Feedback on 13YO DD

Hi All, I've been a long-time lurker who has tried to understand the I/R concepts, but I'm still a long way from have total control over it. While her current instructor has no real concept of I/R, she does seem to teach things correctly, and has her on the right path. Having said that, my DD does tend to get sloppy with mechanics and I know she still has a lot to work on. Would love to get some feedback on the first thing we should focus on. My gut tells me it's stabilization of the upper arm prior to release, but I'd love to hear from the pros.

I know there's a small leap in there, but she tends to do that when she's on grass. She's better in the dirt.

Appreciate the feedback!

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I don't think she's bad at all. Few of things stuck out:

1. Her ball orientation could be more upward in the back side of the circle. She kind of turns it toward third, then tries to reload it after 9:00.
2. Her IR looks forced to me. I base this on the follow through. Her wrist looks really stiff, which would lead me to think she is muscling the whip rather than letting it happen loose and naturally. She has probably done it loose a few times and felt out of control, so started trying to control it.
3. Her posture is slightly forward.
4. She has too much up and not enough out in her drive. She never achieves that 2nd "H" position Doug Rommell was great enough to point out recently. It looks like her instructor focuses on the "show the catcher the bottom of your foot" idea on the stride out. I would focus more on her knee coming up and out, achieving something more like a sprinting position. You said it was because she was on grass and that might be the cause.

Just what I gleamed from a quick watch.

To add on to DNeeld's points try to get the point across that there should be more of an emphasis on transferring energy fluently. This is accomplished by STOPPING the body to ALLOW the lower arm to accelerate. Don't force it. IR will happen naturally if the inner half of the tricep is tight to the ribs and the point of the elbow leads the pull....

The posture needs to be fixed first...the forward lean inadvertently unloads the forearm prematurely.

If you are following the I/R in the classroom thread...go to 9's...with no ball...palm up...forearm fully "loaded"

Have her stride forward - if her sternum assumes the same forward posture demonstrated in the video (it probably will)

Re-set to the 9 o'clock position with no ball but hold on to her ponytail a touch as she moves out...her posture will improve...

Stay here until she feels the reverse posture...this will establish the basis for front side resistance (FSR) and adduction with both arms into the pitch...adduction assists with FSR and if you watch the video, her glove arm is just dangling/along for the ride...CP

I agree that the posture is a glaring issue, however if she learns resistance and all that's within the full body resistance, the posture will be a no teach. Her leaning over issues are a result of poor resistance. Please don't think I'm being argumentative, because I think a lot of your posts are productive and add value. It's just a point-counterpoint.....

coach james said:

I agree that the posture is a glaring issue, however if she learns resistance and all that's within the full body resistance, the posture will be a no teach. Her leaning over issues are a result of poor resistance. Please don't think I'm being argumentative, because I think a lot of your posts are productive and add value. It's just a point-counterpoint.....

Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree...she's leaning prior to foot plant...



She needs to get her pelvis forward as she comes out of her drive to achieve a good posture to throw from...

Note the difference in Tincher's pelvis vs the OP's DD...

and on the full pitch



Now, maybe we are quibbling over semantics...but this is how I see it...

Love to hear you thoughts...I gots to sleep...work is relentless...CP

Valid points.(especially the pelvis thrust) However, The pelvis thrust is a result of good drive mechanics. She appears to get off the rubber by letting her stride leg to pull her off rather than the drive leg exploding. Now the timing is off, and her heel plant is at 9:00 or later... no fluid transfer of energy through the kinetic chain. Combo that with her purposefully avoiding brush by sticking her butt out. Then insult to injury is a massive overemphasized shoulder.....
Sorry to the OP if this all sounds harsh, but I'm guessing you wouldn't have posted if you didn't want the truth. In a nut shell, she's needing to work on several things to maximize her potential. Study these theads first and foremost, then once she's got a better understanding move forward.....

1. Drive Mechanics
2. Front Side Resistance
3. Brush Interference

Thanks to all for the feedback. Doug Romrell also did an offline video breakdown for me that also put the emphasis on drive mechanics. I think that will the first area that we attack and once we improve there, we'll see if that doesn't fix some of the downstream issues.

Again...thanks for everyone's feedback and I'll post an update once we have some time to work on some of these things.

I think I'm going to lean Coach James' way. I think the forward lean is a symptom with the cause upstream in the motion. I think the slight hop is the primary cause, as I said earlier. She has a bit too much up and not enough out in the drive. My bet is if she corrects the drive issue, the lean will disappear without being addressed specifically.

coach james said:

Valid points.(especially the pelvis thrust) However, The pelvis thrust is a result of good drive mechanics. She appears to get off the rubber by letting her stride leg to pull her off rather than the drive leg exploding. Now the timing is off, and her heel plant is at 9:00 or later... no fluid transfer of energy through the kinetic chain. Combo that with her purposefully avoiding brush by sticking her butt out. Then insult to injury is a massive overemphasized shoulder.....
Sorry to the OP if this all sounds harsh, but I'm guessing you wouldn't have posted if you didn't want the truth. In a nut shell, she's needing to work on several things to maximize her potential. Study these theads first and foremost, then once she's got a better understanding move forward.....

1. Drive Mechanics
2. Front Side Resistance
3. Brush Interference

Click to expand...

I agree with that one gagillion percent...I think you describe it very concisely

Sorry for being so cryptic and slow with responses...between work, my team and lessons, I think I've slept 8 hours this week...I'm giving Java a run for his money as the sleep deprivation champ!

Grep (OP) - We're not being harsh...I think your DD has a ton of good going on that will only get better if she can get better from the start of the pitch until her arm hits 12. IMO, that's where I would focus...

one last piece of advice...listen to Doug...he's smarter than he gives himself credit for...CP