Teaching the correct IR drop ball release

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Apr 5, 2013
2,130
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Back on the dirt...
Trying to help one of our pitchers with her drop. She was taught a roll over drop but to be honest, it really doesnt do much if anything. She is almost 13 and has a decent fastball and change up. She has a more natural rise ball type of release.

Thanks
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
If she has a decent fastball, then her drop should be decent too.... Assuming your talking about a snap over/ I/R method.... The only difference between these two pitches is her release angle. If her nose is behind her belly button at release and she has brush, the ball will be high in the zone for a fastball... On a drop, have her get taller, up over her front leg, and her nose will be over her belly button (not behind it). I use the que "get down hill, like on a baseball mound". This will have changed her release angle, and the result will be a low in the zone drop ball. Most kids will start over rotating and hinging forward when they're learning this.... Don't let that happen. Be sure to emphasize core resistance. (This is where the nut crack is helpful) as it helps to keep her resistance stacked up, shoulders, hips, and knees all in allignment
 
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Nov 16, 2015
184
18
Coach James - I like the analogy of moving you nose behind and over your belly button affects releases angle. I guess i dont comprehend how that affects the ball going up and down and hoping you can help. How does moving the nose affect your arm circle? to me your arm circle stays the same no matter where your nose it. If thats the case, wouldnt the release point have more affect on the up/down of the ball?

thanks
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
Coach James - I like the analogy of moving you nose behind and over your belly button affects releases angle. I guess i dont comprehend how that affects the ball going up and down and hoping you can help. How does moving the nose affect your arm circle? to me your arm circle stays the same no matter where your nose it. If thats the case, wouldnt the release point have more affect on the up/down of the ball?

thanks

I'm not Coach James, but the simple answer to your question is doing so adjusts posture, which in turn adjusts the entire pitch angle.

Adjusting the release point in a brush triggered release is often counter productive.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Coach James - I like the analogy of moving you nose behind and over your belly button affects releases angle. I guess i dont comprehend how that affects the ball going up and down and hoping you can help. How does moving the nose affect your arm circle? to me your arm circle stays the same no matter where your nose it. If thats the case, wouldnt the release point have more affect on the up/down of the ball?

thanks
Ndeeld is correct. The release angle controls the height of the pitch assuming the forearm brush is used as a trigger to automatically release the pitch (as it should be). Like Ndeeld said above, don't try to adjust a release, the brush will take care of that automatically.... use posture to adjust the release angle (and in return it will control the pitch elevation)
 
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