I may be opening a can of worms but...

mosftballdad · Feb 5, 2013

My DD (13) throws a curve...most times...should she be learning the drop curve also? I have heard opinions around here both ways. One camp says it is a gimmick pitch and the other says it is necessary for college ball. Her current PC does not teach a drop curve or a drop change. Is this a needed pitch going forward?

Perfect Circle · Feb 5, 2013

I'll see if rdbass can be reached... His profile said he had gone fishing, he might need some worms.....lol

Vote: Go for it, one more pitch can help define the others. Her favorite will be her super favorite, Her not so favorite will be more favored now, until she learns the new one. IMHO

rdbass · Feb 5, 2013

View attachment 3150
Once the lids off theres no putting it back on!

sluggers · Feb 5, 2013

The problem isn't that it is a "gimmick" pitch. The problem is that most kids don't know how to throw *one* pitch, so why should a DD start learning a new pitch before learning just one pitch?

Math lesson:

Daddy math: Six crappy breaking pitches = One great breaking pitch.
Reality math: Six crappy breaking pitches = ZERO.

A great breaking pitch is a pitch that breaks 12 or more inches, that the pitcher can throw with 95% confidence it will break, and that the pitcher can place anywhere, vertically or horizontally, in the strike zone.

Daddies and DDs don't want to do the boring, hard work of perfecting a breaking pitch. So, they jump from one pitch to the another with the DD never really learning any breaking pitch.

A drop curve is actually a poorly thrown drop ball. So, most pitchers don't actually "know" how to throw the pitch. Most simply never really develop a drop ball....and there are real problems with having a drop curve as your go to breaking pitch.

The drop change--I've only seen a couple of girls with a real drop change. A drop change is great against bad hitters. Against good hitters, changing speeds on a drop ball is more effective.

RubberBiscuit · Feb 5, 2013

sluggers said:
A drop curve is actually a poorly thrown drop ball. So, most pitchers don't actually "know" how to throw the pitch. Most simply never really develop a drop ball....and there are real problems with having a drop curve as your go to breaking pitch.

I totally agree with this and totally think the true drop is much more beneficial than the drop-curve and much-much more than the true curve.

The hardest pitch for my DD to master has been the true 12-6 break of a true drop. So I can understand that the "lazier" drop curve might be an attractive alternative.

But the older the players get the easier it is to hit a breaking ball "on-swing-plane".

Period.

PEPPERS · Feb 5, 2013

sluggers said:
The problem isn't that it is a "gimmick" pitch. The problem is that most kids don't know how to throw *one* pitch, so why should a DD start learning a new pitch before learning just one pitch?

Math lesson:

Daddy math: Six crappy breaking pitches = One great breaking pitch.
Reality math: Six crappy breaking pitches = ZERO.

A great breaking pitch is a pitch that breaks 12 or more inches, that the pitcher can throw with 95% confidence it will break, and that the pitcher can place anywhere, vertically or horizontally, in the strike zone.

Daddies and DDs don't want to do the boring, hard work of perfecting a breaking pitch. So, they jump from one pitch to the another with the DD never really learning any breaking pitch.

A drop curve is actually a poorly thrown drop ball. So, most pitchers don't actually "know" how to throw the pitch. Most simply never really develop a drop ball....and there are real problems with having a drop curve as your go to breaking pitch.

The drop change--I've only seen a couple of girls with a real drop change. A drop change is great against bad hitters. Against good hitters, changing speeds on a drop ball is more effective.

DD has a killer drop and drop change, she throws the drop using the peel drop and moves the ball deeper in the palm for the drop change. It just drops off the table I can hardly catch it.

Last year in a HS game the catcher dropped 8 drop ball third strikes in one game and the coach continued to call for the drop.

halskinner · Feb 5, 2013

Any pitch with sideways movement only, had better be fast, break late and break hard. If not, it is going to get hit. Might not make it out of the infield, but it will get hit.

Just like every other pitch, there is more than one way to throw a curveball.

mosftballdad · Feb 5, 2013

I am not looking to add another crappy breaking ball to what she is currently working on but to replace what she has been working on. We were watching some recorded games and the announcers kept saying drop curve on several pitches and my DD asked me if she should learn that pitch. I am not a fan of throwing 6 crappy pitches but developing what she knows to her perfection and confidence. I didn't want her to learn a pitch one way when she should be learning it a bit different...not that she couldn't change it later but she hates doing things a second time if she could have done it that way from the beginning.

Perfect Circle · Feb 5, 2013

sluggers said:
Math lesson:
Daddy math: Six crappy breaking pitches = One great breaking pitch.
Reality math: Six crappy breaking pitches = ZERO.

Daddy Demographics: Flatfinger Knuckle Ball = 2 squared....maybe more & will CU if held tight in the palm and wind is working for you... :{))

halskinner · Feb 5, 2013

Perfect Circle said:
Daddy Demographics: Flatfinger Knuckle Ball = 2 squared....maybe more & will CU if held tight in the palm and wind is working for you... :{))

Try releasing the flat figered knucklebal with the wrist at different angles. Als try dropping the shoulder at release.

Throwing any knuckleball is like going to the prom; Ya better know how to dance more than just one dance.

I may be opening a can of worms but...

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