More on the drop

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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
My DD was in town. So, we did some super slow motion of her drop ball. She hasn't thrown this competitively in 15 years, so she isn't as fast as before. She can still spin the ball.

Note the grip she uses. She has the fingers crossing the seams. The middle finger is laying on a seam.

The next picture is her hand position at release. Note that the middle finger is vertical. So, the spin is generated almost entirely by the middle finger.

The spin on this pitch was 27RPS.

NOTES: We were using a Samsung phone with super slow motion, so we were limited. She does have the ball up at 9. She moved to the left after release to allow viewing of the ball flight.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aAtD39T0HFg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
This is the side view of DD's drop in super slow motion.

This really shows the ball springing off the middle finger.

It looks to me like the motion compresses the IR into a smaller time slice than a normal fastball IR.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XgJ8puGjhuM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
I clearly see the ball released before the turn over, especially on the side view. But, I haven't been the optometrist lately.

Bill
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Shaker

I'm sure that will be the popular answer. But, for me it runs deeper. Is it equally as fast as other pitches? Does it LOOK like other pitches or is the motion being completely altered for no apparent reason, and other factors that are hard to express here. But, OVERALL, your points are spot on and those things will assist in a fantastic drop.

Bill
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
spin, seem orentation, revs?

isn't "spin" just one word to describe the next two? (seam orientation, revs)

For a Drop, downward trajectory with correct spin axis and high revs is paramount, for me.
If you sacrifice a few mph, to get the above criteria correct, so be it.
 

shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket
isn't "spin" just one word to describe the next two? (seam orientation, revs)

For a Drop, downward trajectory with correct spin axis and high revs is paramount, for me.
If you sacrifice a few mph, to get the above criteria correct, so be it.
I guess that would depend on if you see all spin being equal? So i would say no to your question. Point being, if you get the spin axis correct, and the seam orientation is off, 4 seams 2 seams, wobble ball(just a ball spinning forward) are you sacrificing downward movement? What do you consider high revs? From hand to mitt?
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
What do you consider high revs? From hand to mitt?

Per RevFire:

GUIDELINE FOR HIGH SCHOOL PITCHERS:

SPIN RATE (RPS)

17.0 – 18.9 Average

19.0 – 21.9 Good

22.0 and up Excellent

GUIDELINE FOR COLLEGE PITCHERS:

SPIN RATE (RPS)

20.0 – 21.9 Average

22.0 – 24.9 Good

25.0 and up Excellent
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
“good” spin rate ranges for different pitches vary.

for a dropball: 18-20rps with correct axis is pretty deadly.
a riseball needs more: 28-30rps
I have less experience with curveballs, but would guess it would require 20+.
and there’s no such thing as a “screwball” ;-P
 

shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket

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