Got a new one..."Holding a glass of milk"

A coaching instruction referring to the way to hold the ball at 9.

(Yes, I know it is wrong. For the newbies, the ball should be up at 9, with the hand under the ball.)

Not sure if it is right or not but DD is in the beginning phase of learning to get the spin on a rise ball. Granted she will not be able to throw one for three more years but is learning the spin. He coach tells her "Answer the cell phone from your hip". Strange visual but it gets through to her.

joe720 said:

Not sure if it is right or not but DD is in the beginning phase of learning to get the spin on a rise ball. Granted she will not be able to throw one for three more years but is learning the spin. He coach tells her "Answer the cell phone from your hip". Strange visual but it gets through to her.

Click to expand...

YIKES!!! Would like to have more info on that cue...

Answer the cell phone at the hip (flip phone) is interesting. Sure, can see it effective as a verbal-to-visionary cue.

Assuming we're talking palm up at 9 on the front-side, that certainly is one approach. Alot of girls do this and many have success with it. But, use caution with that method as it can inject mechanical inefficiencies within the kinetic chain. Think non-natural underhand relative to a baseball pitcher performing the same movement overhand with the drop. Supinating on the front side (pre-loading your cupping) for what is accomplished in the back side can result in a less-than-efficient arm circle. This has the potential to affect whip & brush point. It's also very easy to teach to pick out front, regardless of whether the hands are seperated or together in or around the glove.

One alternative option may be starting at or around the throwing hand hip on the front side, which can help create a more natural handshake position up through 12. When the plant foot hits 45-ish degrees, the natural rotation of the hips and the upper torso will also help to transition the throwing hand from the front side to the back side. Between 12 and release point on the downswing is where the pitch type/hand positioning most naturally develops, and between 3 and release where the upper arm can experience a powerful momentary halt (until follow through), with the potential to create tremendous lower arm whip as the result. This is where potential dynamite is lit.

Although I can understand why coaches would teach pre-cupping out front, it's really not an absolute with the rise.

Chris

Are you describing a change up?
If so, that's a verbal cue I've used for a few years..."splash a cup of milk onto your brother, under the kitchen table"
This will get the fingers outside the ball, while keeping the location low.