Drop curve...not really

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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
I think the reason to bring it up is because of how important follow through and finish your pitch had been preached to her. It has been said so much that it has been ingrained into her head to follow through.


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Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
You have an iPhone so shoot it in slow motion and see what happens through release. What happens after release is of zero consequence unless it affects the actual release. I would have her get about 25 feet away and throw the pitch very slowly and get her spin discipline spot on. Then move back 5th at a time increasing velocity. Work up to a full pitch but always maintain the proper spin discipline. Movement is all about the spin rate and orientation. You either have it or you don't.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
The reason her drop isn't getting the big movement is because she is letting her right hand come up. The hand needs to be pointed to the ground as much as possible during the release.

It might help to have her to think about "screwing the ball into the ground" at release.

This is the drill my DD did to perfect the drop release. When she wasn't getting enough "bite" on the drop, she would do this drill.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LDU6KNYVgEE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The 1st, 4th and the others are when she did the drill correctly. Note that the ball bounces almost up with top spin. The last two times she did the drill are perfect.

The 2nd and 3rd throws are *WRONG*. The ball goes forward with top spin, not up.

Note that her arm starts at 7 or 7:30 to do the drill.
 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
The reason her drop isn't getting the big movement is because she is letting her right hand come up. The hand needs to be pointed to the ground as much as possible during the release.

It might help to have her to think about "screwing the ball into the ground" at release.

This is the drill my DD did to perfect the drop release. When she wasn't getting enough "bite" on the drop, she would do this drill.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LDU6KNYVgEE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The 1st, 4th and the others are when she did the drill correctly. Note that the ball bounces almost up with top spin. The last two times she did the drill are perfect.

The 2nd and 3rd throws are *WRONG*. The ball goes forward with top spin, not up.

Note that her arm starts at 7 or 7:30 to do the drill.

This is what she looks like at release
de7ab4f60141a0ef689ae7c3e999d24c.png

The hand does point down but it is afterwards
70e4541af1241f9d065e234ce9415106.png



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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
What D is doing in the regular curve is after a lesson with Rick Pauly when he mentioned some similarity with Cat Osterman in the way she threw the curve. D went home and studied Cat Osterman pitching.


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Jun 19, 2014
846
43
Raleigh,NC
Not saying she is a Cat Osterman but someone who patent their curve ball after her. Up until that lesson, D only threw a drop curve.


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Jan 8, 2013
334
18
South Carolina
In a conversation with Ray, AKA "sluggers", about 4-5 years ago he said something like...."a drop curve is basically the same as a drop but thrown with a loose wrist snap". I used this terminology with my DD and it worked wonderfully.
 

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