Too young to explode off mound without a developed core?

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StormChase

3 Daughter's, 3 Athletes
Jan 21, 2019
30
8
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Yeah I noted that. I keep telling her that (7 sec mark power K) looks pretty good and that her shoulders and head need to stay in this position while she releases the ball. It's either the collapse of the front side or the swimming glove or both that causes her to bend like that?
 

StormChase

3 Daughter's, 3 Athletes
Jan 21, 2019
30
8
Vancouver, BC, Canada
But what worked the best was the drills above and we picked up an 80lb elastic band and waist harness and set it on a fence, had DD walk till it just started to resist then drive out over and over. 3-4 weeks later she looked much better.

That's actually a rely good idea. I will give that a shot!!! Thanks!
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Yeah I noted that. I keep telling her that (7 sec mark power K) looks pretty good and that her shoulders and head need to stay in this position while she releases the ball. It's either the collapse of the front side or the swimming glove or both that causes her to bend like that?

This is the 2nd point of resistance that is not being utilized.
1. front leg
2. curvalinear hip rotation and lock
3. torso
4. brush
 
Sep 28, 2015
150
18
SC,
She is doing well but still learning so she is having to think about how to put it together. What I mean is that it looks like she is stepping to get in position for the K-drill. Her arms don’t pump out to assist the drive, the back leg doesn’t pop out on the step, the drive leg doesn’t pop. All of that is normal stuff that will get better with reps and comfort with pitching.

Just don’t get in a hurry and get distracted with things downstream like glove swim....

The 2-step drill from Java helped the most for us to understand the concept that the drive is not a single leg activity (think pop-pop). I would do that drill without a ball or use a tennis ball so it doesn’t distract from the purpose of the drill. Drive out closed and let the body open/close as naturally as you can.

BTW, welcome to the club of parents who are spending huge amounts of time to learn this stuff!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Looks great. Please don't push too hard or too fast. I know I do and I come to regret it most times. It takes years to get good at pitching (for most). As others say above, get the foundation correct and she'll do wonderfully.
 

StormChase

3 Daughter's, 3 Athletes
Jan 21, 2019
30
8
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Thanks! I appreciate all the help! My background is 15 years in hardball as a pitcher/catcher. I know the ins and outs of the game and last season I took a team of 12 girls, 10 of whom had never touched a ball before and turned them into softball players who won 2nd place in their first tournament, 3rd in the next and 2nd in regionals. The one thing I knew nothing about was pitching. This season I have a better understanding of it after watching numerous hours of videos, reading posts on this site and watching seminars from Hillhouse and spent hours and hours teaching myself to pitch before teaching my daughter. I appreciate all your help!
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
The real work of pitching starts after she matures when she is 13YOA or 14YOA.

The most important thing for your DD right now is to develop a love for pitching. If she doesn't develop a love for pitching, you are wasting your time. The focus at your DD's age should be on getting the ball over the plate, "throwing strikes", and having success.

You want her to have a nice, simple, compact form. The complexities can wait a couple of years.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Storm, use phrases that she will remember to elminate the bend forward. "Stay TALL when you release the BALL!" or, "Keep your chin behind your bellybutton". In my experience, in most cases, the bend forward happens because the front knee bends, not staying straight. (Please note, I said STRAIGHT, not LOCKED) But I don't see her knee bending. So, she may just need to slow down a bit to stop her top half from going too much faster than her lower half, causing the lean forward. But I think her lean is primarily caused by her butt going out and the back leg following her butt. Make she she finishes knee to knee, with the laces of the back foot facing the catcher.

Your friends are right, she looks good for 6 mo into this! Don't try to reinvent the wheel or get too complicated with things. MOST important is to make sure she's having fun while doing it or else she'll get frustrated and give up.

Bill
 

StormChase

3 Daughter's, 3 Athletes
Jan 21, 2019
30
8
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Thanks Bill I'll make sure to use those lines with her. I've watched your videos so much over the last while it feels like a celebrity just commented on my daughter...parenting win haha
 

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