- Aug 1, 2014
- 73
- 6
A word of caution: I coach HS and have not seen one brush pitcher since I started. It is an outdated technique that we do not teach 9 year olds at any of our clinics. If a kid wants to throw her curve that way later, it is up to her. Also, kids do not respond to learning the same way as adults. If you fill her mind with ideas at 9 years old, it is not actually the "mindset" you want at that age, because they are more carefree than later. Use results (ie, speed, comfortable, strikes, won a game, pitch 3Ks, etc) to gauge whether technique is coming along, not just form or technical cues and you will get a lot farther. Keep the technical cues large and not miniscule. (The ramblings of adults do not mean squat to kids and on the other side, could make them think they need to please us, which is not true.)
The brush is a quick fix that is for consistency. There are better ways to gain consistency, that will last while she grows and adds muscle over the years. And it is not a release point, it is a release zone.
Looks like she's making great progress!. Much less bend toward third... and that rear leg isn't pinning. When you get to it... I'd also recommend BM's 3/4 drill he posted for Boomers daughter.
Keep up the great work, Lily! Really like the mindset of one thing at a time. Keep enforcing a release in drill off the rear leg... and you'll start to see that front lean go away.
Sorry for the short response... at the airport!