How Fast Does DD Throw?

Findlay said:

When we were in 12U, we had a pitcher on our team that was FAST. No movement, just fast. We brought home trophies. It was great. But then we moved to 14's and she got lit up. My DD then became more "successful" because we had trained ball rotation and focused on hitting corners - fortunately our coach was not interested in speed. My DD also only had a FP, Drop and Change and she hit her spots and could make the ball move. Her change was dangerous. Now we are learning the rise and screw and these are more successful with faster moving balls. She has just turned 14 and throws upper 50's, so the speed is welcomed with these new pitches. So, my view, teaching and focusing on (only) speed is a short-lived success at a young age unless you have mastered the art of taming a flaming ball. Speed is needed, but there is a time and place when it is needed and fortunately we had a coach that held her back until the time was right. Lastly, I've seen 66mph+ pitches being hit for a HR and 6 mph pitches strike out consistently. Batters today are getting much better at tracking pitches and training faster hands, so that ball had better be moving as it is coming in otherwise it WILL get lit up.

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grcsftbll said:

I've noticed this some already in 10U, between first year and second year. The faster than average pitchers rule the roost until the girls learn how to hit. You move them back in 12U then again in 14U...more time to see the ball... I noticed last year one of the dominant pitchers here in 10U (1st year) was on a first year team that traveled a lot to play other first year teams. Most of the 06 girls had a hard time hitting off her, lots of strike outs. But when they played local and faced the 05 teams that were 2nd year 10U last year, they hit her pretty good. If they're relying only on speed and not working on the finesse side of pitching they seem to not do as well after the first year or so.

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