Go with the eyes and focus. Maybe for some pitchers it will be the foot lands slightly (very little as noted) differently. For others maybe it will be the arm adjusts. In general, I think it will be the foot which the brain adjusts.
Front foot...
- Thread starter ang4yanks
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Qwai Chang Caine as pitching coach
As a fan of the old Kung Fu TV series, when I'm teaching lessons I will occasionally bring out an old scarf and blindfold the pitcher. Not that it does anything more than closing your eyes, but it's more dramatic. I'll point the pitcher in the right direction, tell her to relax, get set, visualize the target, then throw. You'd be surprised how accurate they can be when they focus on what they're doing instead of the other end of the pitch. I've actually had pitchers throw MORE accurately with the blindfold on than they were before.
One thing to be aware of when you do this if Dad is catching. Dads tend to get the ball and throw it right back to the pitcher. Maybe they're trying to maximize efficiency, I dunno. In any case, you have to keep an eye on the catcher. While I expect my students to be able to pitch while blindfolded, I don't expect them to be able to catch that way.
I also like to use this demonstration to mitigate complaints that the pitcher isn't looking at her target (some look down in the windup) or get rid of the admonition to the catcher that she needs to "give a bigger target." It ain't the catcher's fault that your DD is nowhere near the plate. Sometimes she could hold up an archery target and the pitcher would struggle to hit it. It's all about the mechanics.
As a fan of the old Kung Fu TV series, when I'm teaching lessons I will occasionally bring out an old scarf and blindfold the pitcher. Not that it does anything more than closing your eyes, but it's more dramatic. I'll point the pitcher in the right direction, tell her to relax, get set, visualize the target, then throw. You'd be surprised how accurate they can be when they focus on what they're doing instead of the other end of the pitch. I've actually had pitchers throw MORE accurately with the blindfold on than they were before.
One thing to be aware of when you do this if Dad is catching. Dads tend to get the ball and throw it right back to the pitcher. Maybe they're trying to maximize efficiency, I dunno. In any case, you have to keep an eye on the catcher. While I expect my students to be able to pitch while blindfolded, I don't expect them to be able to catch that way.
I also like to use this demonstration to mitigate complaints that the pitcher isn't looking at her target (some look down in the windup) or get rid of the admonition to the catcher that she needs to "give a bigger target." It ain't the catcher's fault that your DD is nowhere near the plate. Sometimes she could hold up an archery target and the pitcher would struggle to hit it. It's all about the mechanics.
- May 7, 2008
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Ken,
Maybe we should a blindfold on the pitcher and the dad
Keep smiling,
Ang
Maybe we should a blindfold on the pitcher and the dad
Keep smiling,
Ang
halskinner
Banned
- May 7, 2008
- 2,652
- 0
Too many variables
I dont agree with stride foot placement to adjust anything in aiming the pitch.
The simple facts are that usually, the condition of the pitching surface is going to be uneven, unstable very loose dirt, hard as a rock, a very deep almost ankle breaking hole or for whatever reason something that will NOT be consistent from one pitch to the next.
The dirt surface the landing foot comes down on is almost always a major stumbling block to accuracy and is something you have to overcome for good accuracy.
You are focusing oin the glove and the strike zone. Muscle memory is what sends the ball to the glove no matter what happens with the feet. The stride foot slipping, or whatever, will send the ball wild one direction or the other. BUT, THERE IS NO WAY the surface is going to be consistent during a game. Once the landing foot is coming down on uneven, loose, or for whatever reason inconsistent landings, the 'Aim with the foot' theory goes out the door.
The foot aiming thing is probably fine for the teaching venue and pitching on concrete or gym floors. The competition venue, on a real softball field, maybe for the first inning. After that, not a chance. The pitcher is fooling themselves if they believe it makes a great deal of difference.
Sorry to disagree with so many but my landing foot has come down on surfaces in the circle from excellent to break your ankle ugly with rocks sticken out of the side. They all had to be dealt with and never was I able to use that to help my aim.
I dont agree with stride foot placement to adjust anything in aiming the pitch.
The simple facts are that usually, the condition of the pitching surface is going to be uneven, unstable very loose dirt, hard as a rock, a very deep almost ankle breaking hole or for whatever reason something that will NOT be consistent from one pitch to the next.
The dirt surface the landing foot comes down on is almost always a major stumbling block to accuracy and is something you have to overcome for good accuracy.
You are focusing oin the glove and the strike zone. Muscle memory is what sends the ball to the glove no matter what happens with the feet. The stride foot slipping, or whatever, will send the ball wild one direction or the other. BUT, THERE IS NO WAY the surface is going to be consistent during a game. Once the landing foot is coming down on uneven, loose, or for whatever reason inconsistent landings, the 'Aim with the foot' theory goes out the door.
The foot aiming thing is probably fine for the teaching venue and pitching on concrete or gym floors. The competition venue, on a real softball field, maybe for the first inning. After that, not a chance. The pitcher is fooling themselves if they believe it makes a great deal of difference.
Sorry to disagree with so many but my landing foot has come down on surfaces in the circle from excellent to break your ankle ugly with rocks sticken out of the side. They all had to be dealt with and never was I able to use that to help my aim.
- May 7, 2008
- 234
- 0
Ashley Brignac's foot plant...
Hal, thank you.
I want to clear up a mistatement I made in an earlier post for the rest of the folks. It was Hal, not Ernie, who emphasized the precise timing between the 1:00 position and the planting of the foot. Hal, I have been observing that throughout the college softball postseason. Two nights ago, I went back to look it up, and I found it in your earlier post. My apologies.
My dd and husband are taking a close look at your detailed explanation and comparing it to her pitch.
Honestly, I watched Ashley Brignac the last two nights and thought, she must be one of the very few success stories with her pitching style. My dd and husband have gone back and forth whether it's a crow hop or not IMO, her foot is so far left of the power line, she appears to be off balance, but it won't be me to argue with her success. It's just unusual.
Out of curiosity, what do you think about the new product Monica Abbott is promoting?
Ang
Hal, thank you.
I want to clear up a mistatement I made in an earlier post for the rest of the folks. It was Hal, not Ernie, who emphasized the precise timing between the 1:00 position and the planting of the foot. Hal, I have been observing that throughout the college softball postseason. Two nights ago, I went back to look it up, and I found it in your earlier post. My apologies.
My dd and husband are taking a close look at your detailed explanation and comparing it to her pitch.
Honestly, I watched Ashley Brignac the last two nights and thought, she must be one of the very few success stories with her pitching style. My dd and husband have gone back and forth whether it's a crow hop or not
IMO, her foot is so far left of the power line, she appears to be off balance, but it won't be me to argue with her success. It's just unusual.Out of curiosity, what do you think about the new product Monica Abbott is promoting?
Ang
halskinner
Banned
- May 7, 2008
- 2,652
- 0
Hal, thank you.
I want to clear up a mistatement I made in an earlier post for the rest of the folks. It was Hal, not Ernie, who emphasized the precise timing between the 1:00 position and the planting of the foot. Hal, I have been observing that throughout the college softball postseason. Two nights ago, I went back to look it up, and I found it in your earlier post. My apologies.
My dd and husband are taking a close look at your detailed explanation and comparing it to her pitch.
Honestly, I watched Ashley Brignac the last two nights and thought, she must be one of the very few success stories with her pitching style. My dd and husband have gone back and forth whether it's a crow hop or not
Out of curiosity, what do you think about the new product Monica Abbott is promoting?
Ang
Hi Ang. For starters, I am honored to even be confused with Ernie
on anything.I have seen a few college pitchers stepping way to the glove side on a few pitches. I dont think it is to aim the ball as much as it is to allow more rotation of the ball just prior to release.
Using me as an example; When I throw a flick curve, If I exagerate my stance at landing and lean way to the glove side, it will bring the rotation of the ball from a flat right-to-left spin to one that will break sharply down and to the left, a drop curve if you will.
I suspect these college pitchers are stepping way off the powerline to try and land in a more closed position (hips) to allow the throwing hand to come around the ball more at release, increasing ball spin/movement. If they were stepping as far off the powerline as I have seen, to aim to the outside, the ball would have went into their own dugout.
It's all hand to eye coordination.
You want to hit a highr target? Aim for the top of the catcher's mask instead of the glove.
A target to the inside or outside? Aim for the catcher's shoulder instead of the glove.
Hitting your spots falls into the 'throwing at a target' category, or in other words, pitching straight at the catcher's webbing and having the ball start towards that target and then break/move away from that target.
A very experienced pitcher can reach a point in control where the catcher can place the glove (Target) anywhere. The pitcher throws a movement pitch and if the pitcher has excellent control and knows EXACTLY where the ball is going to move TO, places the ball in the webbing without the catcher having to move it at all. This is pitching the ball TO THE TARGET and is much more difficult to do. I do not see these college pitchers doing this.
I am not familiar with whatever it is whoever is promoting.
will the real pitching instructor please stand up
Go with what Hal says. I am learning by reading his books and his advice. I am getting better, but I still have a lot to learn.
I am retracting what i said about the foot. Although, after watching the WCWS, I am wondering about good form at all .... That should be a new thread.
I asked my former pitcher DD, if she moved her foot or her wrist to hit her spots. She said "how on earth would you use your foot?" oops, OK.
Then, I asked my pitcher son. Evidently, men rarely change their landing spot - so his answer was the same.
Generally, they are hitting their spots through focus and can't explain how they are doing it.
Go with what Hal says. I am learning by reading his books and his advice. I am getting better, but I still have a lot to learn.
I am retracting what i said about the foot. Although, after watching the WCWS, I am wondering about good form at all .... That should be a new thread.
I asked my former pitcher DD, if she moved her foot or her wrist to hit her spots. She said "how on earth would you use your foot?" oops, OK.
Then, I asked my pitcher son. Evidently, men rarely change their landing spot - so his answer was the same.
Generally, they are hitting their spots through focus and can't explain how they are doing it.
