Backswing - thinking of getting rid of?

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Jan 17, 2020
43
8
DD is a lefty. She is very comfortable with having a backswing but it goes way behind her back. Shoulders not even close to being square with the catcher. She has a tendency to always stride way over to the left (worried a little on this because sometimes part of foot outside pitching box). Surprisingly, she still has pretty good control. She was told by pc to not get rid of backswing over a year ago - try to keep knuckles forward. She said she has been trying but arm always goes to the same spot - mind block. Time to get rid of or keep on working?
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
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We tried a few pitches yesterday without the backswing. Didn't go well. Her timing was disrupted and it was a hot mess. Of course that's to be expected.

Our rule is the backswing is only as far back as the arm can go without feeling a lot of other body parts move. Kind of like a pendulum. Just sways back until the point of resistance.

There are times it goes too far back and that also disrupts her timing slightly.
 
Oct 26, 2019
1,375
113
My daughter has played around with pitching with and without a backswing. I have seen enough girls successful with both to believe it is a personal preference. Why not have her try some with out one and see how that goes.
 
Jul 1, 2019
172
43
Near the end of 10U, DD had a very similar problem with pulling arm behind her. We went to ball in the glove at her hip for quite a while in order to correct this and help keep her driving straight. It was literally 5 months of pitching that way, before we tried letting her backswing again, with the understanding that if she got out of line again she'd go back in the glove (geez, after I read what I wrote it sounds like capital punishment, lol). Now she's been using a backswing for the past 12 months and stay's straight, she says she's always felt faster this way and more balanced, so for now....
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,661
83
DD has never used a backswing. Tried it once or twice and it was terrible. Weird. Daughters best friend has went back and forth, she is better with the backswing. To me it is more of a rhythm thing.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Can you post a video?

Sounds like her backswing is the least of her worries. Her stride is messed up, which suggest her posture is a mess.

The backswing isn't that big of deal. Many good pitchers use a backswing. Many don't. Whatever she is comfortable with is OK.
 
Last edited:
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
agree with @sluggers. Truly your best bet is to post a video. Many folks here can chime in and help out. IMO, based on what you are saying is timing. Sluggers mentioned posture. Could be both or none of the above but a video will help. Like he said, many pitchers are very successful with a backwing and many don't have one. Either way can lead to success. Just need to see a video to help.
S3
 
Jan 17, 2020
43
8
lmao. You're right. It is capital punishment. What our DD's do to keep getting better. Thanks for all of the good ideas everyone. We'll give it a try and keep on working. Took the video on the free version of coach's eye. Will try to post it.
 
Jul 14, 2018
982
93
DD is in the process of trying to eliminate her backswing right now. It's been tough going, but as she's just going through puberty the changes in the size and shape of her hips caused her backswing to start tailing away from her body which complicated her motion down the line.

Furthermore, she had a sprinting coach work with her on her takeoff, and he suggested that a pushback with the throwing elbow would help to activate the stride leg, generating more forward momentum before the drive leg begins to push. It's still a work in progress, but she's been using the QOTH to emphasize stride leg power. Her pitching coach is hopeful that this change in her motion, combined with the new rules that allow a start back, will work together to add some velocity.
 
We eliminated the back swing it cost about 5 mph but gained a lot more consistency and control it took over a year to get those 5 mph back but we have both now. Im tempted to encourage her to try the back swing again to see if that helps gain more speed again but our school season just started and don’t want any hiccups now.
 

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