Bad throwing mechanics are hurting daughter's elbow

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Aug 20, 2018
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My daughter has developed a really bad habit when throwing. Instead of keeping her fingers on top of the ball, she's getting under the ball and throwing it almost like the revers of a Frisbee throw. Because of the torque this is putting on her elbow from snapping it like that, her elbow is starting to hurt. The pain shes describing really reminds me of how my elbow would feel after throwing too many curve balls back in my pitching days.

She is a pitcher so I'm wondering if some of that spinning of the ball is transferring to her throwing the ball over hand too? Regardless, it's now starting to hurt when she pitches, so it's a major issue.

I'm looking for help on how to break of her of this habit. I'm at a loss of an exercise or dill I can do to help her so if anyone can give me some help, I would greatly appreciate it.
 
Apr 30, 2018
349
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Have you read Wasserman's book or watched his videos on High Level Throwing? That is the go to answer on this forum for throwing problems. Hopefully someone on here can point you to specific drills in his book to help. I have just gotten started with my DD (8yo) on his drills. As a start I would look at the pivot throw and the water bottle drill.

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shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket
My daughter has developed a really bad habit when throwing. Instead of keeping her fingers on top of the ball, she's getting under the ball and throwing it almost like the revers of a Frisbee throw. Because of the torque this is putting on her elbow from snapping it like that, her elbow is starting to hurt. The pain shes describing really reminds me of how my elbow would feel after throwing too many curve balls back in my pitching days.

She is a pitcher so I'm wondering if some of that spinning of the ball is transferring to her throwing the ball over hand too? Regardless, it's now starting to hurt when she pitches, so it's a major issue.

I'm looking for help on how to break of her of this habit. I'm at a loss of an exercise or dill I can do to help her so if anyone can give me some help, I would greatly appreciate it.

Wasserman is the way to go. Good read here. Especially where Five Frame Swing chimes in.
https://www.discussfastpitch.com/coaching-softball/34377-fixing-overhand-throw.html
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
In first year 10U DD got tendinitis in her elbow from bad throwing mechanics. We used some of Wasserman's stuff, mostly the water bottle drill which was a free video (probably still is). That drill is just fantastic. She took a few weeks off to rest then when we started back up we focused on throwing mechanics. She hasn't had any recurrence.
 
Aug 20, 2018
107
28
In first year 10U DD got tendinitis in her elbow from bad throwing mechanics. We used some of Wasserman's stuff, mostly the water bottle drill which was a free video (probably still is). That drill is just fantastic. She took a few weeks off to rest then when we started back up we focused on throwing mechanics. She hasn't had any recurrence.

I watched the water bottle video, I get the concept, but how does that help throw a softball? When I watch how the thrower's hand goes to the side with the water bottle, that is EXACTLY what she's doing with a softball and causing all the problems. Fingers are to the side and the bottle is on top of his hand so he's snapping the wrist sideways putting pressure on the elbow
 
Mar 1, 2016
195
18
DD had the same problem a couple of years ago (a catcher). The ulnar collateral ligament was strained, which is the one that leads to Tommy John surgery. We were searching for answers all over the place like you are now. She got the best advice from a major league catcher: “When you finish your throw, always make sure your thumb is pointed at the ground.”

Everyone always wants to break down the throw with scapular pinch, elbow up, over the top of your head, blah blah blah. Those are good under the right circumstances, but something as simple as pointing your thumb at the ground when you finish was the one that solved the problem. It took DD about two weeks to develop the muscle memory to do it every time, and she hasn’t had so much as a hint of a problem with her elbow since.


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Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I watched the water bottle video, I get the concept, but how does that help throw a softball? When I watch how the thrower's hand goes to the side with the water bottle, that is EXACTLY what she's doing with a softball and causing all the problems. Fingers are to the side and the bottle is on top of his hand so he's snapping the wrist sideways putting pressure on the elbow

I tried it because it was recommended here. I don't pretend to know why it works. But last year we used it with our whole team every practice. I can definitely testify that it works. You'll have to get the whys and hows from someone smarter than I am though :)
 
Jul 16, 2018
120
18
My daughter has developed a really bad habit when throwing. Instead of keeping her fingers on top of the ball, she's getting under the ball and throwing it almost like the revers of a Frisbee throw. Because of the torque this is putting on her elbow from snapping it like that, her elbow is starting to hurt. The pain shes describing really reminds me of how my elbow would feel after throwing too many curve balls back in my pitching days.

She is a pitcher so I'm wondering if some of that spinning of the ball is transferring to her throwing the ball over hand too? Regardless, it's now starting to hurt when she pitches, so it's a major issue.

I'm looking for help on how to break of her of this habit. I'm at a loss of an exercise or dill I can do to help her so if anyone can give me some help, I would greatly appreciate it.

So in the same boat however been in the situation before so its not nearly as stressful.

Daughter got into the habit of throwing the way you described as she made a couple of plays at 3rd ranging to her left and got quite the reaction from the coach and players. Shes tried to emulate it ever since (this was mid July) Been on her to stay on top and just this past weekend she complained about her shoulder hurting. Took her too the dr yesterday and her xray was negative with no issues. Basically shes throwing from her hip as compared to being on-top which causes stress on the elbow but more on your shoulder.

I've finally got her into thinking about stretching/strengthening the arm. even when she was playing long toss she would try and drop her elbow and throw it hard on a line. Thats how kids get hurt. She does have a tournament next weekend and its rained pretty hard here all this week so its worked out as she's got a chance to rest not only physically but mental as well. I've never had a problem with her throwing prior to this. She's been throwing better mechanically but just because you make a change one day doesnt mean its fixed and she can move on. So no throwing for a little bit.

My son when he was 13 was diagnosed with GIRD (Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit) so we gave him about a month off. We also moved teams at that time and that helped improve his mechanics. His coach was a 'Get up there and throw strikes" guy and we never worked on throwing. Hes a Senior now and is throwing pain free and has hard as I have even seen him. It wasnt an overnight thing with him as it wont be for your daughter.


To tag onto the feedback about the water bottle drill - I've came across it before and had some questions. Best thing I can tell you is go through it and do it yourself if it will help you understand. Its all about getting your arm into the right positioning to limit harmful torque onto your elbow. Realistically there are no way to really avoid arm injuries however you can do quite a bit to limit them and throwing much like hitting or fielding does take a combination of repetition and rest. The best thing about the drill is kids can do it anywhere. and they can get immediate positive/negative feedback which will translate to having a ball in their hands.

And yes go follow the "Fixing the Overhand Throw" lots of good stuff in there.
 
Sep 21, 2017
230
43
PA
I watched the water bottle video, I get the concept, but how does that help throw a softball? When I watch how the thrower's hand goes to the side with the water bottle, that is EXACTLY what she's doing with a softball and causing all the problems. Fingers are to the side and the bottle is on top of his hand so he's snapping the wrist sideways putting pressure on the elbow

I believe the drill helps because it teaches correct patterns of movement for the arm, not static placements like old school L-Drill and wrist flick stuff, that can translate to poor mechanics.

When you say the throwers hand "goes to the side", I'm not following what you mean. Are you talking about before or after release? Assuming you mean after release, her hand pronates - meaning thumb down like TexAg was describing. That's what should be happening. Apologies if I'm misinterpreting what you mean.
 

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