Internal rotation early? Spin trouble

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Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Her ir looks fine... I'm seeing her fingers angled away from her thigh. This will typically produce a 10/4 axis, or if her fingers feather, it'll be bullet.
I'd have her doing this drill called the crossfire...


The point here is to exaggerate the fingers across the thigh. Notice how far the catcher is off to the side? This is what creates the excessive finger action. The bounce helps maintain drop ball posture as well as a violent snap over
 
Dec 16, 2010
172
18
You are getting some good advice.................................

As pointed out by Riello and others, she *does* need to work on her lower body mechanics.

Doug Gillis spends a fair portion of this video explaining why he prefers a slight step across the center line and how to work toward that end. Are you saying the pitcher's step over (in the OP) is so excessive that it should be corrected?

 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
Are you saying the pitcher's step over (in the OP) is so excessive that it should be corrected?

I'm saying that she needs to work on her lower body mechanics before she starts trying to fix a minor problem with spin. Her IR is pretty good, especially for someone pitching a year.

It is obvious that the focus has been on IR and that they haven't worked on drive mechanics. No big deal...she has only been pitching a year.

This is her at release. She is tilting her head to the left while her body is tilting to the right. She needs to fix her posture. She needs to be upright, not falling off to the right when she throws.

Gillis is, of course, correct about the power line. My guess is that 75% of the college pitchers are to the left (assuming a right handed pitcher) or on the power line.

A newbie pitcher should start out on the power line.

14835
 
Last edited:
Jun 16, 2019
38
8
I'm saying that she needs to work on her lower body mechanics before she starts trying to fix a minor problem with spin. Her IR is pretty good, especially for someone pitching a year.

It is obvious that the focus has been on IR and that they haven't worked on drive mechanics. No big deal...she has only been pitching a year.

This is her at release. She is tilting her head to the left while her body is tilting to the right. She needs to fix her posture. She needs to be upright, not falling off to the right when she throws.

Gillis is, of course, correct about the power line. My guess is that 75% of the college pitchers are to the left (assuming a right handed pitcher) or on the power line.

A newbie pitcher should start out on the power line.

View attachment 14835
hmm
I'm saying that she needs to work on her lower body mechanics before she starts trying to fix a minor problem with spin. Her IR is pretty good, especially for someone pitching a year.

It is obvious that the focus has been on IR and that they haven't worked on drive mechanics. No big deal...she has only been pitching a year.

This is her at release. She is tilting her head to the left while her body is tilting to the right. She needs to fix her posture. She needs to be upright, not falling off to the right when she throws.

Gillis is, of course, correct about the power line. My guess is that 75% of the college pitchers are to the left (assuming a right handed pitcher) or on the power line.

A newbie pitcher should start out on the power line.

View attachment 14835
I see what you are saying with the right body lean. thanks so much for replying Is this caused by the overstepping to the right or is it another issue altogether.
At our pitching lesson tonight, dd worked on not overstepping to the right.

I am reassured about the spin axis. I thought it was higher on our list to work on due to the PC working with her on getting the right spin. since she was having trouble getting 6/12 spin in last weeks lesson.
 
Last edited:

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
I see what you are saying with the right body lean. thanks so much for replying Is this caused by the overstepping to the right or is it another issue altogether.

It is all related. The stride is a big part of lower body mechanics (AKA drive mechanics).

There is a great thread on the forum on drive mechanics, written by @javasource. Here is a link: https://www.discussfastpitch.com/threads/drive-mechanics.18135/ You can look at that thread and get an idea of how drive mechanics works.

Your PC is doing a good job. You should follow her/his advice.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
hmm

I see what you are saying with the right body lean. thanks so much for replying Is this caused by the overstepping to the right or is it another issue altogether.
At our pitching lesson tonight, dd worked on not overstepping to the right.

I am reassured about the spin axis. I thought it was higher on our list to work on due to the PC working with her on getting the right spin. since she was having trouble getting 6/12 spin in last weeks lesson.

12/6 :)
 
Apr 17, 2019
194
28
Looks to me the reason she is stepping to the right of her powerline is because when she drives, her drive foot twists to the right, I would bet if she worked on keeping that straight it would fix her drive direction.
 
Jun 16, 2019
38
8
Looks to me the reason she is stepping to the right of her powerline is because when she drives, her drive foot twists to the right, I would bet if she worked on keeping that straight it would fix her drive direction.
good point!!!...we will work on that..thank you
 
May 15, 2008
1,913
113
Cape Cod Mass.
I think the camera angle is skewing everyone's perception. I'm not so sure she is over the power line or leaning to the right. She finishes behind her landing foot which is good. Post some video shot from right behind her or behind the catcher so we can see it from a better perspective. Or just stand behind her and tell us if she is over the power line or leaning.
 

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