Working on 12-6 spin. Any drills?

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Aug 20, 2018
107
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Just looking for a second opinion. So my daughter's first pitching coach really pushed her leading with her pinky when she pitched. I never understood why, and really still don't, but the lasting legacy of that is that my daughter is REALLY struggling with her spin. Her current pitching coach has her working with short distances and slow speed to try and retrain her arm. She's been doing this for almost 2 weeks and at the slower speeds she does it perfectly, but soon as she cranks it up, her spin goes from 12-6 to more of a 3-9.

I know this isn't going to be fixed overnight, but is there anything else anyone has done that can help train her brain, wrist and hand to be in the right position to produce that 12-6 spin she needs?
 
Nov 8, 2018
774
63
Just looking for a second opinion. So my daughter's first pitching coach really pushed her leading with her pinky when she pitched. I never understood why, and really still don't, but the lasting legacy of that is that my daughter is REALLY struggling with her spin. Her current pitching coach has her working with short distances and slow speed to try and retrain her arm. She's been doing this for almost 2 weeks and at the slower speeds she does it perfectly, but soon as she cranks it up, her spin goes from 12-6 to more of a 3-9.

I know this isn't going to be fixed overnight, but is there anything else anyone has done that can help train her brain, wrist and hand to be in the right position to produce that 12-6 spin she needs?

Same issues here. I’ve Heard thumb to third base and turn a door knob. See if that helps.


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May 15, 2008
1,913
113
Cape Cod Mass.
I don't believe that 12-6. or topspin is an absolute. There are plenty of pitchers that throw bulletspin fastballs or some variation of topspin. Cat Osterman says that her fastball has corkscrew spin, her 12-6 spin is her drop. 3-9 spin is a curveball, if it happens when she is throwing her fastball it's probably a roll-over. Make sure you know what kind of spin she is throwing, if it's just a cut variation of topspin it's not a big deal, if it has a lot of side spin then she is losing velocity. I have used a small 8" rubber football to help train the release but that's when I want to improve a students awareness of her hand position, not something I do in the full motion.
 
Sep 28, 2015
150
18
My DD (14) went thru a phase last year when she would start out with 3-9 spin during warm ups. The short of it is that she wasn’t trusting the brush and IR and was straight arm/ pinky leading thru like a screwball.

Focusing on lag with a whip and she would work up to full speed and be fine the rest of practice. Just takes LOTS of reps and revisiting the basics WHEN things get off track.



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Aug 20, 2018
107
28
Sorry, I should have been a bit more clear I suppose. To throw her drop, she really needs that 12-6 spin. Her fastball, because of leading with her pinky has really nice screwball action to it that is pretty deceptive, but she just can't seem to get that hand where it needs to be for right spin.
 

Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
Sorry, I should have been a bit more clear I suppose. To throw her drop, she really needs that 12-6 spin. Her fastball, because of leading with her pinky has really nice screwball action to it that is pretty deceptive, but she just can't seem to get that hand where it needs to be for right spin.

Remember that the drop doesn't need to be 12-6 to produce vertical action. Anywhere close is just fine, in that the seem orientation can produce variances in movement. Bullet spins are posture & release mistakes. They require more focus on discipline in that posture as well as what the wrist, hand and fingers are doing in order to produce either results, or errors. Balanced posture and plant - stable (but not locked) connection between the wrist & hand - thumb over the top of the ball, fingers behind the ball pointed at the ground.

Bullet spin is beneficial to one, and only one player = the batter. They're easily identified, always flat and travel with a long way.

Slow the process, take a step backwards to take two steps forward. Although indistinguishable, each of her pitches requires individual discipline in mechanics for it to be a uniquely productive pitch. She unequivocally cannot cut any corners in the development process.

Good luck!

Chris
 
Last edited:
Mar 20, 2015
174
28
Rotate the contact area where the forearm brushes:
Ken can you expand on this. Do you mean brush contact occurs with the forearm in a more rotated closed position or focus on rotating the forearm more once the brush contact occurs?
 
Nov 8, 2018
774
63
My DD (14) went thru a phase last year when she would start out with 3-9 spin during warm ups. The short of it is that she wasn’t trusting the brush and IR and was straight arm/ pinky leading thru like a screwball.

Focusing on lag with a whip and she would work up to full speed and be fine the rest of practice. Just takes LOTS of reps and revisiting the basics WHEN things get off track.



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Yes if she can’t get the drop spin focusing on ir on release is the key


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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Ken can you expand on this. Do you mean brush contact occurs with the forearm in a more rotated closed position or focus on rotating the forearm more once the brush contact occurs?

Identify where on the forearm she brushes. For bullet spin, it’s most likely along the ulna as seen in the first shot. For drop spin, try to brush along the flat area as seen in the next couple shots. Most often the third example.
 

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