Analyze the picture

Amy,

LOL on the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof!

I think we need to be careful NOT to use cookie cutter mechanics to make cookie cutter pitchers! You need only look at MLB pitchers (carefully in slo-mo) to see MANY different pitching mechanics...Randy Johnson throws from a much lower arm slot than Mike Mussina. Their mechanics are very different yet they are both successful and have had few arm problems after very long careers. Then you look at Mark Prior...he was held up as the poster boy for good mechanics and his career has been one arm problem after another. There are MANY ways to throw a ball effectively and FAR too many pitching coaches are clueless when it comes to biomechanics, engineering, kinesiology...how the body creates force, etc. Remember, their is a HUGE difference between THROWING and PITCHING!

Keith

Amy,

Check out this 3-part article and give me your thoughts.

Exactly what are effective throwing mechanics? -- The Hardball Times

Keith

(1) She already started closing (note left shoulder).
(2) Her weight has already transferred to her front foot, causing her back foot to come up.
(3) The right palm is facing 3B.

She is "dragging the ball behind her".

We should see:

(1) her mitt pointing at home, so that a line through her shoulders would point to the catcher.
(2) Her right foot touching the ground
(3) Her left foot either off the ground or just barely touching.
(4) Her right palm facing down.

On the good side:

(1) Her arm shows the elbow slightly bent, meaning that is producing some whip action with her arm.
(2) Her head up and back.
(3) Her shoulders up.

I would do "half frames" (ball starts over her head) or slingshot pitching (which has already been suggested).

Another great drill would be "the stork"--this is going to sound impossible, but it isn't. She takes the ball and puts it over her head, lifts her left leg up, stands on her right foot, right foot pointing to 3B, and throws the ball without ever putting her left foot down. The only way to do this drill is to keep her weight back over the right foot, or else she will be falling every time she throws the ball.

Thanks for giving me some "good points." I will stress those with her and then approach the problems one at a time.

The stork is a good drill and then another one is: you step. pitch and kick the back foot up behind you and do not put it down.

Both of these drills are good, to do in the house without a ball, to practice posture and balance.

I am also going to use Hal's whiffle ball drill, too. You simply have her pitch softball size whiffle balls after she is warmed up. If her motion is off, the ball goes everywhere.

We did a variation called the "Carolina Walk-Through" since we heard of the drill from someone out at Coastal Carolina University.

Basically, you do a walk-through (start a couple of steps behind the mound), and then end with you standing on your left foot with the right foot up. This is a little tougher than starting from the pitcher's mound since you have more momentum carrying the body forward.

For 10 YOA, she looks good. You've done a nice job. I really like her arm extension and arm position. If she were throwing a rise, her palm position would be great.

Hal is right on

Just wanted to say that Hal has given great advise as usual. Any time I have written to him he has been up front, honest and informative. He has a world of knowledge and his observation of the pitcher leaping is the number one thing that needs to be corrected. I Just watched an open division game last night, (one of my pitchers was starting). These are post college players in a tournament and the other team's pitcher was clearly leaping and replanting. It was so clear that there was no drag mark and a second hole beyond the front edge of the mound. It makes me crazy to think that no one corrected her throughout her career and worse than that was the umpires general disregard for the rules concerning this. Correct the leaping then go from there.

Rich

Amy,

Obviously, Hal Skinner is a great pitching resource to listen and learn from. I would also recommend getting Ernie Parker's pitching material. Both Hal and Ernie have been there and done that in teaching and developing some great pitchers.


How is her overhand throw, by the way?

Mike

Mike, her overhand (although I haven't taped it) seems fine. But, thanks for the idea. I will look at it.

On the glove radar she is 43ish OH and UH, both.

I will PM you.

Oh, I see that you are in IN. I played my ASA ball during the 70s in Casey, IL (Terre Haute area). Anyway, the number #1 pitching coach in the state lives there, Denny Throneburg. I have e-mailed him, but I don't know if i will hear back.

Well she is obviolusly crow hopping of some sort. Her weight is too far forward with this position she is holding back speed and not using her arm as a whip. She needs to get her weight back. She also looks like she is throwing around her body, in this position she is already starting to turn and has yet to bring her arm past her hip, her shoulders need to stay back or she is going to aim the ball. Also with this position she will not be able to defend her self as she will be offset when done throwing. Im not sure if she is trying to throw a junk pitch but at the point where her arm is she needs to turn her hand or arm or she is going to throw side arm and that will kill her shoulder.

a video would help tremendously.

Thanks Bish. I have not seen this young lady yet this week. She is scheduled to come in on Fri. I have asked her mom if she could possibly catch, so I can video tape. Currently, I do all of the catching.

I do not think that she was throwing a junk pitch, but the other coach has been trying to introduce that. I "think" that I have convinced the mom that this young lady is no where near ready to move on.

You would not believe the girls that come to pitching lessons that can't hit there spots and someone has introduced the rise ball.

Also, I have just as many little girls coming to pitching lessons that can't catch and throw, properly. When I go to throw the ball back to them, I have to yell " Keep the fingers up your glove up." I am thinking of getting it put on a t-shirt.

One rec coach taught the girls to catch a throw "palm up" and alligator the bare hand.