2017
487
63
Oklahoma
His stuff is definitely a great investment. If he were anywhere near me very often, I'd find a way to get out to a clinic in person as well. I'm a little bit of a kinesthetic learner and have a hard time with drills when I'm not able to learn them "hands on".
 

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