DD struggling to get palm up.

When I'm trying to change a kids mechanics (hitting, fielding, pitching) I usually go through a progression of speeds so the player can feel the positions of the desired mechanics. Usually I start the skill at 50% speed, then 70%, and finish at 90%. At 50% and 70% the player should be able to feel it. I tell my kids to "concentrate/think about" feeling it in practice, so it becomes so natural they don't have to think about it in a game. In the game I want them competing, not thinking about the movements.

I've also seen golf instructors use this method too.

One thing that I tell the girls, is that the power line, also goes behind them. I use the word "It extends." I believe if your DD drops the ball, in the frame that we are looking at, it will not drop on the line. Technically, the ball needs to stay on the plane.

coachbob said:

Thanks BM, Boomer, and FFS - Here is a video.

https://imgflip.com/gifgenerator

Click to expand...

The symptom is the position of the palm at 9:00. The problem is the hips and shoulders. Fix the lower body and hips and it will make it possible to get the palm up at 9:00. Would be very helpful to see the whole motion.

Boomers2012 said:

Try this...during the upswing, or from 6:00 to 12:00, tell her to keep the ball facing to the left or like she is shaking a persons hand or holding a glass of water.

Click to expand...

Not a bad idea to try this - but monitor how it affects things closely.

You don't want this position to result in the arm "wrapping around the head" as you go over the top.
This can also allow the pitcher to remain much more open, which usually isn't beneficial.
Also can result in an abbreviated arm circle, and a side-arm-ish delivery at release.

Watching the vid you posted, I'd really love to see a view from behind in good lighting.
In what I can see, her arm circle looks to be very abbreviated and maybe *too* far outside the shoulder?
Also, I see an arm "tensed" into a bend elbow position, rather than a loose arm.
But it's hard to be sure from this one clip.

Amy in AZ. said:

One thing that I tell the girls, is that the power line, also goes behind them. I use the word "It extends." I believe if your DD drops the ball, in the frame that we are looking at, it will not drop on the line. Technically, the ball needs to stay on the plane.

Click to expand...

Corlay and maybe *too* far outside the shoulder?
Also, I see an arm "tensed" into a bend elbow position, rather than a loose arm.
But it's hard to be sure from this one clip.

Click to expand...

Riseball The symptom is the position of the palm at 9:00. The problem is the hips and shoulders. Fix the lower body and hips and it will make it possible to get the palm up at 9:00. Would be very helpful to see the whole motion.

Click to expand...

Good points, I agree she seems to be well outside the line.

I will get a good clip (or two) to post tomorrow. Thanks all.

Out in Left Field said:

Make sure you are looking at the circle and not her backswing, although kids mimic the backswing sometimes in the circle, so that might need to be adjusted. Not sure how that backswing position is even comfortable. No need for the palm to be up, in back of the circle; Third for FB, palm up for curve. RB has video linked to this forum saying as much on FB. Trying to find it...

You need momentum. Slowing things down in the arm circle may just create more of a problem. Maybe to show them, but do you ask a kid to kick a ball with a slower, partial motion or just go for it, until the results and feeling show the correct move? Not a fan of slow, hitting swings or taking it apart either. Drives me nuts when the college players do that on tv every pitch.

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Please explain in terms of mechanics why you would NOT want the palm up on a FB? I think everyone would like to hear why you believe that a partial load is better than a full load. IMHO you are either deliberately trolling and knowingly providing bogus information or you lack a fundamental understanding of pitching mechanics.

riseball said:

Please explain in terms of mechanics why you would NOT want the palm up on a FB? I think everyone would like to hear why you believe that a partial load is better than a full load. IMHO you are either deliberately trolling and knowingly providing bogus information or you lack a fundamental understanding of pitching mechanics.

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Can it be both? Lol

coachbob said:

Thanks BM, Boomer, and FFS - Here is a video.

https://imgflip.com/gifgenerator

Click to expand...

Can you provide a clip from the other side (her right side) and from behind?

Also, she clearly starts turning her hand as it goes overhead to get behind the ball by 10:30-9:30, which is, of course, not optimal for generating good armwhip. I believe her arm needs to become a lot looser going overhead, and especially down the back side. She doesn't seem to understand the loose-whippy feeling.

One thing that I think helps is a child broom or a 2-3' dowel. Simply have her hold it down at her side and practice taking it back and whipping it forward with a whippy floppy arm whip. Back to palm up forward to palm down, back and forth (real whippy). She needs to learn the feel of a loose whippy arm. Oh, and have her get some brush-contact as she does this. Loose cheap crispy type shorts help with this. There's a bit of a crinkling sound when they brush those crispy shorts.

Again, her elbow seem very locked going down the back side. Needs to feel a loose, whippy arm.

I have pitchers go "knuckles up" in their upswing. I also remind them to show the catcher the ball at the top. It seems to help them stay palm up later through the pitch.

Personally I like the cue of "hand inside the ball" ....... with the reference position being just before 6-o'clock.




Feel the cue helps promote what is described here as IR. Helps promote the elbow leading the hand and the resulting whip.

Obviously, the opposite, "hands outside the ball" .... results in de-sequencing and is a good cue for throwing a change-up.