Pitching Feedback-DeAnna

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Jun 28, 2016
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Hello everyone, this is a young lady that I have been helping out. First off, we are working on ALOT! lol She was a HE leaper as you can probably tell. I know she has a lot of work to do and we are taking it one step at a time. Now, where I am stumped in helping her is her hip/core stabilization. As you can see, through release she shrugs her shoulders forwards and her body creates an almost C. She leans over pretty bad. I have given her hip and core stabilization exercises. I have her working on getting her knee up to proper height to push her upper body back (and it needs to be fixed anyways). It does not help to just tell her to stabilize her shoulders backwards bc there is obviously something going on that is preventing it. My question is, how do I get her to stop leaning forward and to get her shoulders back? Hip/core stabilization and knee drive seem to be key but am I missing something? Any ideas on how to break this habit? If you want to comment on other things that need to be fixed/worked on, feel free! I am open to any and all suggestions/advice. Thank you guys for your time and help!

And yes, I know she is on one leg!! It is a drill we were doing.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A_--RMWxMfo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

DeAnna.jpg
 
Last edited:
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Well since no one seems to be chiming in I'll give my two cents. First would be nice to see full pitch to see how the beginning of her motion and push from plate really look versus drill.

As you have already noted via the circle her back foot is dragging pretty bad. It's OK to go sideways as you open but it should just be for an instant and the heel should stay off the dirt if it does touch it should just tap at come back up as she finishes toe up laces to catcher.

Biggest benefit to her at this point would be getting some arm bend at 12 o'clock looks like she has some IR at release and follow through just don't getting complete whip because of locked arm.

One cue to try for the hunch over at the shoulder/neck might be head/chin/nose up again its just a cue but it might help her feel what is right versus just see or hear someone talk about it; I don't think she could hunch over have glove arm like that if she was trying keep her head up its going to make her want to straighten up the shoulder area to the correct posture (I hope). Pics below (ignore lines in pictures was for another post). I don't think she leans over that bad she is almost straight up and down but as you can see from pic while the posture is straight you can see how it looks like they are pulling back.

leverwhipjennie.JPGleverwhipamanda.JPG
 
Last edited:
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
Sorry to step away a bit from your focus, but she isn't really feeling the whip.

DeAnna.jpg

I used the following two shots in a recent thread by someone else.
The arm needs to be somewhat bent, starting overhead and continuing down the back side. The upper arm needs to meet the side of the rib-cage, and the lower arm and hand will WHIP through. I actually think this will help, somewhat, with fixing what you see needs fixed.

just after 9.jpgaround 7.jpg
 
Last edited:
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
With regards to the "C" issue you're pointing out....

While I see merit in the drill she is doing, I think that particular drill is causing her to swing that stride leg way out in front before she's spent the thrust in her right leg. That is, while the right leg CONTINUES to thrust, rather than just act like a post for swinging the stride leg around, the stride knee should go out quickly, but the foot should kick out only when the thrust of the right leg is reaching the end of its thrust as a way to help extend what the thrust is doing. I think is she works to correct this (focus more on thrusting with the right leg), it will help get her spine perpendicular to the ground.

She may also be someone who needs to punch her glove just a little higher (like Pauly's recommendation of 2:00, rather than straight forward).

In my opinion, the following is when she looks her best through the entire motion.... and, it's a good thing.

Deanna 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I think that DJ's suggestion of laces forward, along with the feel of pulling the thighs/insides of the knees together will help. I like good ole fashioned instant feedback. "Yup" or "nope" if her posture is good/bad. I also like including the feel of getting tall as soon as the arms pass the hips. Work on pulling that glove side in to help power the release.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Have her do the 3 pump. She takes a ball and raises it to the 12 o'clock position. She raises her left foot. She does three rotations. With each rotation, she taps her left foot on the ground. On the third rotation, she throws. She'll look like a sabre saw the first time she does this as she shifts her weight back and forth. When she finally keeps her shoulders, have her increase the speed of her arm.
 
May 25, 2008
199
18
Pickerington Ohio
Interesting Sluggers mentioned this drill. I have had pitchers do this drill , I call it the tap tap drill. I use it more as a timing sequencing drill to reinforce where I want them to have their arm in the motion. I want them to feel as the ball of the foot hits the ground to have the arm around the 10 o'clock position so that as their heel settles into the ground it will be at the 9 0'clock position so the transfer of power is the most efficient. As to the one leg drill I really don't like that drill as I feel it reinforces the right arm and left leg coming out together which works against the feeling of the overlap that we want ala Java's drive mechanics. I suppose it does help to get the feeling of loading up on the drive leg to push though.
 
Jan 4, 2012
3,852
38
OH-IO
Interesting Sluggers mentioned this drill. I have had pitchers do this drill , I call it the tap tap drill. I use it more as a timing sequencing drill to reinforce where I want them to have their arm in the motion. I want them to feel as the ball of the foot hits the ground to have the arm around the 10 o'clock position so that as their heel settles into the ground it will be at the 9 0'clock position so the transfer of power is the most efficient. As to the one leg drill I really don't like that drill as I feel it reinforces the right arm and left leg coming out together which works against the feeling of the overlap that we want ala Java's drive mechanics. I suppose it does help to get the feeling of loading up on the drive leg to push though.

Not really big on drills... like to keep it all one fluid motion....

I have DD landing on heel then up on toe @ Transfer... JMHO :cool:
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Looks like a simple case of too much emphasis on the shoulder. She's creating power with her arm instead of focusing on stopping and allowing the resistance to transfer the energy into the arm.
Stand behind her and have her step into the open position. As her front foot is landing, give her a good shove towards the catcher on her pitching shoulder. If she falls forward in any way, she's failed at creating resistance... really focus on stopping the excess rotation of the upper body... do this about a dozen times. BOOM!...problem solved. Lol. I wish it was really that simple!
 
Last edited:
Jun 28, 2016
38
0
djcarter1966-Thank you for the cue ideas. I haven't tried that one with her yet. I have talked to her about arm bend but we have been focused on her legs mostly. Maybe it is time to start re-training her arm circle as well.

Doug Romrell-I agree with all of this. I have been focused on getting her knee up aggressively bc literally her toe was almost dragging the ground. I have been using this drill to help her get the feel of getting into that right leg and exploding the stride knee up and towards the catcher to break the leaping habits. So nasty, ugh. In regards to punching the glove higher, can you further explain this? When you say higher, I understand in relation to the windmill clock. But when you say "rather than straight forward", I get a little lost. I have not even started with her glove side. One step at a time lol It is so frustrating for people to teach pitching and become a detriment for these young girls when they have no clue about what they are talking about. Yes, I have a LOT to learn, but I do have a pretty solid foundation.

Ken B-"...laces forward, along with the feel of pulling the thighs/insides of the knees together will help. I also like including the feel of getting tall as soon as the arms pass the hips. Work on pulling that glove side in to help power the release" Yes! Thank you.

Sluggers/go4fpsb- I have never seen or heard of this drill. I am going to try and find a video so I can further understand how it works. The goal of us doing this drill was to help her get the feel of getting into that right leg and exploding the stride knee up and towards the catcher to break the leaping habits. Exactly as you said "get the feeling of loading up on the drive leg to push through". We have about gotten that established and will most likely stop doing this drill. She has a back swing and her opposing forces are decent. Close to what Java refers to. I can see where this drill does not advocate those forces though. Thank you for your feedback!!
 

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