12 y/o DD. Adjustments are needed... but what and WHY?

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h8weakness

Bucket Dad
Jan 9, 2019
35
8
Mishawaka, IN
My DD has been pitching about 3 years now. Consistently hitting her spots has been an issue for some time now. Recently (last week) we've switched pitching coaches and are trying to adjust her footwork.
Her lack of consistency with her arm has stopped us from learning another pitch.
Any other issues you guys are able to pick up on via first glance?
Thanks in Advance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwtFlDBmxz4
more videos to come...
Hopefully that video works.
 
Last edited:
Nov 8, 2018
774
63
My DD has been pitching about 3 years now. Consistently hitting her spots has been an issue for some time now. Recently (last week) we've switched pitching coaches and are trying to adjust her footwork.
Her lack of consistency with her arm has stopped us from learning another pitch.
Any other issues you guys are able to pick up on via first glance?
Thanks in Advance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwtFlDBmxz4
more videos to come...
Hopefully that video works.

fa0dcfa26327e62e525fc0a219543ea3.jpg




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May 9, 2015
263
18
West Virginia
Looks pretty good to me. Her drive looks ok, could make a few tweaks with it maybe, I’d start with weight shift, looks like she could probably shift her weight a little better. Looks like she tries to stick the front side resistance but could probably stick it a little better maybe. Concerning her arm circle, looks like she sorta hang on to the ball and muscles through it, finishing HE but it’s hard to tell for sure from that angle.


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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,131
113
Dallas, Texas
The kid looks like she has the physical attributes to throw the ball. But, she has some definite mechanical problems. Lower body is important, but it doesn't matter how good her footwork if her upper body mechanics are a mess.

All of the following are very well documented. We have videos and more videos demonstrating each of these points.

a) I doubt she has any brush interference (BI). She needs to be brushing her right hip with her arm immediately prior to release. Without BI, she isn't going to be able to find home plate with a GPS.
b) Your has no front side resistance. Her left leg is not stopping her body. Her left leg should be stopping her body when it lands.
Instead, she lands with her left knee bent to almost 90 degrees. She then straightens it out to "hop" forward. Your DD isn't throwing the ball hard enough to hop forward. If 6'3" Monica Abbott, throwing 75 MPH, doesn't hop forward, then your DD, throwing around 50MPH, shouldn't hop forward.
c) She is using HE (Hello Elbow!) rather than IR (internal rotation). With IR, the hand should be behind the ball at 12 and under the ball at 9.

This video shows a couple of IR drills. Note the position of the ball at 12 and at 9. Her hand finishes palm down, with the arm extended toward the target.

Also, check out the brush interference. Notice how her arm brushes her body before release. Brush interference is critical for control.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6PW4DCqbW8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
The figure 4 legs.... is this what the new coach is asking of her?
That little hop at the end. That's energy that's working upward. The legs should be working back more to create as much resistance as possible. Secondly, the ball is long gone as she hops... once the ball leaves the fingers, any hoping, contorting, or spinning serves no effect onto the pitch. The engagement of the front leg needs to be AS THE BALL IS BEING RELEASED... not after its gone.... Timing issue
do knee drills, and FEEL the front leg work against the bodies inertia of the ball whipping forward
 
Last edited:
Mar 28, 2016
164
18
She is not using IR at all. All of her torque is coming from shoulder turn rather that gluts and hips. My daughter threw this way until we got a pitching coach that taught IR. It wasn't a difficult switch.

The key for my daughter was getting the back knee under the back shoulder when she reached toe touch with her front leg. That allowed her to power through hard with the gluts/hip. She now pitches much more still with better accuracy and does not look to be trying harder at all. Speed increased also.
 
Nov 8, 2018
774
63
422bcde4357ba24fcbcc6e13a3f0af0e.jpg


Pretty strong push off.

a5b0e38322f6977030e13b43a1d56c15.jpg


Arm poker strait at 12.

806501ca5b673f22a9fca1352450d097.jpg


Big arm swim, chest out , butt out won’t allow for I r.

07cfb695e7b20a2f2816c88fed130ac8.jpg


Weak front side resistance.




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