Pitching Video / Instruction

[fivepotsogold]

Pitching video

I guess I wouldn't call them a complete waste.
We did get the Michele Smith dvd ....

My DD was pitching with her hips closed at release. Although she did not have pain (she wasn't really pitching that much at the time) it looked awkward and she pitched pretty slow (40-ish at just turned 12) and not too accurately.

Last summer we changed her release to remain open (what video recommended (52 degrees - ish)). My DD substantially increased speed(6-7 mph in a week) with far more accuracy. She is around 47-48 ish now. Hips are essentially open at release and hits corners very well.

We don't expect another jump like that in speed ...but she can pitch for hours without any pain...but she does lose velocity (but not accuracy).

We have a Tourn this weekend, then we practice until the 1st week of May.

After this (Jan Tourn) our goals are speed (leg strength so she doesn't lose velocity) and peel drop addition.
She is the #2 pitcher on the team ... learning a lot and having fun.

 

[Shawn]

If your throwing low 50's or in the 40's everything is a peel drop.

I've seen very few throw a good peel drop with velocity.

In the beginning a peel drop is caused by gravity. As a pitcher increasing in velocity, in many cases the peel drop turn into just a low fastball.

While I don't agree with how so many explain the turnover, I do believe it can create a better break and a much harder late break.

I believe that if we had slow motion video of the turnover, you would see that it is the fingers pulling up on the ball that creates the spin and the ball is gone by the time the hand turns over. So to me the turnover is the same as the peel drop with a low finish and follow through.

And IMO, you can create greater leverage on the ball with the fingers when the follow through is low and over the ball. And for me, I could tell that I could throw the ball harder in the manner and the break was late and hard. I would relate it to baseball pitcher throwing a heavy fastball.

And I think to many people get wrapped up in the mechanics of the roll over, and with the thinking that it's coming over the top of the ball that creates the spin, or they roll their shoulder to much.

It's the one pitch I wish I would have spent more time on with my niece. She actually watched some of my videos and started throwing the pitch, although she was doing allot of unnecessary stuff that many teach on the roll over.

 

[Mark H]

Mark

Thanks for sending those video clips. So that's what a great pitcher looks like huh?



Bill

Yeah, that's secret stuff completely unavailable to the presenter you listened to.

 

[coachdan]

Of course I am going to be biased in this response, but---
Sarah Pauly (3 Time NPF All Pro) and her Dad (me) have just finished what I believe to be the best training video for basic pitching mechanics. We teamed with Motion Labs Online and did a lot of the video in 300 and 600 Frames per second so you can really see what happens. There is narration, super slow motion, key phrases/words on the screen, and is broken into 14 phases of the pitch. Lots of years of knowledge wrapped up in this video. We have five more in development---all the movement pitches, etc.
The video goes on sale this weekend at the Myrtle Beach Coaches Clinic and then will be offer to the general public.

Rick, Where can we get this video now that the coaches clinic is over.

 

[Rick Pauly]

CoachDan
Bear with me for about a week. I am nearly finished with the website paulygirlfastpitch.com and will have it available there.
I'll put a post somewhere on this site when the website is up.......trying to do it myself and I ain't the most tech savy dude in the world.
Rick

 

[Wellphyt]

I have Hillhouse's "Mechanics & Fundamentals of Pitching" DVD. I would definitely recommend this DVD as part of your collection.

One of the most important skills that a good instructor must possess, is they must be able to differentiate between style and technique (absolutes). IMO Bill excels in this area, and he clearly points out these differences throughout his DVD.

To some this might be a minor detail, but in reality it is a very important part of teaching.

The problem with his DVD is that it opens your eyes up to all the wrong stuff that is commonly taught and it becomes really hard to find an acceptable instructor.

After watching Bill's DVD I immediately pulled my daughter out of lessons. I started working with my daughter using the DVDs and saw immediate improvement in speed and accuracy.

Unfortunately I don't have enough knowledge of pitching to teach her more than just the basics. The only way she will progress beyond where she is, is with an instructor. Of course my daughter wants to go see Bill.

I'm still working on that idea.

 

[sluggers]

Also, the danger of teaching your own DD is that a dad isn't objective. I thought my DD was the greatest pitcher in the history of softball, and most pitching instructors reinforced my belief. Luckily for her, we found one that told us that she sucked, and that she better work her a** off if she hoped to even touch a softball in college.

 

[Ken Krause]

I also like Bill's DVD. What I particularly like is he addresses some drills that are very commonly used, but that are a bad idea. (No surprise that Bill would speak his mind, eh?)

There is a lot of misinformation out there, and a lot of bad techniques being taught. Bill isn't afraid to say "this is wrong and here's why." Not because he says so, but because it doesn't make sense biomechanically.

The other thing I like is Bill's philosophy that the bulk of the time should be spent practicing the full pitching motion, rather than isolating each and every little piece all the time. There are times to do it, such as when you need to correct a flaw. But for the most part you not only need to learn what to do with each part but how to get them to all work together. He talks more about that in the DVD as well.

In the end, while softball pitching can be complex, it's not nearly as complex as some people try to make it. Bill has a great way of keeping it simple. So does Michele Smith, by the way.

 

[Wellphyt]

I also like Bill's DVD. What I particularly like is he addresses some drills that are very commonly used, but that are a bad idea.

The other thing I like is Bill's philosophy that the bulk of the time should be spent practicing the full pitching motion, rather than isolating each and every little piece all the time.

Excellent points. I too liked how he addresses these two areas.

I also like the slo-mo video of Bill pitching in a game. It's amazing how smooth and effortless his pitching motion appears.

 

[fivepotsogold]

dvd instruction

My DD was releasing ball with hips closed to catcher. Shoulder didn't hurt but she hadn't been throwing long or very hard.
Got the Michele Smith DVD..
Once we switched to keep her hips open until after release, her pitching was faster, more accurate and she didn't look all upper body contorted.
(the angle of release was determined by her natural arm/shoulder motion, not completely open to catcher, but pretty close)

We didn't adopt her (MS) pre-motion stuff ... my DD has a very simple start.
Still need to work on pushing off (doesn't use her legs nearly enough)... a more explosive pitch (faster arm) ..... good thing she loves long toss as we will do a lot of that as soon as we can!
....the video did make a big difference...even if it was one simple change.

We have a pitching coach that seems to approach pitching in a similar manner. Simple, not much fancy stuff. (only 4x so far)(first time going this route, she is back yard taught....with help from some good town clinics)

Might look into the Hillhouse video ... Tournaments start 1st weeknd of May!
Can't wait to get outside!

I also like Bill's DVD. What I particularly like is he addresses some drills that are very commonly used, but that are a bad idea. (No surprise that Bill would speak his mind, eh?)

There is a lot of misinformation out there, and a lot of bad techniques being taught. Bill isn't afraid to say "this is wrong and here's why." Not because he says so, but because it doesn't make sense biomechanically.

The other thing I like is Bill's philosophy that the bulk of the time should be spent practicing the full pitching motion, rather than isolating each and every little piece all the time. There are times to do it, such as when you need to correct a flaw. But for the most part you not only need to learn what to do with each part but how to get them to all work together. He talks more about that in the DVD as well.

In the end, while softball pitching can be complex, it's not nearly as complex as some people try to make it. Bill has a great way of keeping it simple. So does Michele Smith, by the way.