halskinner
Banned
- May 7, 2008
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That would be the pull down phase. After warming up and loosening up, begin to back up a few steps at a time till she can't reach you regardless of angle of release. Then move it back in a few steps at a time trying to keep the feel of the the throw at the longest distance while throwing the shorter distance eventually working back to regulation distance hopefully still throwing with the same feel as the long distance throw except for release point.
LOL I love this thread, it brings back some fun memories. Mark, what you are describing is what we looked for at a game in inexperienced coaches and pitchers. They would warm up and then (usually in the outfield) start backing up, WAY BACK!. Pretty soon they are throwing twice the distance or more and throwing the ball very high, huge arc to be able to make it to their catcher. This was supposed to be impressive and intimidating to us, the other team. It only made us chuckle cause we knew what was coming next.
When we saw the pitcher doing this we just chuckled and told the team "OK, nobody swings at ANYTHING until she throws three strikes in a row. She's gonna be throwing WAY high in the zone, NOBODY SWINGS until we say so."
That pitcher would usually walk the first 3 batters she faced as she really struggled to bring the ball down. Our gals would just stand there and let her do it until someone got struck out. Sometimes 3 would get walked but I remember one game where they kept the kid in and she walked 7 straight before throwing three unchallenged strikes.
What you do in warm ups and practice, you WILL do in the game, at least for the first inning or two.
I would suggest starting them at the rubber. Back them up a step, then another step, etc. Extend the distance but NOT past the point where she puts an arc in the ball to reach the catcher. ESPECIALLY if this is just before she pitches in a game.
This is one of the subjects discussed in a chapter of my book. It is a 'Bad pitching habit'.
Hal