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Oct 10, 2012
502
16
Oklahoma
Moved from another thread...any help would be appreciated--Sluggers

Yes sluggers you are right, I was confused about the terminology of the "wrist snap" and allowing the arm the turn over at release. A few questions......does the arm/forearm rotate as you release or after the release? I vidoed my DD and watched in in slow motion and it seems like she is "pushing" the ball as her arm is not rotating until after the release.....does that make sense? When I videod her, I had to video outside in the backyard because the lighting in our shop (where we usually practice) isnt good enough to capture the video that allows for good quality. I know the grass isnt the optimal place to pitch but for video purposes I wanted the qaulity to be good enough. With that being said, if you see anything I can do, please let me know. I do appreciate it.......

My Movie11 - YouTube


 
Last edited by a moderator:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
It looks to me like she is bowling--Palm needs to be facing up at 9 o'clock with the elbow slightly flexed and leading the hand. When the elbow comes to the side of the body, it essentially stops and the lower arm whips the ball into the release. The hand rotates loosely from palm up at 9 o'clock, to palm down just after release. She doesn't seem to be whipping to me.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
If possible, can you record her from about 8-10 feet away and diagonally in front of her and to her right. Try to frame it from her knees to just above her head. Otherwise, just getting close from the side, turning the camera to the regular orientation and frame it so she begins the pitch on the right side and moves across the frame.

Thanks,
Ken
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Go here to learn how to whip the ball: www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/10321-i-r-classroom.html Play catch using the whip. Play a lot of catch. No arm circle or leap, just stand at about 45 degrees and throw with the elbow leading, or locked at the side as taught by BM. Later, start square with the hands hanging, step out and bring the arms up then drop the arms when the foot plants. When doing this the glove arm points to the catcher and the throwing arm is bent in a stretched V as the foot is stepping out.

Once she has the whip down, try the above step throw but now, both arms go up towards the net/catcher and the gloves stops as before and the throwing arm make the circle.

A net is nice because it frees you up to record and give her feedback.

Edit:
(I just went out and realized 45 degrees is too little--should be almost open.)
 
Last edited:
Oct 10, 2012
502
16
Oklahoma
Thank you Ken, so as I understand the ball positioning, the ball at the 12 oclock is not supposed to be pointing towards the catcher, rather pointing the opposite direction or towards second base? If that is the case, then I have messed up again as I have tried to get my DD to hold the ball towards the catcher as she is at the top of her circle......below is some links to a few videos from tonight.

Also, how do I post simple pictures on here? I have three pics from the same pitch in sequence that really shows where the ball is released and what her arm is doing........

My Movie3 - YouTube
My Movie4 - YouTube
My Movie2 - YouTube
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Apologies if something I said led you to believe the palm should face anywhere but the catcher at 12 o'clock. The back of the hand essentially leads the ball all the way from the backswing until just before release. #4 video looked a little better, but she is still pushing/bowling the ball. Please go to the IR in the Classroom thread and start fresh there. She really needs to fix the pushing now. The longer she ingrains the poor form, the longer it will take to correct it.
 
Jun 24, 2009
311
0
Moved from another thread...any help would be appreciated--Sluggers

Yes sluggers you are right, I was confused about the terminology of the "wrist snap" and allowing the arm the turn over at release. A few questions......does the arm/forearm rotate as you release or after the release? I vidoed my DD and watched in in slow motion and it seems like she is "pushing" the ball as her arm is not rotating until after the release.....does that make sense? When I videod her, I had to video outside in the backyard because the lighting in our shop (where we usually practice) isnt good enough to capture the video that allows for good quality. I know the grass isnt the optimal place to pitch but for video purposes I wanted the qaulity to be good enough. With that being said, if you see anything I can do, please let me know. I do appreciate it.......

My Movie11 - YouTube



For her age she looks pretty good.Her hand positions are too not bad either. I think her arm is locked out too much at the 9 o'clock position. Maybe explain to her to lead down the back of the swing with her elbow would help.(sure helped mine)I love her leap and drag.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Does your DD practice the correct way to pitch, although slowing down the body? She needs to be spending quite a bit of time perfecting the motion rather than trying to simply throw the ball hard. Pitching is about timing rather than simply "muscling" the ball. Check out this video:

[video=youtube_share;b-OnzjKOZvw]http://youtu.be/b-OnzjKOZvw[/video]

This kid is using 50% of the effort your DD is doing, and yet watch the ball explode from her hand. Also, check out the feet position.

One drill your DD needs to do is what I call the "Carolina Walk Through". She gets about three feet behind the rubber, walks forward and throws the ball. However, after she throws she is to keep her right foot off the ground until the ball is returned to her. This will improve her timing and balance. She will also get rid of a lot of extraneous motion.
 
Oct 10, 2012
502
16
Oklahoma
Since we have switched from HE to IR, my DD has had some setbacks (as I was told would happen). She is having a hard time "getting rid" of the HE motion and it is lowering some of her confidence. I thought it would be good to "step back" and look at the basics and just start from the beginning. Below is a link to what we did tonight. Is it anywhere close to what she is trying to accomplish?? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

LP1 - YouTube
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I think the second pitch is getting closer. I think the elbow needs to lead all the way to the hip. The hand will not start to rotate until then. Compare your video to Scarborough's Power Drive Commercial.

One thing I like to focus on is being loose and not trying to throw the ball. Key words are staying loose or limp like a whip. A whip needs no muscle along any of its eight feet to create a supersonic boom at it's tip. The pitching arm really only need the shoulder muscles to rotate the arm, and the muscles to hold on to the ball until it releases. A good pitcher converts all of the energy from her leg drive, along with a good circle, into the whip that's timed with the foot plant.
 
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