- Apr 4, 2011
- 5
- 0
Warning, I am long winded! I've posted here previously concerning my DD side arm issue. You can see the thread here:
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/5674-give-up-fast-ball.html#post57674
We did change Pitching Instructors with the blessings of the previous one. They were very gracious and pointed out that perhaps my DD was at a point where she would benefit from more intensive (personalized) coaching and that they wanted what was best for my DD.
While I really like the new instructor and facilities (indoors and they provide a catcher!) I have grown a little impatient with the minimal focus on correcting the side arm motion. There have been alot of positive changes to her foot position, what the pivot foot should be doing, the overall timing of the pitch (arms n legs), hip position and many other points that do not include the bent arm and imperfect circle. And yes, I did emphasis that the side arm was my biggest concern at the very first lesson.
It became obvious to me the the coach wasn't seeing the side arm. My DD does it in various degrees so sometimes it isn't obvious. And every so often she doesn't do it at all. To me it is always glaringly obvious so I've tried to be patient and go with the flow because, after all, I am not the professional. I did finally address it with the PC, showed them a video I took from an especially aggravating (for me) lesson a few weeks prior. The PC was very positive and encouraged me to give her feedback and agreed to be more aggressive about pointing out when the arm was incorrect. The observations aren't as aggressive and frequent as I would like but it is a start.
The lessons are 30 minutes long so there is only so much one can accomplish. My DD is great about making changes to her foot position, tweeking timing or body position and can repeat these changes consistently with only minimal effort. She can make several minor changes in one lesson and keep them until another adjustment is made. But get her to keep her arm longer or draw a circle on a chalk board with the ball as she pitches seems to be beyond her ability to control. The arm does what the arm wants to do.
I have started to catch her every day doing snaps and arm circle drills (no stride) at home. We've slowed the mechanics down, incorporated weighted balls and slowly increased the repetitions and speed. Some of the things we do, like change in speed or a pause (while counting out loud or saying a silly phrase) at the close are simply exercises help her concentrate and focus on each stage of her motion (to help her to learn to isolate something specific which she is doing with her body). I am starting to see a decrease in the angle of her arm bend 95% of the time and she is able to control it if we speed the arm up. I am encouraged, but it all goes to heck when she does a full rotation with her arms as in a full pitch or walk through. It's as if the brain has no recognition of what the arm is doing (or if it is even there).
We have the Xcelerator. She does repetitions with them everyday, the arm circles look great and she even remarked how in the beginning it really worked muscles she didn't know she had. She's done the circles with the ball against the wall (but isn't this basically the same thing as the Xcelerator?). I made a noodle helmet which has really helped to show her how far over her head she was taking the ball and now this problem too is starting to fade.
I have even made a Perfect Circle Aid ($4 and 15 minutes). My DD is able to keep her arm long and sweep it doing snaps and stationary circles but once she is in full forward motion doing a walk through or actual pitch she can sweep the tab on the down swing and upswing but then completely misses it at the release point 90% of the time. Arm Bent.
Am I being too impatient? The senior PC at our new facility unsympathetically commented that this problem may never be solved. The coach's wife has made the same remark. The PC seems to me (and I may be just a little too sensitive about it at this point) a little less then positive that it can be corrected and suggested teaching her a drop peel (but isn't this just giving up on the fastball? grrrrr). I've had a heart to heart with my DD and asked if she want to continue pitching (told her if she didn't I would support her) and she says she does want to continue, but even she is becoming distressed over something she doesn't seem to be able to correct. I am very frustrated for her.
We haven't done the mirror drill yet. We have space issues at the moment. I did run across the tarp drill which is a do-able thing in our yard once I can put up a backstop so we don't have to retrieve ball from the neighbor's yard or pay for broken windows. Is there a video of how to do this drill safely and correctly? Would a semi ridgid arm sleeve that limits the bend of the arm be helpful to changing muscle memory?
The one thing that most everyone suggests for immediate and impressionable feedback is the pitching against the fence. And that a chain link fence is the best. Do any of you recommend this as a last alternative?
Sorry I don't have a current videos. Thanks in advance for your advice.
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/5674-give-up-fast-ball.html#post57674
We did change Pitching Instructors with the blessings of the previous one. They were very gracious and pointed out that perhaps my DD was at a point where she would benefit from more intensive (personalized) coaching and that they wanted what was best for my DD.
While I really like the new instructor and facilities (indoors and they provide a catcher!) I have grown a little impatient with the minimal focus on correcting the side arm motion. There have been alot of positive changes to her foot position, what the pivot foot should be doing, the overall timing of the pitch (arms n legs), hip position and many other points that do not include the bent arm and imperfect circle. And yes, I did emphasis that the side arm was my biggest concern at the very first lesson.
It became obvious to me the the coach wasn't seeing the side arm. My DD does it in various degrees so sometimes it isn't obvious. And every so often she doesn't do it at all. To me it is always glaringly obvious so I've tried to be patient and go with the flow because, after all, I am not the professional. I did finally address it with the PC, showed them a video I took from an especially aggravating (for me) lesson a few weeks prior. The PC was very positive and encouraged me to give her feedback and agreed to be more aggressive about pointing out when the arm was incorrect. The observations aren't as aggressive and frequent as I would like but it is a start.
The lessons are 30 minutes long so there is only so much one can accomplish. My DD is great about making changes to her foot position, tweeking timing or body position and can repeat these changes consistently with only minimal effort. She can make several minor changes in one lesson and keep them until another adjustment is made. But get her to keep her arm longer or draw a circle on a chalk board with the ball as she pitches seems to be beyond her ability to control. The arm does what the arm wants to do.
I have started to catch her every day doing snaps and arm circle drills (no stride) at home. We've slowed the mechanics down, incorporated weighted balls and slowly increased the repetitions and speed. Some of the things we do, like change in speed or a pause (while counting out loud or saying a silly phrase) at the close are simply exercises help her concentrate and focus on each stage of her motion (to help her to learn to isolate something specific which she is doing with her body). I am starting to see a decrease in the angle of her arm bend 95% of the time and she is able to control it if we speed the arm up. I am encouraged, but it all goes to heck when she does a full rotation with her arms as in a full pitch or walk through. It's as if the brain has no recognition of what the arm is doing (or if it is even there).
We have the Xcelerator. She does repetitions with them everyday, the arm circles look great and she even remarked how in the beginning it really worked muscles she didn't know she had. She's done the circles with the ball against the wall (but isn't this basically the same thing as the Xcelerator?). I made a noodle helmet which has really helped to show her how far over her head she was taking the ball and now this problem too is starting to fade.
I have even made a Perfect Circle Aid ($4 and 15 minutes). My DD is able to keep her arm long and sweep it doing snaps and stationary circles but once she is in full forward motion doing a walk through or actual pitch she can sweep the tab on the down swing and upswing but then completely misses it at the release point 90% of the time. Arm Bent.
Am I being too impatient? The senior PC at our new facility unsympathetically commented that this problem may never be solved. The coach's wife has made the same remark. The PC seems to me (and I may be just a little too sensitive about it at this point) a little less then positive that it can be corrected and suggested teaching her a drop peel (but isn't this just giving up on the fastball? grrrrr). I've had a heart to heart with my DD and asked if she want to continue pitching (told her if she didn't I would support her) and she says she does want to continue, but even she is becoming distressed over something she doesn't seem to be able to correct. I am very frustrated for her.
We haven't done the mirror drill yet. We have space issues at the moment. I did run across the tarp drill which is a do-able thing in our yard once I can put up a backstop so we don't have to retrieve ball from the neighbor's yard or pay for broken windows. Is there a video of how to do this drill safely and correctly? Would a semi ridgid arm sleeve that limits the bend of the arm be helpful to changing muscle memory?
The one thing that most everyone suggests for immediate and impressionable feedback is the pitching against the fence. And that a chain link fence is the best. Do any of you recommend this as a last alternative?
Sorry I don't have a current videos. Thanks in advance for your advice.
