Dropball

[DNeeld]

But in the end, just looking for a way to throw that drop on command

Me - okay let's work dropball.
DD - 5 pitches in, okay, I'm never going to throw a dropball.

Pretty sure it isn't what you want to hear, but there is nothing, not a single thing, that YOU can do to get her throwing the drop on command.

She is the only one that has any control over that and until she figures out that throwing it 5 times in practice isn't going to cut it she won't be able to throw it on command. End of story.

The accurate question would be "How can I motivate my daughter" but again . . . YOU can't.

 

[Jeffrey]

Pretty sure it isn't what you want to hear, but there is nothing, not a single thing, that YOU can do to get her throwing the drop on command.

She is the only one that has any control over that and until she figures out that throwing it 5 times in practice isn't going to cut it she won't be able to throw it on command. End of story.

The accurate question would be "How can I motivate my daughter" but again . . . YOU can't.

Quitting after 5 = bad
50 = not as much
500 = ok, let's just throw a low & away fastball!

This is what my DD transitioned to. Tell her to throw a "drop" and good luck to the catcher. "Low fastball" she can do it with her eyes closed. Literally. It's all in unlocking it in between the ears!

 

[Jeffrey]

Our practice conversations go like this.
Me - okay let's work dropball.
DD - 5 pitches in, okay, I'm never going to throw a dropball.
Me - But 20% of your pitchers last game were dropballs.

I know some people see, she's only xx year's old. I see, only 3 1/2 years till Freshman season, not enough time to work on everything.

Also - get a DK ball or a rev-fire. Don't work "drop" work "spin" and work it low. Sometimes coach/dad has to unlock it with trickery so to speak.

 

[NJSwampdragons]

Pretty sure it isn't what you want to hear, but there is nothing, not a single thing, that YOU can do to get her throwing the drop on command.

She is the only one that has any control over that and until she figures out that throwing it 5 times in practice isn't going to cut it she won't be able to throw it on command. End of story.

The accurate question would be "How can I motivate my daughter" but again . . . YOU can't.

Quitting after 5 = bad
50 = not as much
500 = ok, let's just throw a low & away fastball!

This is what my DD transitioned to. Tell her to throw a "drop" and good luck to the catcher. "Low fastball" she can do it with her eyes closed. Literally. It's all in unlocking it in between the ears!

Really wasn't the point of the comment

I think most 11 year olds want things to work right away.
She works on spin every session (even if not trying to throw a drop), so not an issue of motivation.
But there are also things on the list to work on in front of that as well: better mechanics, location, change-up, etc.

Plus I want her to just do what she already does in games. - she just doesn't know what she does in games, and neither do I.
If she knew what she does, she could then work on it.

Also I'm pretty sure that an 11 year old pitching 4-5 days a weeks, 10 months of the year is pretty motivated. Plus going to practice, plus strength training, plus working on hitting.

 

[Jeffrey]

Really wasn't the point of the comment

I think most 11 year olds want things to work right away.
She works on spin every session (even if not trying to throw a drop), so not an issue of motivation.
But there are also things on the list to work on in front of that as well: better mechanics, location, change-up, etc.

Plus I want her to just do what she already does in games. - she just doesn't know what she does in games, and neither do I.
If she knew what she does, she could then work on it.

Also I'm pretty sure that an 11 year old pitching 4-5 days a weeks, 10 months of the year is pretty motivated. Plus going to practice, plus strength training, plus working on hitting.

I'm trying to help you get her to throw a drop in practice pulling from my experience with my DD that was built similarly at that age, and as a pitching coach.

I have girls, including DD who throw very nice 6-12 FB with drop action who started to get hit at the 12-14 range. What sometimes happens is as they get stronger, they can to throw "through the break" especially at 40 feet. My DD was partially "saved" by that 3' added at 14U because her speed wasn't top 1%, but now she's finally keeping it down.

The combination of speed, release angle & spin rate/axis are going to control the drop.

So questions I have:
Is the drop you posted slower or faster than her practice reps? Lot's of girls throw slower in game that in practice, and many are the opposite. Understanding that may help. I could also help better if I knew what she struggles with when throwing the drop in practice? High? Low? Just no break? More is learned from the bad ones...your video only shows good ones!

From your post above: "If she knew what she does in games, she could then work on it"

If she's working on posture in practice, that could be the difference. Her release angle in game could be better because she'd leaning forward a bit. She then stands taller and firmer in practice and they don't drop. Or she throws harder in practice and they don't drop. My guess is the former...turf practice vs. dirt game?

 

[NJSwampdragons]

I'm trying to help you get her to throw a drop in practice pulling from my experience with my DD that was built similarly at that age, and as a pitching coach.

I have girls, including DD who throw very nice 6-12 FB with drop action who started to get hit at the 12-14 range. What sometimes happens is as they get stronger, they can to throw "through the break" especially at 40 feet. My DD was partially "saved" by that 3' added at 14U because her speed wasn't top 1%, but now she's finally keeping it down.

The combination of speed, release angle & spin rate/axis are going to control the drop.

So questions I have:
Is the drop you posted slower or faster than her practice reps? Lot's of girls throw slower in game that in practice, and many are the opposite. Understanding that may help. I could also help better if I knew what she struggles with when throwing the drop in practice? High? Low? Just no break? More is learned from the bad ones...your video only shows good ones!

From your post above: "If she knew what she does in games, she could then work on it"

If she's working on posture in practice, that could be the difference. Her release angle in game could be better because she'd leaning forward a bit. She then stands taller and firmer in practice and they don't drop. Or she throws harder in practice and they don't drop. My guess is the former...turf practice vs. dirt game?

I’ve never clocked her in games, but it generally seems like she throws faster, for whatever that is worth.

At practice the balls often don’t drop, just seem like fastballs. Sometimes she can purposely throw a drop, but it can be a struggle.

Her fastballs at practice generally have more curvish spin, and in games more drop.

Work at home is focused a lot on glove side. But she always seems to throw with that tilt like a baseball pitcher, even change-ups.

 

[DNeeld]

Really wasn't the point of the comment

I think most 11 year olds want things to work right away.
She works on spin every session (even if not trying to throw a drop), so not an issue of motivation.
But there are also things on the list to work on in front of that as well: better mechanics, location, change-up, etc.

Plus I want her to just do what she already does in games. - she just doesn't know what she does in games, and neither do I.
If she knew what she does, she could then work on it.

Also I'm pretty sure that an 11 year old pitching 4-5 days a weeks, 10 months of the year is pretty motivated. Plus going to practice, plus strength training, plus working on hitting.

Ok.

You can chose to listen to people that have been there or not.

If you want her to throw it on command, she needs to throw about 500 per week. If she doesn't like the term "drop", work on spin with a marked ball and call it a "unicorn" or nothing. But if she isn't working on getting proper and rapid spin on it diligently, she's not going to get to where you think she should.

If she's not interested in doing this at 11, then stop doing it. She's not going to sign to college next week. You made the comment "I look at it as 3.5 years to her freshman year". Yeah, that's a great attitude to burn your kid out. Again, you can listen to people who have made the journey you are wanting to make or not.

Best of luck.

 

[NJSwampdragons]

Ok.

You can chose to listen to people that have been there or not.

If you want her to throw it on command, she needs to throw about 500 per week. If she doesn't like the term "drop", work on spin with a marked ball and call it a "unicorn" or nothing. But if she isn't working on getting proper and rapid spin on it diligently, she's not going to get to where you think she should.

If she's not interested in doing this at 11, then stop doing it. She's not going to sign to college next week. You made the comment "I look at it as 3.5 years to her freshman year". Yeah, that's a great attitude to burn your kid out. Again, you can listen to people who have made the journey you are wanting to make or not.

Best of luck.

You make no sense. You say she has to throw it 500 times a week, then you say I'll burn her out. Completely contradictory. Also doing something wrong over and over does not help anything, just creates the wrong muscle memory.

 

[Jeffrey]

I’ve never clocked her in games, but it generally seems like she throws faster, for whatever that is worth.

At practice the balls often don’t drop, just seem like fastballs. Sometimes she can purposely throw a drop, but it can be a struggle.

Her fastballs at practice generally have more curvish spin, and in games more drop.

Work at home is focused a lot on glove side. But she always seems to throw with that tilt like a baseball pitcher, even change-ups.

If she's faster in game AND getting good drop, it's likely the release posture that's getting her the release angle she needs for the drop action. I'd assume a decent spin rate and axis because unless those pitches in the OP are change ups she's throwing hard enough and keeping it down.

A couple of check points in practice (Not purposely saying you're an idiot but other people read this stuff so consider it a PSA):
1. Make sure you're set up far enough back. I have plenty of bucket dads sit practically on the plate.
2. Wear a mask and shin guards. Too many dads are too manly or something and don't realize DD doesn't want to hurt them so they leave it up where it's easier to catch. (might even be subconscious...mad dad is no fun)
3. Get a DK ball, or striped ball, or whatever it takes to see the spin. Sometimes they squeeze it differently in practice vs. circle, and it they get bullet spin on accident. A little change in tilt can mess the whole thing up!
4. Video practice & compare. Rinse and repeat.
5. Come on here and keep the discussion going - LOL.

 

[NJSwampdragons]

If she's faster in game AND getting good drop, it's likely the release posture that's getting her the release angle she needs for the drop action. I'd assume a decent spin rate and axis because unless those pitches in the OP are change ups she's throwing hard enough and keeping it down.

A couple of check points in practice (Not purposely saying you're an idiot but other people read this stuff so consider it a PSA):
1. Make sure you're set up far enough back. I have plenty of bucket dads sit practically on the plate.
2. Wear a mask and shin guards. Too many dads are too manly or something and don't realize DD doesn't want to hurt them so they leave it up where it's easier to catch. (might even be subconscious...mad dad is no fun)
3. Get a DK ball, or striped ball, or whatever it takes to see the spin. Sometimes they squeeze it differently in practice vs. circle, and it they get bullet spin on accident. A little change in tilt can mess the whole thing up!
4. Video practice & compare. Rinse and repeat.
5. Come on here and keep the discussion going - LOL.

Thanks, do you think she’s peeling the ball in the video? I tell her to spin it off her two fingers at practice, or throw a fastball but spin it off your two fingers. She’s also tried quickly rolling over her hand. Whatever she’s doing in the video I’d like to have her try and practice that.

Here are the pitches full speed.