How to ask “Do you teach Hello Elbow”?

Gags

My DDs first year pitching was filled with clinics of coaches, friends, daughters, and anyone else willing to teach how to pitch. All were wrong or partially wrong. We wasted a year and were no closer to pitching properly. I quit asking who taught what and learned what was correct and who taught it. I found this site, learned about IR, found the best coach in my area, and made a phone call. I sought-out a pitching coach (Ken, above) that I knew taught the proper mechanics and told my DD, "this is the last instructor you will have to listen to". We have looked by as clinics upon clinics have passed and DD is the cream rising while others are practicing HE or still searching proper instruction. Some have given DD, and me, pitching critique after seeing DD pitch because IR appears effortless compared to HE, and they see a difference in the style but don't understand what they are seeing. Funny thing is, DD is likely faster and more competent as a pitcher than the children of the parents offering suggestions. We pay no mind to any of it. As a matter of fact, we usually practice in private to avoid distraction from other parents.

To summarize, I wouldn't ask what is taught by an instructor, but rather, seek an instructor that you know will teach proper technique. It's more work on your end but it will better serve you and the young lady you are teaching.

Best of luck to you guys!
SS

Shooting Star said:

Gags

My DDs first year pitching was filled with clinics of coaches, friends, daughters, and anyone else willing to teach how to pitch. All were wrong or partially wrong. We wasted a year and were no closer to pitching properly. I quit asking who taught what and learned what was correct and who taught it. I found this site, learned about IR, found the best coach in my area, and made a phone call. I sought-out a pitching coach (Ken, above) that I knew taught the proper mechanics and told my DD, "this is the last instructor you will have to listen to". We have looked by as clinics upon clinics have passed and DD is the cream rising while others are practicing HE or still searching proper instruction. Some have given DD, and me, pitching critique after seeing DD pitch because IR appears effortless compared to HE, and they see a difference in the style but don't understand what they are seeing. Funny thing is, DD is likely faster and more competent as a pitcher than the children of the parents offering suggestions. We pay no mind to any of it. As a matter of fact, we usually practice in private to avoid distraction from other parents.

To summarize, I wouldn't ask what is taught by an instructor, but rather, seek an instructor that you know will teach proper technique. It's more work on your end but it will better serve you and the young lady you are teaching.

Best of luck to you guys!
SS

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I agree understand the motion yourself first. Then when you talk to a coach ask what position the ball is in down the back of the circle if they have the hand on top of the ball pushing it down the circle you know they don't understand the motion. Then you can ask what follow through the pitches should have. If they say this is the same for every pitch and it's something odd and forced you know you want to say thanks but no thanks.

This is very similar to Shooting Stars. It is funny how many of the people who thought we were making a mistake and were telling us she was pitching "wrong" have been proven wrong. I run into some of them at tourneys, I've seen one gal who has definitely now switched her motion and is allowed to throw I/R now - even though 3 years ago here dad was shaking his head and clucking his tongue at us and insistent we were heading down the wrong path (while his DD was having elbow problems with H/E). Another coach who's daughter was same age and also pitcher, and had very similar speed and was trying to transition to I/R naturally but her dad and the team coach were determined we were wrong and his daughter's natural tendencies were wrong and they were forcing K drills and wrist snaps and ending touching the shoulder. I saw that this year she has finally completely given up pitching. When she would be really good if he would have left her alone. Another pitcher who was faster than my DD back in the day when they were both throwing H/E has quit now because her speed had stalled at 50 for a couple year. And then we have the two other parents of the #2 & #3 pitchers on our team who are telling me that my DD's weird bent arm drills and arm position are all wrong and are rolling their eyes at us - but guess who's DD is 5 mph faster and the #1 in every way on the team after this season.

My dd knew she was in trouble during her first pitching workout in college, when the pitching coach told the pitchers to start warming up with wrist snaps. My dd had never done them and watched as the other pitchers started doing the wrist snaps. The pitchers stood about 4 feet away from the catchers and performed wrist flicks from the closed position into the catchers glove. My dd looked at the pitching coach and asked why were they doing this drill and where in the pitching motion does the pitcher get in the closed position, with her shoulder squared to the catcher, and snap the ball. The pitching coach then told my dd that it occurs after the pitcher clears her hips, towards first base(right handed pitcher), brings her arm through, squares her shoulder to the catcher and then snaps the ball to the catcher. My dd then was labeled an agitator for asking stupid questions.

I am guessing that if you wanted to ask an instructor if they teach "Hello Elbow" indirectly, you could ask an instructor if they teach wrist snaps or use wrist snaps to warm up the pitchers. If the instructor said yes, I'd bet that they were a "Hello Elbow" instructor.

sleepwalker said:

My dd knew she was in trouble during her first pitching workout in college, when the pitching coach told the pitchers to start warming up with wrist snaps. My dd had never done them and watched as the other pitchers started doing the wrist snaps. The pitchers stood about 4 feet away from the catchers and performed wrist flicks from the closed position into the catchers glove. My dd looked at the pitching coach and asked why were they doing this drill and where in the pitching motion does the pitcher get in the closed position, with her shoulder squared to the catcher, and snap the ball. The pitching coach then told my dd that it occurs after the pitcher clears her hips, towards first base(right handed pitcher), brings her arm through, squares her shoulder to the catcher and then snaps the ball to the catcher. My dd then was labeled an agitator for asking stupid questions.

I am guessing that if you wanted to ask an instructor if they teach "Hello Elbow" indirectly, you could ask an instructor if they teach wrist snaps or use wrist snaps to warm up the pitchers. If the instructor said yes, I'd bet that they were a "Hello Elbow" instructor.

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This is a great example why I tell college bound pitchers that they must be on the same page as the PC before they sign their NLI. We had detailed "discussions" with both Chipola and SC before Jake committed.

riseball said:

This is a great example why I tell college bound pitchers that they must be on the same page as the PC before they sign their NLI. We had detailed "discussions" with both Chipola and SC before Jake committed.

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As a Dad who dreams of having a girl reach the level yours did, I want to tell you that your experiences and advice are greatly appreciated.

I was a D1 athlete, still remember much of what I went through, but it seems like parenting through this process carries responsibilities that can greatly increase our kids success and more importantly, enjoyment while at the program.