The Jake Elliott Thread

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Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
South Carolina v. North Carolina #4 hitter 1st Inning:

jake_zps5rxzeqjq.gif
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
so... there really are pitchers with sound mechanics AND legal delivery in D1?
who woulda thunk it?

Ive heard of these unicorns in legend.
nice to see one in video finally!
very nice

such a great "alternate path" story, too
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
I was in and out during the game so I didn't see it all but she sure set the tone in the first inning. Very impressive.

I am much more interested in the games when I have someone to root for, just another benefit of DFP.
 
Jan 4, 2012
3,852
38
OH-IO
I was in and out during the game so I didn't see it all but she sure set the tone in the first inning. Very impressive.

I am much more interested in the games when I have someone to root for, just another benefit of DFP.

Me too!!! ESPN plays the replys.... Love to watch for the rise...Riseball
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Me too!!! ESPN plays the replys.... Love to watch for the rise...Riseball

Thanks! That has always been her signature pitch. She was not too happy with her performance yesterday, especially her strike ratio of only 50%. Hopefully she has her "A" game this weekend. A 4 game sweep could get them some traction in the polls. :)

BTW - Jake did not know about DFP until yesterday. She was totally taken back by all of the support. A big Thank You to all!
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
[MENTION=2313]knightsb[/MENTION] - I have a homework assignment for you. Now that Kelly Barnhill is pitch for UF, see if you can catch one of their games and get us a GIF of her pitching motion. I heard that the UF coaches have been working on her mechanics so she may have improved since we last faced her.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
South Carolina v. North Carolina #4 hitter 1st Inning:

so, I assume this thread was started and named after the pitcher to draw mechanics comments?
Like other threads you have started in the past knightsb?

so here are some observations:

1. Good Drive.
Looks like she's toeing the edge of the circle with her plant foot.
Pretty good for a 5'8" pitcher.

2. Crossing the powerline?
judging by her plant location in relation to the pitching lane lines,
looks like she crosses the power line slightly?
Is this purposeful for this pitch (rise) or her typical mechanics fr all pitches I wonder?

3. Glove Whirl
Another good example of a "glove whirl" that in the past,
when we were less educated, we might call "glove swim" and spend countless hours trying (needlessly) to correct.

4. back to go forward (2-step drill, etc)
Curious if folks think this pitcher could benefit from more of a rearward load into a forward lean to begin her pitch?
She gets a good forward lean, but not much rearward momentum prior to that.
If you had a young pitcher with similar mechanics, would you concentrate on this drive mechanic?

5. zero back-swing
This goes to show Pauly's contention that the 'A' and 'B' quadrants of the arm-circle are the most critical.
Jake obviously gets great velocity on her pitches without any backswing at all.
Instructors like Java like a backswing to help with timing. He never said backswing momentum makes you pitch faster.
Some could construe that a backswing is one of the coveted "overlaps'; but Jake debunks that theory here.

6. Universal alignment
Take any high level pitcher, Jake included, and no matter what their mechanics are,
at release you will always see very good hip/shoulder alignment (and the resultant distal postions that result from that aligned core)
No matter how you deliver the ball, this seems to be one of the "universal truths" in fastpitch.
I've spent ALL WINTER working on this almost exclusively with my DD.
and it's starting to pay-off...
 
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Some great observations. Some historical insights in bold

1. Good Drive.
Looks like she's toeing the edge of the circle with her plant foot.
Pretty good for a 5'8" pitcher.
She has always had good drive. This was natural and not something we spent much time on.
Right now nursing a sore drive foot. Also missed most of fall due to a dislocated kneecap on drive leg.
Look for drive to become even more aggressive and drive angle to increase in future much like it was last Friday vs Michigan when she was throwing very hard.


2. Crossing the powerline?
judging by her plant location in relation to the pitching lane lines,
looks like she crosses the power line slightly?
Is this purposeful for this pitch (rise) or her typical mechanics fr all pitches I wonder?
This has been an issue since back in the day.
She has actually improved in this area significantly over last season.
It is currently a point of emphasis with Coach Smith at SC.


3. Glove Whirl
Another good example of a "glove whirl" that in the past,
when we were less educated, we might call "glove swim" and spend countless hours trying (needlessly) to correct.
Do not get me started! I would expect that this would cause issues with command, yet that is arguably the best part of her game.
With my other students I still work to correct or at least limit it with out it becoming an obsession.


4. back to go forward (2-step drill, etc)
Curious if folks think this pitcher could benefit from more of a rearward land into a forward lean to begin her pitch?
She gets a good forward lean, but not much rearward momentum prior to that.
If you had a young pitcher with similar mechanics, would you concentrate on this drive mechanic?
Agree and something that Kaci Clark mentioned back in the day.

5. zero back-swing
This goes to show Pauly's contention that the 'A' and 'B' quadrants of the arm-circle are the most critical.
Jake obviously gets great velocity on her pitches without any backswing at all.
Instructors like Java like a backswing to help with timing. He never said backswing momentum makes you pitch faster.
Some could construe that a backswing is one of the coveted "overlaps'; but Jake debunks that theory here.
We experimented with this a few seasons back, but seemed to cause issues. But at that point she was already an experienced pitcher.
I agree with Java and encourage it with other pitchers.


6. Universal alignment
Take any high level pitcher, Jake included, and no matter what their mechanics are,
at release you will always see very good hip/shoulder alignment (and the resultant distal postions that result from that aligned core)
No matter how you deliver the ball, this seems to be one of the "universal truths" in fastpitch.
I've spent ALL WINTER working on this almost exclusively with my DD.
and it's starting to pay-off...
Again another current area of focus at SC as she works to get everything going in same direction.
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
It is currently a point of emphasis with Coach Smith at SC.

Again another current area of focus at SC as she works to get everything going in same direction.

Curious how much "tweaking" a coaching staff will try to affect on a pitcher,
during such a busy season? Do they freely make changes to mechanics mid-season? or save for the off-season?
 

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