Lily 10U - Advice/help with crowhop

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Aug 21, 2008
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I didn't see a crow hop either. Nor did I see the "leap" until Ken's still frame picture. I do realize for some this is a black/white issue, no shades of grey. She's either leaping or she's not leaping, and apparently she is according to that picture. It's like being pregnant, you either are or you aren't... there's no such thing as "a little bit pregnant". That said, I like to think that I can see things which are obvious. Her "leap" is not obvious, at all. I'd follow Slugger's (and other's) advice, worry about that later.

Also, she's pitching on grass (or a mat) in your backyard with a non-regulation size pitching rubber on the ground. Is that rubber fixed to the ground? Many times when pitchers are pitching indoors, in gyms, on pitching mats, etc. they try to find their power in other places since their push or drive from the rubber is going to be skewed by the conditions. I've seen pitchers indoors with massive crowhops that don't do that in actual games when they can push from the rubber like normal. I have no idea if that's what your kid is doing but, it's something to consider.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
I was all prepared to see a crazy, big crow hop.

You got nothing to worry about. She looks great and I can't imagine that teeny leap being called out ever. Try to fix it too much and things may fall apart quickly.


We do Tincher as well, and in time you'll hit a series of lessons working on the push off, the leg drive, etc. My thought is that will help her push a bit more out than up and may have everything fall into place without even addressing it specifically.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
Do you have a suggestion

I'm not Ken, but my suggestion would be don't worry about it, don't mention it, don't address it at all. You'll do more harm than good.

If you are concerned about it, have her focus to turning her drag foot laces toward the catcher and dragging the foot in over the top of her toes, not on the side of the big toe. That will solve the problem without you ever mentioning a leap or crow-hop. Best thing is you won't discourage a strong drive, which is what addressing a crow-hop directly to a young pitcher will often do.

Young girls often have difficulty understanding or feeling the difference between "out" and "up". Don't make it an issue.
 
Oct 26, 2019
1,375
113
I didn't see a crow hop either. Nor did I see the "leap" until Ken's still frame picture. I do realize for some this is a black/white issue, no shades of grey. She's either leaping or she's not leaping, and apparently she is according to that picture. It's like being pregnant, you either are or you aren't... there's no such thing as "a little bit pregnant". That said, I like to think that I can see things which are obvious. Her "leap" is not obvious, at all. I'd follow Slugger's (and other's) advice, worry about that later.

Also, she's pitching on grass (or a mat) in your backyard with a non-regulation size pitching rubber on the ground. Is that rubber fixed to the ground? Many times when pitchers are pitching indoors, in gyms, on pitching mats, etc. they try to find their power in other places since their push or drive from the rubber is going to be skewed by the conditions. I've seen pitchers indoors with massive crowhops that don't do that in actual games when they can push from the rubber like normal. I have no idea if that's what your kid is doing but, it's something to consider.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. When I ordered that rubber on Amazon I did not realize it was not regulation oops. It is fixed to the ground but I totally understand what you are saying. Since she started pitching about a year ago she has always had a knack for throwing strikes so I have really left her alone as far as mechanics go. I really appreciate everyone’s insight on here
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Thanks. Do you see a flaw with the IR or her arm circle or just overall that’s where you would put your focus?

With due respect, you're making the mistake all newbies make--your focused too much on the legs and not enough on the arm.

Her circle is screwed up a little bit, and her IR is sloppy. Read the IR in the Classroom thread and do the drills.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Let's see if this works. Right here, at about 9:00, most of us like the ball to be pointing up. She's pointing it more towards 3B.

There is a "lock it in" drill by BoardMember. It's up in the stickies somewhere. My DD and I did that drill a lot. Still go back to it at times when we need a refresher/reminder.

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Oct 26, 2019
1,375
113
With due respect, you're making the mistake all newbies make--your focused too much on the legs and not enough on the arm.

Her circle is screwed up a little bit, and her IR is sloppy. Read the IR in the Classroom thread and do the drills.
Let's see if this works. Right here, at about 9:00, most of us like the ball to be pointing up. She's pointing it more towards 3B.

There is a "lock it in" drill by BoardMember. It's up in the stickies somewhere. My DD and I did that drill a lot. Still go back to it at times when we need a refresher/reminder.

View attachment 18897
thanks. We did that drill quite a bit when she first started, but have admittedly gotten away from it. On advice of this board We didn’t start “learning to pitch” for a while when we started. Instead we just played catch underhand. We need to get back to that more.

I have gotten pretty comfortable with the “lock it in” drill myself when we throw. Once I go to full circle it all falls apart. It has given me an appreciation for how far she has come and how hard pitching is.
 
Last edited:
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Amen to that.

I pitch "full windmill" to my girls, several days per week. I've probably pitched 5,000 balls in the last year.

I certainly can't hit my spots. And I pitch from about 25 feet behind a screen.
 

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