Interesting pitching drills from LSU

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Nov 18, 2015
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Is anyone familiar with LSU pitchers? Are they using the mechanics she's showing in the video? What little I've read, it seems like there's no denying her success as HC. Would I be correct in assuming an SEC HC is NOT likely to be involved with pitching mechanics on a daily basis?


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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I've chatted with those who have firsthand knowledge of what she makes her pitchers do. It's not good and I feel terrible for kids like Hoover.
 

Ken Krause

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May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
I took a look at the video and didn't much care for what I saw there. A lot of old school emphasis on a forced wrist snap. The "tee drill" had the pitcher standing at 9:00 with the ball facing the ground. Not good. Big time Hello Elbow finish when the pitcher moved away from the rope too.

I kind of liked the idea of the rope drill as a way to keep young pitchers from curling their arms up instead of throwing through. Some kids need the visual to help them get on track. But that might be better with a piece of elastic tape that stretches to allow the arm to follow through naturally instead of stopping suddenly and forcing a palm-up finish instead of letting then hand turn over naturally.
 
Sep 30, 2013
155
28
Northwest, IN
I kind of liked the idea of the rope drill as a way to keep young pitchers from curling their arms up instead of throwing through. Some kids need the visual to help them get on track. But that might be better with a piece of elastic tape that stretches to allow the arm to follow through naturally instead of stopping suddenly and forcing a palm-up finish instead of letting then hand turn over naturally.

I agree, at first I was like ok, she's talking about letting the fingers get the spin moving and not being tight in the bicep, then it all went downhill. I also thought the rope drill might be beneficial for those who are transitioning from HE to I/R. Then she moved the rope away, and it got ugly!
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Several years ago I had an email exchange with Sue Enquist about some old instructional VHS tapes I found in the local library. She said that there were many things she wished she could go back and replace with the new info she'd learned, but the important thing is to always study, learn and grow. She said she taught what she did with great confidence, knowing well that in a year, she would have learned and evolved. Cool person! My hope is that Torina has the same approach and will soon find herself teaching much more effective mechanics.
 
Last edited:

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
Several years ago I had an email exchange with Sue Enquist about some old instructional VHS tapes I found in the local library. She said that there were many things she wished she could go back and replace with the new info she'd learned, but the important thing is to always study, learn and grow. She said she taught what she did with great confidence, knowing well that in a year, she would have learned and evolved. Cool person! My hope is that Torina has the same approach and will soon find herself teaching much more effective mechanics.

I've heard that about her as well. She is very up-front about what she used to teach versus what she teaches now, and why. Too bad there aren't more like her. Maybe Coach Torina will become one of those, although I'm surprised she hasn't adopted it already. Unless that's an old video.

I've been at this a long time, so I know there are things I taught then that I would never teach now. Including wrist flips. You live, you learn.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I've heard that about her as well. She is very up-front about what she used to teach versus what she teaches now, and why. Too bad there aren't more like her. Maybe Coach Torina will become one of those, although I'm surprised she hasn't adopted it already. Unless that's an old video.

I've been at this a long time, so I know there are things I taught then that I would never teach now. Including wrist flips. You live, you learn.

I look back at my posts from 4 years ago and groan! I've long since destroyed my pitching handouts from 10+ years ago. They included a link to Bob Todd's Basics 1-2-3 DVD!!! My hope is Torina is on a similar path and will soon look back and groan at her stuff!
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I have plenty of books, VHS tapes, CD's, and even DVD's that back in the day were authoritative with regard to pitching. Thankfully methods and instruction evolve. Although what I teach remains fairly consistent, how I teach it changes with every session. If you are not constantly learning and changing you become a relic, just a snapshot in time. We often joke about a local instructor where pitching instruction stands still and weathers the test of time. Played some college ball back in the white ball days and is still teaching it the way she was taught. :)
 

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