Can't find any brush instructors

Out in Left Field said:

I still want to see a pitcher describing this. One video or book I don't have is Smith's, has anyone seen it?

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You'll find brush-assisted-whip reviewed in Doug Gillis' teaching videos.

Doug Romrell said:

Who gets to decide if an action is or is not an "absolute?"

I'm starting to see this "absolute" word as over used as the words "fair" or "right."

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I feel the same way. The word is both over used and misused. In the face of 1 instance to the contrary an "absolute" it is no longer an "absolute". Call it what you will; best practices, common characteristics, but "absolutes"? I think not.

I think we all need to keep calm and wait til javascource makes his comments

Out in Left Field said:

Found one!

All of the favorite things found in time for the holidays (not): Wrist snap, slam the door, brush and hello elbow! Plus for added benefit (sarcasm), not letting the kids pitch until all of the wrist snaps, Ts and other chaining are done. (Watch the other videos where no leg work, never mind full pitching, is ever shown, so I guess no pitching for at least three lesson sessions.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lKqOFc2o0I

Please watch the whole thing as you don't want to miss knocking the salt shaker off the shoulder.

As you can see these comprise the "prior" thought process (not saying old school because that would be mischaracterizing the pitchers who pitched on my dad's and other teams earlier, who did other things). I would posit that the four elements are interwoven, and one does not work or have a "place" without the others. That's why we have moved on, based on BHH and others' approaches. All of these work, it is a question of what you want to accomplish with the pitchers or perhaps what torture you want them to go through.

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in a strange way, I have respect for your tenacity in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, but really, you have to at least acknowledge that your inability to show a clip of a world class pitcher not brushing is problematic to your stance and probably indicates that you are wrong on this topic.

I got some video from the Brenda Marsh tourney going on out here this weekend, just grabbed clips of random pitchers, a couple of 12Us that were really good, one girl throwing for the 2002 Angels was just shutting them down, looked at the video and sure enough she was a textbook brusher. Her counterpart on the As was struggling with consistency and walked 3 batters in the first inning, she did not brush, she was what I call a hip clearer, anecdotal of course, but since I see this time and time again at all levels I kind of think it is a pattern. Want to pitch a little faster and be more accurate? brush.

JJsqueeze said:

Want to pitch a little faster and be more accurate? brush.

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YUP!!!!

Imagine having a consistent release mechanism--hitting your hip or thigh like two trains in a head-on collision each traveling 100 mph. Oh the abuse!

It only took her 3 months.

javasource said:

The only time I work on 'brush' is when the pitcher is making an effort to clear out of the way... with their butt sticking out or bent over at the waist. Given the plethora of research available on injuries that result... surely you agree that the situation needs correcting?

In this... is where I assume you disagree on the fix. Why not just work on the posture? If that's anyone's question... my answer is simple:

When you work with pitchers over the years, you come to see how much the arm circle dominates their thoughts. You tell them to stand upright... and it just goes right by them... and they repeat the wrong action over and over. So... you change your cue to what they are thinking and preoccupied with... the circle.... saying let the arm lightly brush the side. In order to do this, they must stand tall... so it's a win for everyone.

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JS, you are describing something we have not been able to help 12 u dd with. I see it creep in regularly, she bends over at waist to get her hip out of the way. It most definitely affects performance.

If I understand right, you are saying by using the cue "let the arm lightly brush your side" it will also help correct posture and the poor posture is why she isn't getting brush?

curiousgeorge said:

Hillhouse tells people to get through the hips by making contact with the belly. If the ball has the correct rotation and the mechanics are what he's looking for then I've never seen him micromanage teaching that.
CG

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Similar approach?

riseball said:

It only took her 3 months.

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That's exactly what I was thinking lol.

Westwind said:

JS, you are describing something we have not been able to help 12 u dd with. I see it creep in regularly, she bends over at waist to get her hip out of the way. It most definitely affects performance.

If I understand right, you are saying by using the cue "let the arm lightly brush your side" it will also help correct posture and the poor posture is why she isn't getting brush?




Similar approach?

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No, not really the same approach. HH's brush the belly is a follow-through after release... to which I prefer a 'to-the-target' follow-through.

You are correct with the inference regarding using brush to HELP correct posture. I find that most girls that learned to get their hand behind the ball... do this because they've whacked their legs with the ball in the past. It's a clearing mechanism that need not be there... IF... the hand is inside the ball AND they maintain SLIGHT levels of elbow flexion. This creates all the spacing they will ever need.

Dead stops are good, too. That is... coming to a dead stop on release of the ball. It's impossible without brush.

Another idea is to have them perform more static drills like Liberty and Show-It... on their tip toes... the entire throw. If their center of gravity is off... they won't be able to hold it. No balance beams... just a smaller 'footprint' seems to really help correct their COG issues. Heck I've even used stability cushions...

Another thing is to look at their hips line when they come into release. If their hips remain open the entire time, it's a heck of a lot easier to bend at the waist. Look for her rear thigh... and see if it, too, internally rotates during the whip phase of the pitch. The knee should end up being more in the direction of the pitch at release. I would suspect it does not. That rear thigh should be close to in-line with the torso coming into release of the ball, too... many forward leaners have a rear leg that is anchored to the ground, and does not bend at the knee joint. Amanda S's 1000fps video is as good as any for a reference of what the rear action leg should be LIKE... not identical... just like.

All of this depends on the student... so I'd rather see it before trying to correct it... sounds like you know what you're looking for... hope that helps.

Thank you, JS. It does help.

It might be time to post some video. I have been reluctant to do it for a lot of reasons but maybe it's time.

The things you are describing are accurate. Couple years ago she whacked herself hard enough to leave a bruise.

We just started BM's drills within the last couple weeks. I tried to start them some time ago but she was not ready to trust someone other than her PC so I waited. We have been doing the stuff in the "classroom" thread as well as his arm circle drill from another thread. It has helped overall, (including her posture I think) and she has gained speed and control but what you posted above is going to get worked into our plan. We started working on two step last night but now I think we will work on mastering the "classroom" drills and what you posted above before we work on that again. We have a ways to go but I have no doubt we are on the right track. It is a good feeling.