- Apr 19, 2010
- 5
- 0
How do you fix a 14 year old that pitches at the highest level ASA A to stop hitting her side with her arm? (Speed 51-54 and pitches all pitches) The bruse created after a game or 2 is about a 4x12 and blood red around her side. It looks as if she was hit by a bat. Her genetics line her elbow up directly with her hip and she's thin and boney. Any help would by greatly appreciated.
There is much to discuss in this basic area.
scpalazzo may I suggest you take a very slow and thoughtful approach to your dd issues. With some proper direction what she's doing could in fact become beneficial. Somewhere in the history of fastpitch pitching our mechanics have morphed into kids over working their bodies trying to over throw the ball only to create more speed by which hitters will hit.
Oldmanriver has the right approach in my opinion, May I suggest you listen.
Very difficult to explain but In my opinion brushing the hip is good and I would suggest we work toward teaching them how to brush their hip properly. I have studied the best pitchers in the world for years & I can say the best brush their hip. The students I work with I have found pros and cons. Where problems can occur is often pitchers on the back side or down side as they begin to get-in-the-power begin to expose the shoulder by getting way behind their back. As they begin to come into release point they're trying to come around their hips and some in fact will slam right into the hip.This in general is caused by over rotating the hips into the open or sideways position. Earlier a hula hoop was used as a reference. I suggest imagining this hoop around her hips, now slowly just rotate them a ½ inch or so. You will notice a worm reaction to said movement throughout the body. What is necessary is we create a solid posture in our shoulder - hip at 45/50 degree angle thus removing any unnecessary movement in the body and helping her create a solid circle based off a solid set of hips. Yes naturally brushing the hip is a good thing. Slamming into the hip and hurting oneself is not. Hey old man on the river, are you that same old man I had a beer with in Oklahoma 2009?