Riseball - ball rotation axis

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Then why does spin axis matter? When you get to a certain speed (not exactly what that is) assuming you are somewhere between bullet and back spin at 35 or so feet at release, the ball is not going to drop so why does spin orientation matter?

Why learn how to cook when there's a drive though on every corner?
Why learn to drive when you could call an Uber?
Why learn math when we have calculators?

Point is, I could skip a shower if I wear cologne... but I'd still be dirty, just wouldn't smell as bad.
Learn the correct spin, and do it right or don't bother. You have to enjoy the ride. Learn something new and more efficient every day.
The girls on tv throwing bullet spin "riseballs" are somewhat effective because they're athletic freaks of nature. So, unless your dd falls into that category, learn the correct axis, and be successful at higher levels because she's actually throwing a real rise balls, and has worked her tail off to get there. There are 2 reasons Barnhill has one of the lowest (if not the lowest) ERA's in the country... 1. She has a real back spinning rise. & 2. She's an example of that athletic freak. Gotta be one or the other to play at the highest levels!
 
Jul 17, 2012
48
0
The reason why she has the lowest ERA in the country is because her ball skips over bats, it moves
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
So, unless your dd falls into that category, learn the correct axis, and be successful at higher levels because she's actually throwing a real rise balls, and has worked her tail off to get there.

to add to this: I think that many of the pitchers we see on TV (read:p5 games) are girls that probably hit that coveted 60mph mark at an early age (14U-ish).
Because the majority of college coaches seem to value speed much more than spin, these girls are recruited early, and many (most) aren't pushed too hard to develop perfect axis.
If they can blow the ball by their travel ball peers at the nation's most competitive tournaments, what is their incentive?
If they are satisfied with their results, and the coaches looking at them are satisfied, where should the incentive be coming from?
Only a stickler of a pitching coach, or the rare very educated parent, can possibly provide this push to one of the "freaks of nature".
And depending upon the ego of the girl, this added challenge to spin hard AND correctly AND fast may or may not be very well received.

Folks seem to revere Cat as the gold standard for "having it all", and there isn't much talk of any currently active pitchers de-throning her any time soon.
It's rare to possess it all.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
The reason why she has the lowest ERA in the country is because her ball skips over bats, it moves

Because her rise is actually spinning backwards and continues on the upward trajectory... Never plateaus. This is WHY one should learn correct axis.
Never settle for average when she has an opportunity to be great!
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Bump....... [MENTION=16483]TOOTBLAN[/MENTION] and [MENTION=14054]DSU10[/MENTION]
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
The reason why she has the lowest ERA in the country is because her ball skips over bats, it moves

No riseball "jumps up" or "hops over the bat" after release. Remember that gravity and drag start working on the ball starts immediately after the ball leaves the pitchers finger tips, causing the ball to lose both speed and spin rate per second as it travels the 38-40 feet or so to home plate. Good, tight riseball backspin and velocity makes the ball "not drop as much" as similar pitches thrown with bullet spin or topspin (drop ball) thus fooling the batter who often swings under the riseball pitch, expecting it to drop more than it does.

Even the great pitching coach Rick Pauly admits that his world class pitching daughter, Sarah Pauly's riseball flattens out as it approaches home plate and he has videotaped her and analyzed her pitches and spins as much as anyone in the industry. It is physically impossible for a human to throw a softball with enough velocity and back spin to make it "rise". Doesn't mean it's not an effective pitch but let's not think there is some "magic hopping pills" built in to a riseball pitch.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
No riseball "jumps up" or "hops over the bat" after release. Remember that gravity and drag start working on the ball starts immediately after the ball leaves the pitchers finger tips, causing the ball to lose both speed and spin rate per second as it travels the 38-40 feet or so to home plate. Good, tight riseball backspin and velocity makes the ball "not drop as much" as similar pitches thrown with bullet spin or topspin (drop ball) thus fooling the batter who often swings under the riseball pitch, expecting it to drop more than it does.

Even the great pitching coach Rick Pauly admits that his world class pitching daughter, Sarah Pauly's riseball flattens out as it approaches home plate and he has videotaped her and analyzed her pitches and spins as much as anyone in the industry. It is physically impossible for a human to throw a softball with enough velocity and back spin to make it "rise". Doesn't mean it's not an effective pitch but let's not think there is some "magic hopping pills" built in to a riseball pitch.

Party foul.... every one knows the rise balls are "jumpy" just ask Michelle Smith :rolleyes:
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I challenge anyone to try to hit off a good rise baller and tell me you didn't think it jumped! Just saying--the mind plays serious tricks on that pitch!
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I took my ordest DD to Bill many years ago. I was catching, so he could demonstrate.
Now he didn't try to cook me, but I'm telling you that his pitch seemed like it hit an invisible ramp about 4' in front of me...
The ball was headed right into the pocket of the mitt when it seemingly went up about 6 inches!
I know now that that was my eyes and mind totally tricked, and the ball just didn't plateau and fall. It simply maintained it's upward trajectory. But in that moment as I was driving out of the way �� I would have bet my life that pitch "jumped"
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,468
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top