Marc,
I have a 14 year old daughter who just decided about 2 years ago she wanted to pitch. We started taking her to a instructor and which she still continues to go to. This is my daughters first year actually getting to pitch on the mound during a game. Her season started out really good. Her form and body mechanics looked great and she was consistent with hitting the corners of the plate along with several different pitches already under her belt. Her main problem that she is stuck with is building up more speed. We made a few changes in her form to try to help with speed and now she is all over the place with her form and timing her release point just right. She works continuously on the drills her instructor has taught her to do. But once she puts everything into motion, it all is not coming together. It is as if she tenses up and doesn't look or seem loose and released from the start of the pitch to the end and we are still struggling with ways to increase her speed. She has been taught to jump and drag her right foot with her body in a 45 degree angle. I know she is at a disadvantage because she started pitching at a later age and she is only 5'0" and weighs only 96 pounds. So size is not working with her either. At this point we are lost at what point to start with correcting her form and body mechanics to regain control and consistency and next to build speed. With everyone's body mechanics being different, could it be possible that the form she has been taught is just not for her??? Please help, we are planning on trying to work hard with her this summer so we will be ready and really prepared to come back with a bang next winter with high school softball. My daughter gets really upset because she wants to be good at pitching and would really like to play for a college, but she knows she has to really pick up speed for that to happen. I would appreciate all the advice you can give us to help her out. Thanks
Stephanie
I have a 14 year old daughter who just decided about 2 years ago she wanted to pitch. We started taking her to a instructor and which she still continues to go to. This is my daughters first year actually getting to pitch on the mound during a game. Her season started out really good. Her form and body mechanics looked great and she was consistent with hitting the corners of the plate along with several different pitches already under her belt. Her main problem that she is stuck with is building up more speed. We made a few changes in her form to try to help with speed and now she is all over the place with her form and timing her release point just right. She works continuously on the drills her instructor has taught her to do. But once she puts everything into motion, it all is not coming together. It is as if she tenses up and doesn't look or seem loose and released from the start of the pitch to the end and we are still struggling with ways to increase her speed. She has been taught to jump and drag her right foot with her body in a 45 degree angle. I know she is at a disadvantage because she started pitching at a later age and she is only 5'0" and weighs only 96 pounds. So size is not working with her either. At this point we are lost at what point to start with correcting her form and body mechanics to regain control and consistency and next to build speed. With everyone's body mechanics being different, could it be possible that the form she has been taught is just not for her??? Please help, we are planning on trying to work hard with her this summer so we will be ready and really prepared to come back with a bang next winter with high school softball. My daughter gets really upset because she wants to be good at pitching and would really like to play for a college, but she knows she has to really pick up speed for that to happen. I would appreciate all the advice you can give us to help her out. Thanks
Stephanie