9u pitching video. Please give advice

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May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
Post #21 has some updated videos of what I am hoping is in the right direction.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3y7DeagcY

Please let me know what you think are the biggest things to fix with my daughter pitching form. She is a 9U player and there is certainly a lot to work on.

Things that I see are that she leaps on both pitches. On the first pitch she is pretty hunched over with her top half leaning too much towards third base, on the second pitch she finishes better and is more upright. We have been working pretty hard on getting her to pitch taller or more upright without leaning towards the catcher when she finishes. She also shoots her butt out towards first sometimes like in the first pitch of the video.

Some of the other things that I see is that her stride foot is landing pointing towards third base too much, I would rather see her stride foot pointing more towards the catcher. Also she does not finish the pitch very well with her back leg, it just looks like it is getting left behind, and does not finish knee to knee.

She has a pitching instructor who certainly pitches with IR mechanics, and teaches IR mechanics, she just uses a little different terminology. I wish the video was a little better quality that I could see her hand position at 9 o'clock and 6 o'clock. It looks to me like she has the ball pointing towards third at 9 o'clock, I would prefer to see a little more palm up at 9 o'clock. I would also like to see her lead with her elbow more from 9-6 o'clock.

So what are the biggest issues that you see in the video, and feel free to pick out little issues also. YOU WILL NOT HURT MY FEELINGS. If there is something you would like to compare between the two pitches, do that also. In all honesty the first pitch looks pretty poor, not sure how she even threw a strike, the second pitch looked better to me. Both pitches are fastballs!!!

Thank you
 
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
She has some good things going on but also some forced motion. She needs to get more natural and smoother. She has loads of potential just need to get everything in sync. I would start from the bottom up starting with her footwork and get her open. Keep the videos coming would love to see her progression.
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
She has some good things going on but also some forced motion. She needs to get more natural and smoother. She has loads of potential just need to get everything in sync. I would start from the bottom up starting with her footwork and get her open. Keep the videos coming would love to see her progression.

Thank you.

Can you go into more detail about being more open? I am aware that you have a pretty good background in pitching, I would certainly value your feedback. I was under the impression that her hips are getting too open. Should she get more open with her hips? Or are you talking about her footwork and legs just being more natural and loose?
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
She has some good things going on but also some forced motion.

This exactly. Her pushback into front side resistance is forced. It happens entirely after the ball is gone. She is also landing nearly perpendicular to the power line with her stride foot. This is putting a lot of force on her leg.

The whip is also a late and forced action. She pushes the ball into release and ends up in a palm up position. Then after the ball is gone she flips her hand around to force and IR type motion.

You mentioned she thew a strike on the first pitch. I would say who cares? That is a results orientated attitude that will ultimately bring subpar results.

Personally, I would cease all full motion pitching and definitely not throw to anything other than a tarp 10 feet away for awhile. Then I would start, as RB suggests from the ground up. Do a lot of power line work and especially concentrate on the IR progression drills posted in the IR sticky. I'd also work on a noodle arm. Her arm tends to lock out down the backside from 9 to 6.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Not a lot to add. I do love her effort to resistance, she's really trying. Good stuff. Drive mechanics seem to be the biggest issue for me. Let's get a bigger, and smoother load into an expolosive drive. As always look for pivot foot toes to detach off the rubber by 3:00. Ask her to FEEL her hamstring and butt muscles flex tingly into a full extension of the leg. This will help sync up that timing issue
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
The suggestion by [MENTION=12663]DNeeld[/MENTION] to throw into a tarp is dead on. I would strongly recommend this. Have her quit "pitching" and work on the mechanics to throw hard into the tarp. I would have her do walk throughs into the tarp not worrying about the results (strikes) to gain body awareness and learn to feel the release of the ball off the pads of her fingers. Watch as her mechanics immediately change for the better as soon as she is not focused on the results. It is the body awareness and ability to feel the ball leave the pads that will set her up for significant future success.

Note the orientation of her shoulders, she needs to get open and as Jake says "stay skinny". This opening starts with the feet, then the hips, and up the chain. If she is doing walk throughs with an aggressive stride she should immediately start to open up.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
Great advice by Riseball, Coach James and Dneeld...I have nothing to add. You've got her on the right path.

She is 9YOA...keep it fun for her.
 
Sep 7, 2017
187
18
The suggestion by [MENTION=12663]DNeeld[/MENTION] to throw into a tarp is dead on. I would strongly recommend this. Have her quit "pitching" and work on the mechanics to throw hard into the tarp. I would have her do walk throughs into the tarp not worrying about the results (strikes) to gain body awareness and learn to feel the release of the ball off the pads of her fingers. Watch as her mechanics immediately change for the better as soon as she is not focused on the results. It is the body awareness and ability to feel the ball leave the pads that will set her up for significant future success.

Note the orientation of her shoulders, she needs to get open and as Jake says "stay skinny". This opening starts with the feet, then the hips, and up the chain. If she is doing walk throughs with an aggressive stride she should immediately start to open up.

Ok whats open? Is open parallel or hips open up....

Imwould never tell a kid to get open. But pitching open is closed? Is open when you are sidways? I never understand why thats open? Anyway

The post saying her foot is perp to to the power line? Isnt that open?

Someone please explain it to me

I never worry about open or close. Because i dont teach open or close. I teach land at the angle you throw from. Which is neither opened or close so i guess it doesnt matter. 45 degrees or so. I see hillhouse likes you darn near sideways and others a bit different.
 
Last edited:

shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket

I believe your seeing some of the issues. Couple of things I would work on is keeping the laces of the drive foot to the catcher, and leading with the elbow. Looks like she maybe pushing the ball from 9 to 6, can't really tell but the arm looks locked out to me.
 
Last edited:
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois

I believe your seeing some of the issues. Couple of things I would work on is keeping the laces of the drive foot to the catcher, and leading with the elbow. Looks like she maybe pushing the ball from 9 to 6, can't really tell but the arm looks locked out to me.

I wish I could take higher quality video that would not blur her arm. I would agree that she pushing the the ball and not pulling the ball from 9-6. Her arm is also very nearly locked out.

First step is taken care of. I went to the local Blaine's Farm and Fleet and purchased an industrial 8' x 10' tarp for the basement to pitch into from close range and some some 1/4" mats to pitch on top of. Lots of mechanics to work on. I will report back in a couple weeks and post a new video.
 

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