shaker1
Softball Junkie
Nice sunny days help with the video, hard to get good video inside.
9u pitching video. Please give advice
- Thread starter Gambler Bob
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First off, I'm not sure if you're aware, so I'll be gentle. Your posts come across as argumentative and sometimes offensive. Be aware how others perception may be....
1. Open on this board means the RH pitchers chest is facing 3rd base (approx) as the ball comes over the top of the circle.
2. Closed is the opposite. Her chest is facing the catcher.
Our goal is to start closed with a forward drive, start opening after 3:00, be as open as her body allows over the top, then resist the closing of her body to stop at an approx 45° angle as the ball hand is around 9:00 into the 6:00 release.
I know Hillhouse fairly well as he coached my oldest dd. He never made her stay open or closed. He'd simply suggest how her angles effected the release. He likes the ball hand to finish across the body to some degree, but again never implying to stay completely open. He was a big proponent of explaining how he did it and how he had success at whatever... If the student mimics his style, that's her choice, but he always made it crystal clear what is a style and what is an absolute when referencing mechanics.
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My DDs pitching coach is a very good, very well known coach (in our area) and is producing some very good pitchers. She is all about girls having their own style except when it prohibits them from doing the basic techniques they need to be successful. When we left our old coach to go to her I was ready for whatever, a complete break down and rebuild was what I had in mind. She said she did not want that and that what my daughter was doing was fine, not bad, and she had a lot to work with. The one issue was that she was closing up too fast and also moving against her power line with her drive leg and putting ton's of undue pressure on her drive leg.
Yes open is "sideways". If you do not get open it is pretty hard to be successful in the circle. Never saw a kid that go too open. Staying closed is pretty common and was actually taught back in the day.
A Hillhouse drill is put a sticker on the front shoulder..look in the mirror and you shouldnt see the sticker as you pitch. That's open according to your explanation
I agree with what you are saying in regards to start shoulder and drive to catcher and get tp a 45!
Thanks
I know the drill... It's designed to get open, not specifically to stay open
Chris Delorit
Member
Gambler,
As riseball suggested, take some time to work with her on footwork. Right now, the lower body (two quadrants) needs the most attention. Without footwork, the kinetic chain is flawed, also like riseball noted. James suggested some drive improvements as well. She's struggling to find any hint of core connection, which will hinder development of location, movement and velocity.
Almost immediately after push-off, her hips are forced fully open and she's knee-locked (hinges) in a scissors position. For a moment, both feet are also airborne. She's simultaneously landing with both feet pointing toward 3rd base. All mechanical flaws which you'll have to address.
In order to correct those, she can focus and practice on a more linear drive into the classic forward leaning h position. Don't be afraid to practice driving that front knee up and out like a sprinter's first kick. In this more closed position, both knees are still driving mostly toward her target. She'll have to try to resist opening up into her Power-K until a point occuring roughly between 3:00 and 12:00. This will also occur shortly before her plant, which will be roughly no greater than a 45-degree deviation from her power line.
If she does a few 3 or 4-point start sprinter's drives, she'll get the feeling of what that natural forward drive should feel like when applying it to the pitching motion.
In fact, I'm betting it's easier to fix than her recent math quiz!
Chris
As riseball suggested, take some time to work with her on footwork. Right now, the lower body (two quadrants) needs the most attention. Without footwork, the kinetic chain is flawed, also like riseball noted. James suggested some drive improvements as well. She's struggling to find any hint of core connection, which will hinder development of location, movement and velocity.
Almost immediately after push-off, her hips are forced fully open and she's knee-locked (hinges) in a scissors position. For a moment, both feet are also airborne. She's simultaneously landing with both feet pointing toward 3rd base. All mechanical flaws which you'll have to address.
In order to correct those, she can focus and practice on a more linear drive into the classic forward leaning h position. Don't be afraid to practice driving that front knee up and out like a sprinter's first kick. In this more closed position, both knees are still driving mostly toward her target. She'll have to try to resist opening up into her Power-K until a point occuring roughly between 3:00 and 12:00. This will also occur shortly before her plant, which will be roughly no greater than a 45-degree deviation from her power line.
If she does a few 3 or 4-point start sprinter's drives, she'll get the feeling of what that natural forward drive should feel like when applying it to the pitching motion.
In fact, I'm betting it's easier to fix than her recent math quiz!
Chris
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Makes sense, but that's not how its described by Hillhouse. He doesn't differentiate.
- Apr 11, 2016
- 133
- 28
My 2 cents... since my DD is at this age...and we've experienced similar issues over the years
#1-She should stay open, meaning the catcher should see the side of her at the end of the pitch, not the entire front.
#2-I like that she takes a good stride. The back foot should "lean" toward the front foot after the pitch. The 2 knees should touch to provide her with better support after the ball leaves her hand.
#3-Body should be standing up tall after the pitch instead of leaning back. This goes together with #2. She should easily lift up her back foot at the end of the pitch.
#4-If your DD is learning the I/R method, have her extend her arm on follow-through. The arm should be relaxed after the ball leaves her hand. The more relax, the more whip power she'll get. Often time I hear pitcher parents say "Pitch harder" during the game. You'd hear us say "Relax kid" instead when our DD is off her marks.
#5-At end of the pitch, both feet should be on the power line not pointing to the catcher.
#6-Another thing that helps with standing tall is to dip her right shoulder slightly during the pitch. This helps bring the arm across the body and keep her balance.
Another thing I learn is to videotape the pitch from behind them. You'll see the line of the pitch. We found out DD was curving her pitching arm outside of her body. So even though she pitched to the spot, she lost some power. Her PC tapes her periodically if she sees something that needs to be addressed.
#1-She should stay open, meaning the catcher should see the side of her at the end of the pitch, not the entire front.
#2-I like that she takes a good stride. The back foot should "lean" toward the front foot after the pitch. The 2 knees should touch to provide her with better support after the ball leaves her hand.
#3-Body should be standing up tall after the pitch instead of leaning back. This goes together with #2. She should easily lift up her back foot at the end of the pitch.
#4-If your DD is learning the I/R method, have her extend her arm on follow-through. The arm should be relaxed after the ball leaves her hand. The more relax, the more whip power she'll get. Often time I hear pitcher parents say "Pitch harder" during the game. You'd hear us say "Relax kid" instead when our DD is off her marks.
#5-At end of the pitch, both feet should be on the power line not pointing to the catcher.
#6-Another thing that helps with standing tall is to dip her right shoulder slightly during the pitch. This helps bring the arm across the body and keep her balance.
Another thing I learn is to videotape the pitch from behind them. You'll see the line of the pitch. We found out DD was curving her pitching arm outside of her body. So even though she pitched to the spot, she lost some power. Her PC tapes her periodically if she sees something that needs to be addressed.
