Pulling arm back at release

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Oct 4, 2016
176
18
Good morning DFPers.

DD2 is a strong 10u (11yo) pitcher who has been clocked at 52mph in games, has a great change and is getting consistent with her drop. This season she's 16-2 in 20 starts with a .984 ERA and 112k vs. 23 BB in 61 innings pitched. Over the past few tournaments although she's still been consistently throwing well, she's started doing something different with her arm at/after release. She releases the ball and pulls her arm back instead of allowing it to complete the whip motion. On the gun her speed has dropped a couple MPH because of this and when I remind her it goes back up.

Has anyone had this before and any suggestions on how to break the habit? State tournament is in December and 12U is right around the corner so it would be great to get this resolved ASAP.

Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Sounds like someone attempted to teach her a peel drop. Those are the typical "after the horse has left the barn" gyrations that some teach. It accomplishes nothing and there are legitimate ways to increase the spin rate on the fastball. Focus on the motion and position of the hand at release and finish. Palm up to palm down. Fingers inside. Fingers outside. It is that simple.
 
Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
To me, it seem like she isn't allowing the arm to unload. I would be interested to see what her arm looks like in her pitch...to see if something in her pitch is not allowing her to unload or if this is something she is doing on her own.
Like Riseball mention, it could be a habit picked up from learning a peel drop...can even be an attempt on her part to throw faster by tightening her muscles.
 
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
Sounds like someone attempted to teach her a peel drop. Those are the typical "after the horse has left the barn" gyrations that some teach. It accomplishes nothing and there are legitimate ways to increase the spin rate on the fastball. Focus on the motion and position of the hand at release and finish. Palm up to palm down. Fingers inside. Fingers outside. It is that simple.

What is a peel drop? Her PC is teaching her a drop but she doesn't call it that and I don't know enough to know what kind it is.

To add to this, her PC is also working on this.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
To me, it seem like she isn't allowing the arm to unload. I would be interested to see what her arm looks like in her pitch...to see if something in her pitch is not allowing her to unload or if this is something she is doing on her own.
Like Riseball mention, it could be a habit picked up from learning a peel drop...can even be an attempt on her part to throw faster by tightening her muscles.

That's what it looks like - not allowing it to unload. There are times when it looks like she's muscling it and she kinda shrugs her shoulder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
What is a peel drop? Her PC is teaching her a drop but she doesn't call it that and I don't know enough to know what kind it is.

To add to this, her PC is also working on this.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am going to try. :)

Throw a fastball fast enough with 6/12 spin it will appear to drop. That is peal drop.

You can try to move your figures around to get it to move a little bit different way which is great but you need speed and spin.

Like you state you are losing speed aspect if you are not throwing hard, the 2 can and should coexist for a peel drop.
 
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
I am going to try. :)

Throw a fastball fast enough with 6/12 spin it will appear to drop. That is peal drop.

You can try to move your figures around to get it to move a little bit different way which is great but you need speed and spin.

Like you state you are losing speed aspect if you are not throwing hard, the 2 can and should coexist for a peel drop.

I see! That's definitely never been taught to her.

Was just watching one of her games from this weekend and from centerfield it does appear to be dropping though.
 
Nov 16, 2015
184
18
Sounds like someone attempted to teach her a peel drop. Those are the typical "after the horse has left the barn" gyrations that some teach. It accomplishes nothing and there are legitimate ways to increase the spin rate on the fastball. Focus on the motion and position of the hand at release and finish. Palm up to palm down. Fingers inside. Fingers outside. It is that simple.

This is spot on. I know a PC coach that teaches this. the only reason the ball is dropping if the reduction in speed and gravity kicks in
 
Sep 30, 2013
155
28
Northwest, IN
I do not know why people make this so complex. Find a lace, get your digits behind the ball and pull! :)

A lot of the HE instructors in my area teach this style of drop. I see it almost exclusively with them (not to say others don't teach it this way, just what I see). It also comes with a nasty bend forward too. Crazy thing is they get less movement than what I'm instructing. I teach and preach exactly what you're saying [MENTION=10413]riseball[/MENTION] with a few other cues for helping get the digits behind!
 

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