Thoughts on this dropball.

[Shawn]

Would be nice to see the result of the pitch.

Same pitch…different angle.

 

[Shawn]

So she twists a little more, like a cat righting itself in the air.

 

[HunterMO]

She is just stepping up and throwing hard. To me it’s just that simple. I’m not seeing much leg drive. Just wind up and throw. Almost all arm….which itself looks good. This would explain the shoulder raise at release and subsequent forward lean. As this is where the “brake” is being applied.

Her motion isn’t efficient. At least not visually to me. It’s muscled and forced.

The funny thing is she almost seems a little uncoordinated. But, I’d suspect she “feels” very strong and put together. At what point does individual style come into play for a pitcher? For my DD there were certain things I quit harping on her to tweak. It became more about working within the fundamental guidelines and achieving consistency within her style than it was being perfect according to a “model”.

 

[radness]

At what point does individual style come into play for a pitcher?

or for a hitter, catcher, fielder...
My comment is always look for the results and productivity!

For my DD there were certain things I quit harping on her to tweak. It became more about working within the fundamental guidelines and achieving consistency within her style than it was being perfect according to a “model”.

Here's a story Batbusters Mike Styth told me about working with a hitter who was on one of his teams. At hitting lessons Coach Styth would keep harping on her about a particular thing. One day Coach Gary Hanning said to him
'Why do you keep picking on that she's a tremendous hitter let it go.'
Styth thinking it through, looked at Gary and said 'You're right.' And stopped harping on it.
The player went on to D1 creating hitting records!

 

[HunterMO]

I've been able to watch the videos on my computer and slow it down. There's more leg drive than I had initially thought. But there's still such a lack of core activation in helping keep the upper half back once the brake foot/leg is established.

But, at such a point in a pitchers "career".....do you bother to change it? If she's getting results and avoiding injury then maybe it's left as "it is what it is".

 

[Rolling Hard]

or for a hitter, catcher, fielder...
My comment is always look for the results and productivity!



Here's a story Batbusters Mike Styth told me about working with a hitter who was on one of his teams. At hitting lessons Coach Styth would keep harping on her about a particular thing. One day Coach Gary Hanning said to him
'Why do you keep picking on that she's a tremendous hitter let it go.'
Styth thinking it through, looked at Gary and said 'You're right.' And stopped harping on it.
The player went on to D1 creating hitting records!

Not sure what Coach Styth was harping on but I think there is a fine line between "that won't play at the next level" an" let her do it her way."
The main culprit I am referring to is the bigger, stronger player at 10u that cast her hands (long swing) uses mostly upper body, leads her team in hitting and hits bombs. She is a phenom. She does well at 12u but strikes out a little more. By 2nd year 14u she really struggles against better pitching and her batting average has dropped and strikeouts rate has gone up. By 16u she has made little change and continues to struggle mightily.
So there is two sides to this coin.
So when you see results and productivity heading south, (12u) it's time to make a change. Reevaluate, go see a new hitting coach.
Hint: if you see a player go 4 for 4 with 3 extra basehits with a beautiful compact swing and she makes it look easy, go ask her parents who she hits with. Get a number. Switch it up.
Same goes for pitching. Your DD is putting in the work and is stuck at 54 mph for 7 months and number 3 pitcher on her team. Get a referral and see another Coach. Fresh eyes.
I am not suggesting switching teams or coaches every month but if progress has stopped or there is a drop in productivity and results maybe it's time for a change.

 

[radness]

Not sure what Coach Styth was harping on but I think there is a fine line between "that won't play at the next level" an" let her do it her way."
The main culprit I am referring to is the bigger, stronger player at 10u that cast her hands (long swing) uses mostly upper body, leads her team in hitting and hits bombs. She is a phenom. She does well at 12u but strikes out a little more. By 2nd year 14u she really struggles against better pitching and her batting average has dropped and strikeouts rate has gone up. By 16u she has made little change and continues to struggle mightily.
So there is two sides to this coin.
So when you see results and productivity heading south, (12u) it's time to make a change. Reevaluate, go see a new hitting coach.
Hint: if you see a player go 4 for 4 with 3 extra basehits with a beautiful compact swing and she makes it look easy, go ask her parents who she hits with. Get a number. Switch it up.
Same goes for pitching. Your DD is putting in the work and is stuck at 54 mph for 7 months and number 3 pitcher on her team. Get a referral and see another Coach. Fresh eyes.
I am not suggesting switching teams or coaches every month but if progress has stopped or there is a drop in productivity and results maybe it's time for a change.

Batbusters styth 18u team being top players competing against top players is a true test. Success at that level is success.

Think what you're describing is identifying starting to struggle versus continued success. Identifying the competition level changing. For some people the competition level stays pretty much the same, meaning against the same type of teams they don't see what the next level actually looks like.
First comes acknowledging competition level has increased . Then can be the learning curve of development.


Perhaps to predict mechanics player is successful at right now won't cut it at the next level cannot be found out until it is tried against it. Then player having self-awareness along with the coach and parents to address if there is a drop off of say .100 points.
Saying that since we know there are all sorts of different hitting mechanics and styles batter bring to performance at high levels.

Very hard for people to say what is exactly the best hitting mechanics when people continue to debate about it.