10U pitcher not gaining speed

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Mar 6, 2013
32
0
My DD had impressive speed at 8 years 40+ and at 9 she was throwing 44+. We took her to a reputable PC year ago to correct her mechanics year ago. She is coached to throw hello elbow style. Now she is stuck at 42 and worst she throws 40 in the game. She is tall and has good physic. her PC thinks her mechanics are good and she is not putting effort. I know for the fact kid is hard worker and puts lot of time( at least 4 days a week) and effort into practice. I am started wondering if she is not gaining speed to due to wrong pitching style or she just is not pitcher. She has good command and good mound presence.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
It is way too early to give up on pitching if she enjoys it.

Looks like you have been reading the board about hello elbow. I would try to convert her when you have some time. If she is practicing 4 days a week I bet she does the transition to more IR fairly quickly.

She needs to be giving 100% on every pitch, including in practice. That might be what her PC is referring to. Not the amount of time is committing but not throwing at 100% all the time. Just a guess.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Hello elbow means no elbow whip. When my dd stopped the hello style and started like Bill Hillhouse instructs her speed jumped up 5mph almost overnight.
 

halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
0
Avideo would help here a great deal. What one instructor thinks are good mechanics, others might not be so impressed.

Does she do the run through drill?

This is a tall slender 10 YO at her first attempts at the run through. She was stiff as a board and I said she looked like 'Frankenpitcher'. Only run through video I still have after 7 computer crashes since 1999.

 
Last edited:
Mar 6, 2013
32
0
She doesn't do run through drill. I am seeing she has locked straight arm as was taught by her coach. She was taught to have long big circle. I think that might have killed her whip.
 

halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
0
If the arm is straight and elbow locked, this effectively locks out the larger upper arm muscles from adding to arm / ball speed. Doing that puts tremendous stress on the shoulder complex. Have her keep a small bend in the elbow throughout the entire arm circle and you will see more speed.

The video I posted is a pretty poor example but the only one I have left. Have her practice that from 3 steps behind the rubber and keep the ball against the pivot leg. When the pivot foot touches the rubber, the stride foot and the ball come forward at the same time, NO BACKSWING even if this is how she pitches in the game.

This will give her the feeling of how fast she must drive forward.
 
Mar 6, 2013
32
0
she was taught to push the ball downward with biggest circle possible. so her palm is behind the ball. The palm is facing downward as it is coming from 9:00 o clock position.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
If your daughter likes to pitch and hopes to continue, she will need to find a new pitching coach and relearn how to whip.
 

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