Teaching brush interference

i know, some folks think this is not necessary, but i do think it is.
so before this thread gets started, i'd appreciate input on how this can be taught and none of the "this is not needed"
thank you in advance.

i have a copy of R pauly's video on BI, but exactly how to do start to teach this? DD's been weaned away from HE for over a year now and convinced that BI is necessary specially at higher pitch speeds (thanks sluggers!), but she's having a difficult time adapting. Dead-stop drills, is that how she can start? DD has that little thigh pad (windmill trainer).

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/10321-i-r-classroom.html

^The drills in that thread are a great start to teaching brush interference.

Confucious says-

you do not teach brush interference, brush interference teaches you.

but seriously, try learning to throw from a K position with brush yourself and you will feel it, then work with your daughter throwing into a tarp. You should be able to hear the brush and know when she is doing it. Just get her to feel it and it will become more consistent. The tarp is key for this so she removes accuracy concerns and can focus on just the motion and feel of a little contact.

Then as she learns to do it from a K just reveres chain it back to the full motion. At full speed use video to see if it is occurring as it will be too fast to see it with the eye.

And here is where I go into territory that could ignite a riot....

Do not be concerned by a little chicken winging on the follow through, girls with a lot of brush sometimes have a little chicken wing....see Monica Abbot or Ueno for examples.

thanks. interesting you mentioned chicken-winging. DD used to do that in rec ball and fixed it. and yes, I agree there will be some chicken winging - Ueno as you mentioned is a great example. We already have a tarp setup, one question is the season is still going on for DD's team. Will trying to introduce this now mess up her pitching? IOW, should we do this after the current season?

There is never a time that a young pitcher shouldn't be trying to improve their form.

FastPitchCat said:

thanks. interesting you mentioned chicken-winging. DD used to do that in rec ball and fixed it. and yes, I agree there will be some chicken winging - Ueno as you mentioned is a great example. We already have a tarp setup, one question is the season is still going on for DD's team. Will trying to introduce this now mess up her pitching? IOW, should we do this after the current season?

Click to expand...

What CLM said. So what if it messes up her pitching short term? (which I do not think it will do). My experience (exactly 1 student) says that it is better to just do the best possible job teaching the right things as early as possible as opposed to living with flaws and letting them get further ingrained and trying to fix them later.

JJsqueeze said:

What CLM said. So what if it messes up her pitching short term? (which I do not think it will do). My experience (exactly 1 student) says that it is better to just do the best possible job teaching the right things as early as possible as opposed to living with flaws and letting them get further ingrained and trying to fix them later.

Click to expand...

My experience is similar in that I have found that the introduction of brush interference fixes many more issues than it creates. I don't think that there is ever a wrong time to teach it. Other than 10 minutes before a game. But it is critical for the student to understand why you are teaching BI and what it will do for them. Otherwise noobs will think that they are being taught to slap their hip.

FastPitchCat said:

i know, some folks think this is not necessary, but i do think it is.
so before this thread gets started, i'd appreciate input on how this can be taught and none of the "this is not needed"
thank you in advance.

Click to expand...

Dead-stops can definitely help... as the focus is on controlling the arm... which becomes much easier the closer it is to the body.

So... you need to figure out what it is that prevents her from getting better arm proximity, and move your focus to that. Quite often it's a bend in the waist, a rear leg that's heading in the wrong direction, etc...

Once you've done that... the fix is best reached *IMO* by starting at the end of the sequence, and slowly working your way back... up the circle. As someone mentioned, the I/R drills work wonders... as they are a great example of a progression... chained backwards.

Not sure if you're familiar with shaping and chaining, but it's a method I've been using for years. Summarized... I break apart the motion that needs correcting... into a chain of movements. Focus is put on successfully performing one link (part) - not the entire chain. It's identified, communicated to the student, and then feedback is minimized... to only that link - and only if performed correctly. Clickers are handy feedback devices... as they prevent you from talking. One click if it's correct... nothing if it's not. If she performed other motions incorrectly... I don't care... I'm only looking for the one. Once that's done a bunch of times, you move onto the next link. The key is to communicate what it is you expect... and that they understand that. From there, you get total concentration and effort directed towards performing one motion correctly. After you put together a bunch of correct singular motions (link)... you usually end up with a chain... connected.

With brush... all the movements of I/R are explained in the I/R thread. You're looking for those, the proper starting footwork, the posture, and an arm circle that is on the pitching plane - not behind the body. I'd take special note of that last one... as many kids are guilty of swinging their arm back while rotating their shoulders back (in drill and in full-motion pitching when they open too late)... something that puts the ball/arm on the wrong path. Also, watch the rear leg of pitchers that get good brush... and notice the movements of it, that allow it to be a brush surface. Lastly, good brush results from proper elbow orientation... meaning PALM TO SKY. If the elbow is pointed to the ground... not second base... and NOT behind the body (1B for RHP)... the elbow will be put into a position where it is drawn IN to the body... not by jamming it there... but because it was put in the proper position to ALLOW for it to happen.

Regardless of the method you use... I think you'll have much better success if your DD understands what she is to do... so take the time and organize what it is you're setting out to do... before you do it.

Edit: Just thought of another thing... If she's "clearing her butt" out of the way... one thing that really helps pitchers I work with is teaching them to stay upright by contracting the glutes while performing 9 o'clock tosses. The old 'Crack the Walnut' idea. Sounds horrible... I know ... but have them take the drill position with their butt out... and try to get them to contract the glutes. Then have them stand tall... and contract the glutes. You'll notice it's a lot easier to get a good 'squeeze' when you're upright.... it has more of a feeling of your pelvis coming forward. The rear leg will more easily get drawn in, too... a good trait in pitchers.

ball to the sky at 9 is something we're working on as well, DD's mostly pointing to 3B... but we're working on it
I've read the I/R thread, but I'll read it again just like a good student
after all, you can't teach what you don't know, right?