- Jul 31, 2011
- 75
- 8
I have increasing concerns with this practice. I'm aware of many students being encouraged to just let it rip from increasing distances and I'm always wondering what it is suppose to accomplish. One of my better students in college became so confused about her release point that it could have destroyed her if she hadn't finally stopped and I could go on and on with destructive examples of kids trying to reach home plate from center field etc.
The one place I've discovered over distance pitching drills being effective is with the rise ball because if it is done correctly with very advanced students, their release point and posture is not adversely effected and if anything, if effectively done, can help them learn to throw their rise ball lower by adjusting their posture to keep from pitching the ball way over the head of their catcher at over distance. I should add here that it often takes years to have students to be able to throw from regular distance with a true rise ball without losing their effective spin and posture and many students never do.
The worst thing I see from my perspective is when my students, who have been taught to throw their fastball (peel drop) with straight over spin and effective posture, are being asked to pitch from significant distance with something else other than the rise ball. If a pitcher is using contact with the hip as Rick Pauly has described, I don't see how a pitcher can do this without the ball diving into the ground.
I am purposely leaving much unsaid about my perspective and I hope I'm teachable enough to adjust my thinking if somebody makes sense.
The one place I've discovered over distance pitching drills being effective is with the rise ball because if it is done correctly with very advanced students, their release point and posture is not adversely effected and if anything, if effectively done, can help them learn to throw their rise ball lower by adjusting their posture to keep from pitching the ball way over the head of their catcher at over distance. I should add here that it often takes years to have students to be able to throw from regular distance with a true rise ball without losing their effective spin and posture and many students never do.
The worst thing I see from my perspective is when my students, who have been taught to throw their fastball (peel drop) with straight over spin and effective posture, are being asked to pitch from significant distance with something else other than the rise ball. If a pitcher is using contact with the hip as Rick Pauly has described, I don't see how a pitcher can do this without the ball diving into the ground.
I am purposely leaving much unsaid about my perspective and I hope I'm teachable enough to adjust my thinking if somebody makes sense.