Finding a quality pitching instructor

Sponge · Aug 6, 2009

Im am in the St. Louis area and what would you say is the best way to find a quality pitching instructor that is in line with the mechanics discussed in this forum. My DD is 15...we have been to 4 or so instructors over the years and as I have learned some were good to a point. As with anything it seems what fits you best and what style your DD wants. Plus some talk one thing and actually teach another. Do the folks on here have any references? Last thing I want to do is get into another set of lessons and find out its not the mechanics we want, which is what is talked about on here....

Thanks..

Mike

Shadow · Aug 6, 2009

Try here

Fast Pitch Instructors National Registry

Also contact the local HS and college coaches, as they usually know of the good ones in your area.

Ken Krause · Aug 6, 2009

One thing you'll want to do is ask if you can watch the coach teach a lesson or two and see what he/she teaches. Also how he/she is with students. That may tell you a lot, and you won't have to pay a lot for it.

If you see a pitcher whose mechanics seem like what you want, ask her where she goes.

fivepotsogold · Aug 6, 2009

LOL....finding a good coach can be hard.

We know of a good one ...every time we see a good pitcher we ask where she goes ..
"oh, Jen H." ... that woman is booked solid!

At 13, my DD really has to find a someone as we need to get her learning movement pitches ...
so far she has had only a few pitching lessns from a pitching coach ...

The search goes on ..

redhawkridge · Aug 6, 2009

I think you should rethink how and what you're looking for. Your comments about the dd wanting a style -- do you mean she has an image of how she wants to deliver a pitch? If so, I'd walk away from being a coach. I've worked with a few girls who want to pick and choose from my coaching -- I like that; I'll do that; I tried that but I don't want to use that; that's not what feels right; etc etc. This attitude kills the relationship a coach has with the player. Most of us use a system, where the delivery is a coordination of many parts working is unison and synergistically. The player can't pick and choose among the pieces what she'd like to incorporate in her delivery. Take it or leave it.
One small tip on finding a decent coach -- make sure he has pitching experience. Our HS has a pitching coach who pitched baseball not softball, but now he's read the books, watched the videos, and attended the clinics. He still doesn't understand what's really happening.
jim

Amy in AZ. · Aug 6, 2009

Is George Jones still in the area?

I would try driving to Mattoon, IL. to Denny Throneburg, but he is probably full, too.

bwalk63 · Aug 6, 2009

Actually Amy Denny has his clinics in Casey, IL, my daughter went to a clinic he had a few years ago. There is no doubt that he is a great coach and has had wonderful success. But some should be aware the style he teaches, which is slam the door, this caused some problems with my daughter, so we didn't go back. I am not saying what he teaches is wrong but it was not for us, we are more the stay open and let the hip close naturally. Again he is a legend, but his style of teaching is not for everyone.

CoachFP · Aug 7, 2009

bwalk63 said:
Actually Amy Denny has his clinics in Casey, IL, my daughter went to a clinic he had a few years ago. There is no doubt that he is a great coach and has had wonderful success. But some should be aware the style he teaches, which is slam the door, this caused some problems with my daughter, so we didn't go back. I am not saying what he teaches is wrong but it was not for us, we are more the stay open and let the hip close naturally. Again he is a legend, but his style of teaching is not for everyone.

I'll say it. Slamming the door is "wrong". This tells me this guy has no idea what he is doing. This is how girls were taught 20 years ago. I guess he still has that book on the shelf.

Amy in AZ. · Aug 7, 2009

He wrote the book, I'm just sayin........

WinThemAll · Aug 7, 2009

DT does his clinics in Westfield, IL. He now lives in Mattoon where is is the AD at Lake Land College and just retired from coaching from there.

I haven't heard him use "slam the door" in several years.

He really emphasizes using the correct form and uses a series of "drills" that reinforces this.

He must be doing something right. . .

He was the Head Coach at Casey-Westfield for 22 years where his teams compiled an amazing 647-56 record, a winning percentage of 92%, which is a national record for that span of years. The Lady Warriors also captured six state titles, along with three 2nd place finishes, 20 Regional titles, and 15 Sectional championships. They captured 22 conference championships while compiling a conference record of 115-1. Their record at home was an impressive 351-13, with the pitchers compiling an ERA of 0.81 over those 22 years. Coach Throneburg had 68 players sign softball scholarships in 22 years. In Coach Throneburg’s four years at Lake Land College, he has guided the Lakers softball team to an overall record of 112-34, and a Great Rivers Athletic Conference record of 77-14, with one Region 24 championship and one regular season championship. In 2006, the Laker softball team became the first softball team in school history to advance to the Division One National Tournament in Plant City, Florida.

He has twice been named National High School Softball Coach of the Year. In 1997, Coach Throneburg was named the Speedline National High School Softball Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. In that same year he was also named Illinois High School Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Illinois Girls’ Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Coach Throneburg received the highest honor possible in high school coaching in August 2000 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he received the National High School Softball Coach of the Year award for 1999. Coach Throneburg was also inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame in 2000 for his playing and coaching accomplishments.

Finding a quality pitching instructor

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