Dr. Kaila Holtz OLY

[chinamigarden]

IMHO, she is coming off as one more pitching guru trying to sell something as the "one true way" to pitching nirvana.


???

DFP has the best resource for lower drive mechanics on the Internet. Java's drive mechanics thread is a masterpiece.

Yes it is, but when new posters get on here 90% of the replies they get are HE and IR related. Lower half drive is not something I see discussed much outside of that pinned thread

 

[riseball]

She lost me at "99.9% of all softball pitchers are throwing with their upper torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist. No legs or trunk. This means up to 50% of potential power is lost"

So if little Suzie is all arms and not lower half and throws 40mph, if you fully engage the lower half then she will bring 80mph heat? I saw my daughter step and throw 65mph wearing a pair of flip flops. But on her best day in full gear she hit 72mph. Yes, lower body helps and is certainly worth the effort, but stupid statements like the one above send any credibility out the window.

 

[BlaineAB]

Saw the USA junior national team play an exhibition game two years ago. First pitcher in the game for them was a "hello elbow" pitcher, not IR. Worked for her.

While there are some absolutes for both pitching and hitting, I do think there's a spectrum of movements for athletes to use, based on their particular attributes of strength, mobility and stability. The debates make for some fun, though, I guess.

 

[mydogeaston]

She lost me at "99.9% of all softball pitchers are throwing with their upper torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist. No legs or trunk. This means up to 50% of potential power is lost"

So if little Suzie is all arms and not lower half and throws 40mph, if you fully engage the lower half then she will bring 80mph heat? I saw my daughter step and throw 65mph wearing a pair of flip flops. But on her best day in full gear she hit 72mph. Yes, lower body helps and is certainly worth the effort, but stupid statements like the one above send any credibility out the window.

Thanks Rise! I knew the members who have been around would come to the rescue on this one! You are Sluggers I have followed for along time and 2 members I completely trust along with a number of other "old timers". Thanks for replying!

 

[The Man In Blue]

IMHO, she is coming off as one more pitching guru trying to sell something as the "one true way" to pitching nirvana.

That ... if you are going to write/post from a scholarly authoritative POV, skimping on your “non-expertise” facts makes you look like a snake oil salesman. I’m not saying that to pick on her, I am saying that as somebody who works with public images, communications, media, etc.

You discredit your own authority.

 

[PJR]

I feel like the 99.9% is a sensationalized number to grab your attention. I do feel like she is correct that a lot of pitchers don't have a proper sequence regarding lower and upper body. The pictures she has of Ueno are absolutely wonderful, looks like any long driving golfer, olympic quality thrower or nhl slapshot.

Proper sequencing is misunderstood(I don’t understand). I think her point is spot on if proper sequencing happens most girls mph would go up. Softball pitching is behind the analytic curve compared to baseball. Coaches are just starting to understand through video and technology what really happens versus what the naked eye sees or they teach.

 

[Ken B]

First pitcher in the game for them was a "hello elbow" pitcher, not IR. Worked for her.

Do you happen to recall her name or have a link to some video of her?

 

[BlaineAB]

I'm going to check an old phone, I might have video.

Pretty sure it was the summer of 2017, junior National team played a doubleheader in Concord, MA against local collegians.
Didnt look like faux HE to me, had a chance to watch up close as the warm up bullpen was accessible to the fans. I'll see if I can find the roster online.

Do you happen to recall her name or have a link to some video of her?

 

[Gags]

Worlds shortest message board threads: Successful HE Pitchers

(I kid, of course - I seem to recall mention of one or two WCWS pitchers that may have used HE mechanics...in the early rounds)

 

[Ken B]

Worlds shortest message board threads: Successful HE Pitchers

(I kid, of course - I seem to recall mention of one or two WCWS pitchers that may have used HE mechanics...in the early rounds)

I've never seen anyone throw classic HE without it looking like a change up. To my understanding, it's not humanly possible to throw hard with HE...