Daughter's pitching coach wants to teach the curve before the drop - thoughts?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Apr 7, 2014
23
3
Hi all,

Just updating that we are going to another PC for a one time lesson and get some more feedback to see what my daughter thinks. She has her own facility, doesn't rely on a catcher, and was highly recommended by multiple people. I will say her speed is up in the high 40's now (occasionally hitting 50) and that she is working on more leg drive and a smoother preload. Her current PC, as nice as she is has been, is very busy with other duties and was away the past few weeks. My daughter is showing great strides and determination and I want to get her with someone that does this all of the time and can lock down a set schedule, especially during the off season.

And the curve is not working. Her preload arm was starting to go behind her back to get that forward motion spin and she was doing it during all pitches and it slowed her speed down or threw her fasts in the left batter's box. I am not saying it is not the time to learn it, but without constant help with a coach, it seemed like a waste. Maybe an off-season pitch to learn or wait another time?

Her change up is the same speed so with her increase speed on fast, there is now a 10mph difference. We see the new PC tomorrow so I will update. I appreciate everyone taking their time to answer my question. And like I said, we are not looking for A level nationals teams and yes, she is an Aug 09 in 7th grade. She is very content playing 14UB level now and loves her local team. The goal is high school pitching and sticking with her team.
 
Jul 31, 2015
761
93
Funny... I've been around softball for almost 50 years, coached for 20+ years, and I've never heard this. And, my mentor, a guy who pitched for decades and coached 3 or 4 Olympians never said that either.



How come Garcia doesn't do this? How come osterman doesn't throw a screw? Where are all these screwballs? And, wouldn't the top male pitchers be throwing these?

Any videos of one of your kids throwing a screw?

While it's 100% true that the most elite levels require north-south movement to fool batters and sit them down, most pitchers will never play at that level. And most players will never play at that level, or even step on to fields at that level of play.

So, for the vast majority - effective spin, change of speed, and being able to locate will get the job done, if that's where their natural skill set lies. Good to try north-south, but if a pitcher is a natural east-west hurler, then that's OK. They will have a nice career, albeit not in the Olympics or WCWS.
 
Oct 14, 2019
897
93
A drop at the knees mostly results in ground balls and infield pop ups. The turnover drop is fairly easy to learn. My DD learned it from youtube videos. She is at 14U and any pitch up in the zone thrown without great velocity gets hit hard.
 
Jan 6, 2018
221
43
A drop at the knees mostly results in ground balls and infield pop ups. The turnover drop is fairly easy to learn. My DD learned it from youtube videos. She is at 14U and any pitch up in the zone thrown without great velocity gets hit hard.
Yes, high drop = bye drop! Release angle is key.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
While it's 100% true that the most elite levels require north-south movement to fool batters and sit them down, most pitchers will never play at that level. And most players will never play at that level, or even step on to fields at that level of play.

So, for the vast majority - effective spin, change of speed, and being able to locate will get the job done, if that's where their natural skill set lies. Good to try north-south, but if a pitcher is a natural east-west hurler, then that's OK. They will have a nice career, albeit not in the Olympics or WCWS.
But if the goal is to be at that level and be one of the best, why not do what the best do? I just don't understand the mentality of not imitating what the best do. Most kid basketball players in my generation wanted to be Jordan, so the imitated him. Football players imitate Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc. When I was a kid, I had softball pitchers as my heros. And I imitated them. I started off in a church league in Erie PA, moving into our city rec men's league at 12 or 13, getting clobbered by grown men. But I kept going with trying to imitate what I saw from Mike White, Pete Meredith and others.

All poodles are dogs but not all dogs are poodles. Use that phrase, because not all pitchers use the north-south movement but all the great ones do.
 
Jul 31, 2015
761
93
But if the goal is to be at that level and be one of the best, why not do what the best do?

Lily King had an unorthodox style of doing breaststroke - she came way out of the water between strokes.
Through the early part of high school, her coaches tried to get her to do it the way everyone else did it. Finally, they gave up.

Lily exploded - using her natural mechanics and talent, she broke world records, won World Championships, Olympic medals, and still holds world record in long course breaststroke.

Imitating the best of the best was not natural for Lily King and it did not lead to elite success. Being herself, letting her natural talent and mechanics guide her lead to tremendous success.

So while I agree that north-south pitching is required for elite success, I also acknowledge that the vast majority of softball players will not play at an elite level. Therefore if someone's natural talent and mechanics leads them to success using east-west, or change of speed, or pinpoint location accuracy, they should do that. They will have a nice career.

And who knows, maybe one day there will be a breakout curve, or screw, or junk ball specialist in the Olympics who will set records.
 
Last edited:
May 15, 2008
1,913
113
Cape Cod Mass.
There are two ways to throw the curve, palm up and palm/fingers down. If one doesn't work try the other, if neither work then scrap them.

If your daughter will be satisfied with "B" level and high school varsity that is something that needs to be communicated to the instructor. If I had a student who told me that I would be less concerned with velocity and work more on control and the change up. My long range goals and the timeline for success are based on how far they want to go.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
I've been a head coach for quite a few years. And all ages from 10U to 18 Open and have won many tournaments and even a Midwest Nationals 18 Open title. I've talked to many extremely good coaches and we all say pretty much the same when it comes to pitching. If you can affectively spot your fastball, (right and pitcher) Spin it inside (screw) outside (curve) develop a changeup and change your speed on all pitches. Untouchable. I've started up again with a new team, 10U now moving to 12U. I've taught my 5 pitchers, FB, Circle Change, Screw, Curve. 4 pitchers all different locations. Hard to barrel up something if it's spinning and changing locations and speed all the time.
I agree with a response as to "why not both". My daughter pitched, very successful travel ball and high school pitcher. Lived on the FB Screw and Changeup. But could throw a drop. Spot, Change Speed and Spin. Total Success is available.

Why on earth would pitchers #3, #4 and #5 be trying to throw four different pitches at 12U? You can’t possibly have that much talent in the circle where all five pitchers are that advanced.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,477
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top