My daughter just cant seem to get the feeling of I/R she basically keeps your arm straight and more or less pushes the ball at release. I have read all the I/R classromm threads and many others. Is there any other ways to get her to feel the proper release or just keep doing drills as indicated in the I/R classroom and she will eventually get it. She is very athletic and actuall throws pretty well this way but has hit a wall with speed because of it and obviously its not how elite pitchers throw.
Straight Arm all the way through release - Please Help!
- Thread starter Goetz
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She needs to understand the whip. It's used in overhand throwing, batting and underhand pitching. Once she gets the feel of it, that's half the battle. As for getting the feel....others will have to step in to help there.
Is she doing any full motion while trying to learn whip? Is she pitching in games right now? If so, your choice is to either stop pitching cold turkey and address the issue, or wait until she has a month or two of no games to get it down.
For kids in this situation, I think it's best to take away the distraction of the catcher, game, etc, until they have the basic form dialed.
Using the progression in the I/R in the Classroom thread, start the process into a net, backstop, tarp, old mattress, etc. Work on elbow leading, back of the hand leading, elbow pausing at the ribs and allowing the rest to happen. I tell kids who are learning that I don't care if the ball hits the ground or goes over the net, as long as they are loose and whipping. Early on, I have them whip several balls with their eyes closed and note where the ball is hitting the net. We adjust the feet until she's consistently hitting the middle of the net.
You might break it up by playing catch with a mini-football (not a foam/Nerf style) and work on getting a good spiral. I've also put a nickel-sized dot between the narrows of the seams and told the kids to throw the pinky-side dot at the target (assuming 4 seam grip.)
As she gains some control, start to move her back. Later, add a target (rectangle) and have her try to whip into the corners. When she's got that, start playing Step Back, where she earns a step back every time she hits 3 out of four corners.
From here, try some underhand catch as long as she's whipping. Add some distance as she improves.
When all is good, add the leg drive and put it all together. If she reverts, go back to the net and the basics.
Ken
For kids in this situation, I think it's best to take away the distraction of the catcher, game, etc, until they have the basic form dialed.
Using the progression in the I/R in the Classroom thread, start the process into a net, backstop, tarp, old mattress, etc. Work on elbow leading, back of the hand leading, elbow pausing at the ribs and allowing the rest to happen. I tell kids who are learning that I don't care if the ball hits the ground or goes over the net, as long as they are loose and whipping. Early on, I have them whip several balls with their eyes closed and note where the ball is hitting the net. We adjust the feet until she's consistently hitting the middle of the net.
You might break it up by playing catch with a mini-football (not a foam/Nerf style) and work on getting a good spiral. I've also put a nickel-sized dot between the narrows of the seams and told the kids to throw the pinky-side dot at the target (assuming 4 seam grip.)
As she gains some control, start to move her back. Later, add a target (rectangle) and have her try to whip into the corners. When she's got that, start playing Step Back, where she earns a step back every time she hits 3 out of four corners.
From here, try some underhand catch as long as she's whipping. Add some distance as she improves.
When all is good, add the leg drive and put it all together. If she reverts, go back to the net and the basics.
Ken
I have a 10U kid who's the opposite. She can't make an overhand throw across the infield, but can whip as good as anyone.
What I did too get the whip down was start with the throwing arm elbow at my hip, elbow bent, palm up and then use IR to throw into my mitt. That alone takes a little getting used to. I worked back up the circle a little at a time until I started with the ball in my glove and then do a full motion. It took a little time but now I'm replacing laces on my glove because it's so easy to whip the ball. Just watch out if you miss the glove, I took out my fire extinguisher in my shop by putting a big dent in it.
I think it's time to start a thread for us CBD's to share our oops stories.
I was warming up with a 14U pitcher who asked about learning a CB. I told her I would throw her one, but it got away from me and hit her in the leg. We almost called 911... The lump and discoloration was an image that took me quite some time to get over. It took her several months before she'd play catch with me again!
I was warming up with a 14U pitcher who asked about learning a CB. I told her I would throw her one, but it got away from me and hit her in the leg. We almost called 911... The lump and discoloration was an image that took me quite some time to get over. It took her several months before she'd play catch with me again!
Goetz,
Try suggesting to her to think "pull the ball down to release." I tell them to whip, not throw the ball. By "throwing," I mean using the arm to make the ball go fast (rather than ALLOWING the ball to whip out of the hand.) When she gets it, she might not realize it because it feels so out of control at first, and may not see she just added 5+ mph with less effort. I think that's one of the reasons why taking the catcher out of the equation seems to help kids who are struggling to feel whip.
Try suggesting to her to think "pull the ball down to release." I tell them to whip, not throw the ball. By "throwing," I mean using the arm to make the ball go fast (rather than ALLOWING the ball to whip out of the hand.) When she gets it, she might not realize it because it feels so out of control at first, and may not see she just added 5+ mph with less effort. I think that's one of the reasons why taking the catcher out of the equation seems to help kids who are struggling to feel whip.
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It might help to take her out to a pond and have her skip stones. There is no way to skip stones without a whip...
