Looking for help on the peel drop

I've taught both the peel and turnover drop, but I'm moving more towards favoring the peel because it is so much harder to identify (my opinion). I was looking for input from other instructors, pitchers, or experts on the pitch. Seems to be more popular with men than woman and I'm wondering why.

Thanks in advance for your input

i agree that it is much harder to ID as it comes it. looks like a FB until it isn't.

Fury_Mike said:

I've taught both the peel and turnover drop, but I'm moving more towards favoring the peel because it is so much harder to identify (my opinion). I was looking for input from other instructors, pitchers, or experts on the pitch. Seems to be more popular with men than woman and I'm wondering why.

Thanks in advance for your input

Click to expand...

Curious what in your opinion the differences in the two pitches are. Thanks in advance.

I believe many of DFP members/ coaches etc would argue there is no peel drop or turnover drop in IR pitching release. There is just a drop release. There are many ques but really only one way to actually throw it.
Hope this helps.


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DrRiello said:

I believe many of DFP members/ coaches etc would argue there is no peel drop or turnover drop in IR pitching release. There is just a drop release. There are many ques but really only one way to actually throw it.
Hope this helps.


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Click to expand...

Agree! The main change is a slightly forward hip tilt. Other than that, as long as it spins correctly it doesn't matter what cues you use to get there because most of the "peel, turnover, lawn mower start" happen after release anyway.

So it’s just a FB with 6-12 spin? No special wrist or hand movement other trying to get as much forward spin as possible?


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Gags said:

So it’s just a FB with 6-12 spin? No special wrist or hand movement other trying to get as much forward spin as possible?


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Click to expand...

If this is going to be her main movement pitch, she has to put a lot more spin on the drop ball than a normal fastball...otherwise, it won't move more. To get more spin, the IR of the arm has to be quicker.

The pitcher has to get the IR "more compressed". That means the pitcher has to start the forearm IR as late as possible and finish the forearm IR as quickly as possible. My DD was told, "Pretend like you are screwing the ball into the pitcher's rubber."

Because the IR of the arm is faster on a drop, the follow through is different...which is how you get all the weird arm positions after a drop is released.

I've attached a picture of the grip my DD used. Notice the position of the middle finger on the seam. The middle finger is important because that imparts the spin on the ball.

During the pitch, she digs the tip of her middle finger into the seam. The middle finger is the last finger on the ball. She brings the middle finger up as fast as possible to her thumb.

Here is a slomo view of her throwing a drop. Watch the middle finger. You can see the middle finger closing rapidly toward her thumb.



This is a back view so you can see the movement. You see the ball about waist high and then suddenly it is at the ankles.



IMHO (but not my DD's), she has an exaggerated follow through that probably is not necessary. My DD's opinion, which is probably more valuable, is, "I don't care what your opinion is, Dad. That is what it took to get the ball to drop."

Gags said:

So it’s just a FB with 6-12 spin? No special wrist or hand movement other trying to get as much forward spin as possible?


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Click to expand...

Well, technically 12-6 spin, but essentially, yes. Older men's pitchers would tell you that no one had a "fastball", if it spins like that it's meant to be a drop. Just needs a little bit of trajectory help by tilting the hips forward a bit and making sure to maximize spin.

sluggers said:

If this is going to be her main movement pitch, she has to put a lot more spin on the drop ball than a normal fastball...otherwise, it won't move more. To get more spin, the IR of the arm has to be quicker.

The pitcher has to get the IR "more compressed". That means the pitcher has to start the forearm IR as late as possible and finish the forearm IR as quickly as possible. My DD was told, "Pretend like you are screwing the ball into the pitcher's rubber."

Because the IR of the arm is faster on a drop, the follow through is different...which is how you get all the weird arm positions after a drop is released.

I've attached a picture of the grip my DD used. Notice the position of the middle finger on the seam. The middle finger is important because that imparts the spin on the ball.

During the pitch, she digs the tip of her middle finger into the seam. The middle finger is the last finger on the ball. She brings the middle finger up as fast as possible to her thumb.

Here is a slomo view of her throwing a drop. Watch the middle finger. You can see the middle finger closing rapidly toward her thumb.



This is a back view so you can see the movement. You see the ball about waist high and then suddenly it is at the ankles.



IMHO (but not my DD's), she has an exaggerated follow through that probably is not necessary. My DD's opinion, which is probably more valuable, is, "I don't care what your opinion is, Dad. That is what it took to get the ball to drop."

Click to expand...

I knew you would expound. lol.
Nice explanation.
Probation is the key.


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I knew you would expound. lol.
Nice explanation.
Probation is the key.

Click to expand...

Hey, it was "supervised release", not probation. The never proved nothing.