- Aug 21, 2008
- 2,383
- 113
Man10, I was going to say this in a PM because all the experts have spoken. So some of what I may say will be repetitive. I've said in the past that I have never fully read the IR threads so I cannot quote from them. But if your DD has bullet spin, I believe it means she's not using her elbow enough. The more whip of the elbow, the more the kinetic chain has to follow and the wrist and fingers follow suit. Typically, bullet spin is caused by turning the wrist at the release. This means the ball doesn't move, it stays flat. The thought of doing that on purpose perplexes me. Do you know how many times I went into a dugout after giving up 3 runs, on 2 HR's, a walk, etc. etc. etc. and telling the coach/catcher: "That thing is not moving today! The drop won't go down, the change is in the dirt, and my rise is 'not dropping less' <lol>)!!" Doing that on purpose would've been damaging to my career. Instead, I would grab someone between innings (providing I wasn't hitting a dinger that inning) and go behind the dug out to figure out what's wrong. Not enough whip? Over throwing? etc. Then I'd pray to my God that the next inning would be better and my team would pick me up.
The thought of bullet spin as a fastball period makes no sense. Correction: throwing a fastball PERIOD makes no sense. But, Bullet spin requires turning the wrist, not snapping it in the following of the whip of the elbow. Essentially, think of bullet spin like this: a lack of elbow. Ask your DD if her shoulder hurts after she pitches, if the answer is yes, it's likely because she's not whipping her elbow, using mostly shoulder, and turning the wrist at the release for the bullet spin. There is no possible way for that to be faster than a genuine kinetic whip of the elbow. Apply this to baseball: why are curveballs 20 mph slower than fastballs? Because the pitcher has to twist his wrist to put the spin on it. Same as a bullet spin softball pitcher... without the movement.
I'm not sure if I read this or not so forgive me if I did but, I thought I remember someone saying IR and spin are not necessary together. But they can be. If I had a nickle for every kid who I've seen at clinics and lessons, who's mom/dad has read this board, and they have a bullet spin of sorts. Let me digress: there's 2 bullet spins. One where the ball spins clockwise, the other where it is counter clockwise. The MAJORITY of bullet spinners have clockwise spin. The minority are the ones who come to lessons wanting to learn the IR thing so badly that they force the hand over before the release creating counter clockwise bullet spin. Literally rolling their hand over top of the ball at release, not letting the ball release and letting the body do it's natural course of action. While I don't want to put words in BM's mouth, I don't think that is what he was teaching in his IR threads. Yet, it happens daily. Bottom line, you can't force IR. If you believe it's the natural motion, which 99.99999% on this board do, then it will happen naturally as long as you are not poisoned early by wrist flippers, HE coaches, and not knowing the difference between good pitching and bad hitting.
Man10, this is what I tell parents of EVERY kid who comes to me from a HE coach that questions everything I teach (which is in total opposition): Go out and try it yourself. See what happens. See if HE feels natural. See if your arm hurts after. See what spin you get. By the way, even if a parent walks away doubting me because I'm 1% and the HE coaches of the world are 99%, I give them the Youtube challenge. Show me a world class pitcher who does HE. Not your city rec superstar who's dad put video on Youtube, but watch game clips of the world's best (MEN and women) and find me a single one that doesn't whip their elbow with the HE approach.
If that doesn't work. Do a King/Court routine... where he pitches with a hollowed out ball that makes it look like he's throwing 100mph and has movement that cannot be hit... but the other team has to pitch with a regular ball. OR, deflate the balls like the current controversy. Deflategate and learning of the hero cheating is this generation's equivalent to my generation's learning Milli Vanilli lip sync'd.
Bill
The thought of bullet spin as a fastball period makes no sense. Correction: throwing a fastball PERIOD makes no sense. But, Bullet spin requires turning the wrist, not snapping it in the following of the whip of the elbow. Essentially, think of bullet spin like this: a lack of elbow. Ask your DD if her shoulder hurts after she pitches, if the answer is yes, it's likely because she's not whipping her elbow, using mostly shoulder, and turning the wrist at the release for the bullet spin. There is no possible way for that to be faster than a genuine kinetic whip of the elbow. Apply this to baseball: why are curveballs 20 mph slower than fastballs? Because the pitcher has to twist his wrist to put the spin on it. Same as a bullet spin softball pitcher... without the movement.
I'm not sure if I read this or not so forgive me if I did but, I thought I remember someone saying IR and spin are not necessary together. But they can be. If I had a nickle for every kid who I've seen at clinics and lessons, who's mom/dad has read this board, and they have a bullet spin of sorts. Let me digress: there's 2 bullet spins. One where the ball spins clockwise, the other where it is counter clockwise. The MAJORITY of bullet spinners have clockwise spin. The minority are the ones who come to lessons wanting to learn the IR thing so badly that they force the hand over before the release creating counter clockwise bullet spin. Literally rolling their hand over top of the ball at release, not letting the ball release and letting the body do it's natural course of action. While I don't want to put words in BM's mouth, I don't think that is what he was teaching in his IR threads. Yet, it happens daily. Bottom line, you can't force IR. If you believe it's the natural motion, which 99.99999% on this board do, then it will happen naturally as long as you are not poisoned early by wrist flippers, HE coaches, and not knowing the difference between good pitching and bad hitting.
Man10, this is what I tell parents of EVERY kid who comes to me from a HE coach that questions everything I teach (which is in total opposition): Go out and try it yourself. See what happens. See if HE feels natural. See if your arm hurts after. See what spin you get. By the way, even if a parent walks away doubting me because I'm 1% and the HE coaches of the world are 99%, I give them the Youtube challenge. Show me a world class pitcher who does HE. Not your city rec superstar who's dad put video on Youtube, but watch game clips of the world's best (MEN and women) and find me a single one that doesn't whip their elbow with the HE approach.
If that doesn't work. Do a King/Court routine... where he pitches with a hollowed out ball that makes it look like he's throwing 100mph and has movement that cannot be hit... but the other team has to pitch with a regular ball. OR, deflate the balls like the current controversy. Deflategate and learning of the hero cheating is this generation's equivalent to my generation's learning Milli Vanilli lip sync'd.
Bill