Pitching ??

[Coletrain]

Which do you prefer/use/teach? When taking the ball back during the wind up, do you keep it in the glove(hillhouse) or do you seperate the ball from the glove first? Thanks!

 

[sluggers]

The preferred method would be to keep the ball hidden as long as possible.

In baseball or softball, the way to really tee off on a pitcher is to know the pitch she is throwing. If a pitcher leaves the ball uncovered, the third base coach can see the grip and relay that information to the hitter.

At lower levels of play, no one cares. Half the time the kid isn't going to throw a rise even though she has a rise grip. But, at higher levels of play, it is a factor.

 

[crystlemc]

My DD keeps it in the glove a la Hillhouse. Of course, he's her PC...lol. The nice thing about what he teaches is the grips all look pretty much the same to the naked eye, so hiding the ball is the 2nd line of defense in not tipping off the hitter.

 

[halskinner]

Which do you prefer/use/teach? When taking the ball back during the wind up, do you keep it in the glove(hillhouse) or do you seperate the ball from the glove first? Thanks!

The rulebooks all say you must bring the hands together in front. You are allowed to bring the ball 'Down and to the rear', there is no allowance that says you are allowed to bring the ball AND the glove down and to the rear.

The pitching regulations are very specific. The tell you what a pitcher is required to do, what they are allowed to do and what actions they are specifically NOT allowed to do. Any other thing/s they do that is not specifically outlined and addressed in the regulations becomes a matter of a 'Judgement call' for the officials.

Whether an umpire would ever call a pitcher for bringing the glove and the ball back behind the straight up and down line of the body, that is a different issue all together.

Just as the pitcher's feet must be in contact with the rubber until the start of the pitch (until the hands separate), this can also be an issue of legality with the open mechanics. I have seen many young pitchers with open mechanics bring the glove and ball back to the rear and start the stride foot coming forward BEFORE the hands actually separate and the pitch begins. Another technicality that never gets enforced.

I have no problem with a pitcher bringing the glove and ball back to the side, as long as the glove does NOT go behind the hip.

Just a few things to think about.

I think this is going to open up a seperate bunch of opinions on rules interpretations. So I am also goung to use this response to open up a new thread in the rules category.

 

[Jojo]

When I start my beginners I have them bring both arms back, I think it helps them with using the glove side, and getting a little extra power.

As they get older I let them experiment with other styles and some change to hiding the ball.

Finch & Abbot swing both arms back Ueno & Osterman hide the ball.
I think it's personal preference. Especially if you keep your grips similar.

 

[crystlemc]

The rulebooks all say you must bring the hands together in front. You are allowed to bring the ball 'Down and to the rear', there is no allowance that says you are allowed to bring the ball AND the glove down and to the rear.

The pitching regulations are very specific. The tell you what a pitcher is required to do, what they are allowed to do and what actions they are specifically NOT allowed to do. Any other thing/s they do that is not specifically outlined and addressed in the regulations becomes a matter of a 'Judgement call' for the officials.

Whether an umpire would ever call a pitcher for bringing the glove and the ball back behind the straight up and down line of the body, that is a different issue all together.

Come on... the rules also say nothing AGAINST bringing the glove behind your hip. If they did, then the girls who swing both arms back behind them before their windmill would be illegal every pitch.

 

[halskinner]

Come on... the rules also say nothing AGAINST bringing the glove behind your hip. If they did, then the girls who swing both arms back behind them before their windmill would be illegal every pitch.

The hands have separated (in front) at that point and the pitch has begun.

If you keep the ball in the glove, the glove must stay in front of the hips, it cannot br brought to the rear. If that was allowed there would be a written allowance in the regulations.

Doubt if I ever see that enforced/

 

[crystlemc]

The hands have separated (in front) at that point and the pitch has begun.

If you keep the ball in the glove, the glove must stay in front of the hips, it cannot br brought to the rear. If that was allowed there would be a written allowance in the regulations.

Doubt if I ever see that enforced/

If it WASN'T allowed, it would certainly be in the rules. Besides, it's darn near impossible to take the glove behind the hip with your hand in it. If you do manage to do it, it's because you have rotated your hips and then it's STILL not behind them.

 

[Coletrain]

Thanks for the info! I started my DD taking the ball back in the glove because she was throwing almost every pitch inside (to right handers). Once she got the hang of taking the ball back in the glove it really helped with this problem. Thanks again!

 

[Joe]

Use caution if your bringing the glove and ball back. My expierience shows that some pitchers tend to twist their body and push off the rubber with their body out of position. I see the twisting effect.
I don't worry about hiding the grip too much since the fb, drop and change are the same grip.
On the other hand, watch the back swing because alot of pitchers will wrap their arm behind them taking if out of the proper plane. A correction then needs to be made to get the arm back into the proper plane.
I have most my girls take a back swing without the glove, but keep it mininal if you notice the arm and ball disappearing from the catchers view.