Velocity or Accuracy?

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Dec 15, 2015
22
1
DD is struggling with this. PC is wanting her to focus on velocity and coach wants her to focus on strikes.

Should a 12U pitcher throw every fastball as hard as they can? Or should you have a "cruising speed" (where you focus on mechanics and accuracy)? And, if needed, be able to reach down for a little bit extra.

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
It is always a struggle, she is not alone.

If you can not throw some strikes they are not going to let you pitch.

I tend to lean towards the PC, the one I am paying.

See if they can find some middle ground for her.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Hmmm...let's look at the world this way:

BOSS: XYZ needs to be done by tomorrow.
YOU: I'm rolling out a new system that will do XYZ better than ever.
BOSS: When will it be ready?
YOU: Oh, it isn't ready yet. It will be ready to go in a year. So, I won't be able to do XYZ. If you use it now, it will make a huge mess, and it won't get XYZ done. But, let me use it tomorrow. A beta test would be so helpful....
BOSS: You're fired.

.........

Honestly, neither your PC or your HC (head coach) is correct.

At your DD's age, she needs to use *GOOD* mechanics when she pitches during a game.

If she has good mechanics during the game, the ball will go straight no matter how hard she throws. If her mechanics are poor, the ball will go straight only if she slows down.
 
Last edited:
Aug 31, 2014
24
1
Hmmm...let's look at the world this way:

BOSS: XYZ needs to be done by tomorrow.
YOU: I'm rolling out a new system that will do XYZ better than ever.
BOSS: When will it be ready?
YOU: Oh, it isn't ready yet. It will be ready to go in a year. So, I won't be able to do XYZ. But, let me try it out tomorrow...it will make a huge mess, and it won't get XYZ done. But, it will really help to beta test it!
BOSS: You're fired.

.........

You have two people with different goals. Your pitching coach is not wrong and the team coach is not wrong.

So the 12u girl should work with the PC on velocity during practice and keep following the coaches process during games or should she not throw in games until she masters speed and velocity?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Dec 15, 2015
22
1
Neither have been jerks about it. They just have different philosophies and I am uncertain about what advice to provide. The PC says, "I would rather have a HS pitcher (Junior or Senior) come to me and say I throw 60+, but I need help with mechanics rather than a player who says, my mechanics are great, but I only throw low 50's".

I refer to DD as Ebby Calvin LaLoosh when she is trying to throw hard. Everything is a full count and her strikeout to walk ratio is not what you would like to see. But, then she has games where she settles in ("cruising speed") and has a very solid outing (especially in regards to Strikeout to walk ratio). Just torn at this point. I have told her to get through the next few weeks and then we will spend some time working on drive mechanics and arm strength. Hopefully, the two (speed and accuracy) will merge at some point.

Thanks for the input.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I've got a 2nd year 10U pitcher. I tend to favor location and movement over velocity because DD hits her spots and has great movement for 35 feet. Probably if she were throwing 55 down the middle all the time, I'd say speed is more important. lol. Really though I think at younger ages precision is under-valued, because only the really good hitters can catch up to the speed. The girls throwing faster than average tend to dominate in 10U anyway. But eventually that changes and the girls who have mostly been focused on speed are getting clobbered. Plus there is the fact that coaches can't be expected to give a girl circle time if she can't get the ball across the plate. Too many walks aren't fun for anybody.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
The PC says, "I would rather have a HS pitcher (Junior or Senior) come to me and say I throw 60+, but I need help with mechanics rather than a player who says, my mechanics are great, but I only throw low 50's".

It took me many years as a head coach to realize that this is not the way to go. Unless the girl throws in the top 5% of her age group with regards to velocity I will take location and movement every time.

I actually put fielding above velocity. The ability to field the circle and the bunt.

Now if you have velocity, command, movement, and fielding ability you have something special. Those are REALLY rare.

I have lost many a season thinking I could turn a thrower into a pitcher.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Neither have been jerks about it. They just have different philosophies and I am uncertain about what advice to provide. The PC says, "I would rather have a HS pitcher (Junior or Senior) come to me and say I throw 60+, but I need help with mechanics rather than a player who says, my mechanics are great, but I only throw low 50's".

I refer to DD as Ebby Calvin LaLoosh when she is trying to throw hard. Everything is a full count and her strikeout to walk ratio is not what you would like to see. But, then she has games where she settles in ("cruising speed") and has a very solid outing (especially in regards to Strikeout to walk ratio). Just torn at this point. I have told her to get through the next few weeks and then we will spend some time working on drive mechanics and arm strength. Hopefully, the two (speed and accuracy) will merge at some point.

Thanks for the input.

my mechanics are great If this is true and you have been pitching for 6 or 7 years and you are not 5 ft tall and 90 lbs I find it pretty hard to believe that I only throw low 50's is true...not saying it's not possible but it is VERY unlikely...no reasonably athletic girl at 17 yrs old with really great mechanics and lots of practice cant throw 55-58mph...I think the problem is your definition of "great mechanics"...most HS girls are probably in those low 50's but most HS girls mechanics are not "great"

All that to say the problem with just "throwing strikes" is the odds are really high you are slowing down your arm circle, aiming the ball, focusing on the middle of the plate, not driving hard off the plate, basically all the things you DON'T want to do to foster great mechanics
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Focus on good form. Speed is a natural byproduct. Practice good form to get control. Once form and control are decent, improve on these with core building and some speed work. At the same time, master two pitches.
 

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