- Aug 21, 2008
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If Hillhouse is correct, maybe we should teach our young DD's a movement pitch FIRST (e.g. fast drop, fast screw) and then the change-up? and essentially never teaching them a fastball since it won't be used later and might be a waste of time learning a pitch that is never used after say 12U?
Per your private message, I'll just address this quickly.. I do think some pitchers, especially those blessed with velocity can throw a 'fastball' past age 12. That says as much about the pitcher's ability to strike them out with it as it does about the hitters who are not taught to CRUSH straight pitches. But the problem is, people in general don't seem to understand what a real peel drop is. They add things to it to make it seem harder and more difficult. In doing this, people think they are 2 very different pitches. Yet, most pitchers 12 yrs old and up who throw a "Fastball" with straight 6/12 rotation will have a catcher tell them the ball has "movement to it". this is done by the release point, not some fancy release twist or pull up action. Again, this is all assuming the ball is spinning straight. If so, the drop should come natural with the proper angle at release. The speed and spin will pick up as she starts to generate more power from legs and whip in the elbow to supply it.
I've said it 100 times and I'll say it again... why does anyone want to throw a straight pitch? I simply don't get it. And as the pitcher gets along in age, so does her competition. Straight pitches that worked at 10U don't work as well at 12U. And they work less at 14U and even less at 16U. By 18U, if she's still throwing straight pitches and getting outs, I'd like to know about it and learn from her.
Bill