Question: How do you stop a pitcher from chicken winging? She does her drills right. She pitches in practice right. But, when it comes to a game, she chicken wings every single pitch. Her pitching coach works with her on a regular basis and she doesn't chicken wing in a lesson. One other pitching coach said it is just muscle memory, but that doesn't seem to be the issue either because she always pitches correct in practice and during drills. This is her third year. She is 13 and on a 14U team. When she chicken wings, she throws in the mid forties. When she does not chicken wing, she throws in the mid 50s, and it's mind boggling how well she does. Pitching is all about mechanics. The more she does it wrong, the harder it will be do correct it. She is bending over too, but not during drills or practice. Thoughts?
Chicken Winging
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- Oct 12, 2009
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What exactly are you referring to?
There's no bend in her elbow during her entire arm circle.
Assuming that you are correct in your assessment I would suggest that rather than work on her mechanics you look into the mental side. What happens when she pitches to a catcher on a field in warmup? If she pitches OK during warmup then try having a batter step into the box for one or two pitches then step out of the box for a couple of pitches. Does she pitch from a mound, on a field, in her lessons? If not try to schedule a lesson on a field. It could be, as Screwball suggests, that she is trying to hard to throw strikes during the games and 'steering' the ball. Does she work on hitting corners in her lessons and practice? I find it hard to believe that there could be 10 mph drop in speed, that is a lot. It makes me question the position of the speed gun in practice and in games, a slightly different angle can make a significant difference in how the gun reads. I would like to see some practice video for comparison.
OK I will take a stab at this.Disclaimer I am not a pitching coach,but ,I have sit on a bucket for 4 years now. The reason someone chicken wings is because they snap too soon. My DD use to do the same thing and I couldn't figure out why but I read some where it was caused from snapping too soon. I took out video camera and done some filming and it became very obvious. Simply have your DD snap latter and it will cure the chicken wing and the pitching shoulder leading and will help with the leaning also. All three are symptoms of snapping too early. And as always I stand to be corrected if I am wrong.
If she's doing it perfectly in practise and then doing it in games (and I'm assuming it's that sharp snap she does at the end of the pitch?) nothing but time will fix that. You do need to be on her to be conscious of it but practise, practise, practise will fix that.
Just of interest have you or the PC been talking to her about IR? That's what it looks like she's trying to do.
Just of interest have you or the PC been talking to her about IR? That's what it looks like she's trying to do.
- Sep 3, 2009
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I'm no expert, just another bucket dad, but her release looks okay to me, like she is internally rotating through the arm whip. Can you describe how she finishes when she is not "chicken winging" as you call it. Still not sure what you mean by that. Could you post video of her pitching in practice?
Chris O......she does bend at the elbow which you can see if you pause at or after 12:00.
Ade's Dad.....I'm not convinced that there should ever be a conscious effort to "snap". A natural IR arm whip through release should generate all of the spin and speed that you need, shouldn't it?
Again, I'm no expert so take all of this for what it is worth. =)
Chris O......she does bend at the elbow which you can see if you pause at or after 12:00.
Ade's Dad.....I'm not convinced that there should ever be a conscious effort to "snap". A natural IR arm whip through release should generate all of the spin and speed that you need, shouldn't it?
Again, I'm no expert so take all of this for what it is worth. =)
This video shows it best (watch what the arm does after they've released the ball)
[video]http://youtu.be/HJVlMNsjsqM[/video]
It's called internal rotation. I can't find the original IR thread (wasn't someone going to pin that?) and I also couldn't find a brilliant video of Ueno which shows IR perfectly.
The reason I asked if she had been spoken to about IR is because the 'snap' she is doing appears to be trying for that.
[video]http://youtu.be/HJVlMNsjsqM[/video]
It's called internal rotation. I can't find the original IR thread (wasn't someone going to pin that?) and I also couldn't find a brilliant video of Ueno which shows IR perfectly.
The reason I asked if she had been spoken to about IR is because the 'snap' she is doing appears to be trying for that.
I am in no way talking about an upward snap,but the last thing that happens before the release of the ball is on RHP the palm will be facing 3rd then internally rotate toward their body. Maybe I should have said she is internally rotating her hand too soon. My DD struggled with this a couple years. A lot of good discussions on this forum on this subject.
