- Jun 12, 2015
- 3,848
- 83
I love it when coaches care more about location and movement than speed, for selfish reasons. My DD is 9 and low to mid 40s so she's no speed demon (though her high when we clocked her at her first lesson in Jan of last year was 33 I believe, so she's come a long way). Her location is awesome though. She can skate it over the corner (inside or outside, FINALLY - it took awhile to master inside) like nobody's business. She has great spin, can throw a drop and just learned a rise, which we plan to practice but probably not use until 12U since it seems unlikely to work from 35 feet.
Our spring team had a pitcher that was faster, probably on average 5 mph, but not as accurate. Their stats were very similar. She edged mine out on a couple, mine edged her out on a couple. Overall I'd say they were pretty evenly matched, just different strengths. I figure a team that has both types of pitchers can handle about any team - the ones who aren't scared of speed, you put in your girl with location. The teams that have a hard time catching up to speed, you put in your faster pitcher. Both things are important, both are good to have. Or you start your faster pitcher, once they get their timing down and start hitting, swap out for the slower pitcher w/ good location. Of course if a pitcher has both even better. But from what I could tell last season, being on a team that had 2 pitchers with different strengths, they both have their uses if a coach knows what to do with them.
Our spring team had a pitcher that was faster, probably on average 5 mph, but not as accurate. Their stats were very similar. She edged mine out on a couple, mine edged her out on a couple. Overall I'd say they were pretty evenly matched, just different strengths. I figure a team that has both types of pitchers can handle about any team - the ones who aren't scared of speed, you put in your girl with location. The teams that have a hard time catching up to speed, you put in your faster pitcher. Both things are important, both are good to have. Or you start your faster pitcher, once they get their timing down and start hitting, swap out for the slower pitcher w/ good location. Of course if a pitcher has both even better. But from what I could tell last season, being on a team that had 2 pitchers with different strengths, they both have their uses if a coach knows what to do with them.