I try to go with form, speed, control then movement, but have heard others say strikes come first. Is this a Ford/Chevy thing? I prefer form first because any kid can fudge on form to get strikes, then there is more to unlearn. What is the consensus?
Thanks,
Ken
Start with the legs, (push off, leap, landing, drag). Then understand the power-line and alignment. Then do the three-circles and let go drill. Work on follow-through with looseness and freedom. Make sure the presentation rules are followed.
very helpful, thanks.Start with the legs, (push off, leap, landing, drag). Then understand the power-line and alignment. Then do the three-circles and let go drill. Work on follow-through with looseness and freedom. Make sure the presentation rules are followed.
If you start by throwing strikes, the player tries to slow her arm down to make strikes. As far as form, there are key places for alignment that matter, especially the stride matched with pointing the glove at the catcher, posture and ball of the foot on the landing, and a long follow-through. Also keeping the arm over the toes on the downward side of the circle.
Throw the ball like a dart to get velocity, then reign it in.
Don't overwhelm the student.
I work with a lot of young kids and you can put me squarely in the speed camp with the emphasis on good mechanics first. Without the right mechanics there is no speed, no control and no longevity. What I find is too many people have it backwards when it comes to teaching young kids how to pitch. They are too worried about the result of the pitch instead of the delivery of the pitch at the start of the learning process. When the mechanics come together and the delivery becomes consistent the results will take care of themselves without having to force anything. Now you have a pitcher who throws hard without having to relearn her pitching motion. This path takes a little longer to reach success but in the end the girls end up with a strong fluid explosion for a motion instead of something that looks and feels forced.
I work with a lot of young kids and you can put me squarely in the speed camp with the emphasis on good mechanics first. Without the right mechanics there is no speed, no control and no longevity. What I find is too many people have it backwards when it comes to teaching young kids how to pitch. They are too worried about the result of the pitch instead of the delivery of the pitch at the start of the learning process. When the mechanics come together and the delivery becomes consistent the results will take care of themselves without having to force anything. Now you have a pitcher who throws hard without having to relearn her pitching motion. This path takes a little longer to reach success but in the end the girls end up with a strong fluid explosion for a motion instead of something that looks and feels forced.