"Lead With Your Thumb"
- Thread starter osagedr
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As Ken states, "Ok for change up." However, if she's being told to lead with the thumb generally, sure sounds like hello elbow approach to me.
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This sounds good. That moment where the hand is palm forward for 12/6 spin should not be discernible to the eye.
My older daughter went to a PC who complimented her on her drop, but said she could improve by using a spinner to help get her hand behind the ball more through release! DD looked at me--I smiled and winked. She smiled and nodded, tried the spinner for a few minutes then went back to throwing the drop. The PC told her she looked much better and to keep working with a spinner! Results and slow motion video are the only things you should trust.
It's when these people (some pitching coaches, some other coaches, some other pitcher's parent) step forward to "correct" what they think is wrong when they are not seeing the spinner type release that typically accompanies the hello elbow crap. Try telling them otherwise. Odds are you'd have better luck getting your fence post to talk to you.
With my relatively short experience with girls softball I have always thought that the pitcher should lead with their pinky from about the 12 o'clock - 5 o'clock position for a fastball. Is that not correct?
Anyone got a good video of how the hand of a pitcher should lead for a fastball?
Anyone got a good video of how the hand of a pitcher should lead for a fastball?
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I'd say not to worry about the pinky or thumb. Maybe leading with the elbow? I think the feel should be pulling the loose, lower arm/ball around the circle.
http://www.fastpitchpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/armcircleUeno.png
Thank you for the explanation, and the pictures. I also went and watched the slow mo video of Amanda Scarborough on YouTube. It does look like Amanda leads with the pinky but that may not be a determining factor. After reading your response about leading with the elbow and you can definitely tell that Amanda Scarborough leads with her elbow from about the 1 o'clock - 6 o'clock position. I never looked at the video from the standpoint of leading with your elbow, that explanation was very helpful. Thank you.
