Walk-throughs and long tosses better than pitching?

[quincy]

I tried to respond to your post, it is a plate not a rubber .

 

[xygent1]

we have always did long toss walk ups as part of my DDs warm up routine, I think it helps with what Rick has said and also with strength for the pitcher when they can throw a 150' strike with some power 43' looks like their cheating

 

[JAD]

Any thoughts on what mechanics might change in walk-thorughs and long toss that we could try and translate to the rubber?

Walk-throughs and long toss force the pitcher to use her legs. Your DD is probably losing some leg drive and may be "guiding" her pitches when throwing off a rubber. Practice throwing off a rubber into a tarp @ 20' away and concentrate on leg drive and arm whip. Throwing into a tarp allows the pitcher to focus on her mechanics instead of the results of the pitch.

 

[mmeece]

I like that idea. Haven't tried that before but it makes good sense. Thanks

 

[Sparky Guy]

Walk-throughs and long toss force the pitcher to use her legs. Your DD is probably losing some leg drive and may be "guiding" her pitches when throwing off a rubber. Practice throwing off a rubber into a tarp @ 20' away and concentrate on leg drive and arm whip. Throwing into a tarp allows the pitcher to focus on her mechanics instead of the results of the pitch.

When it comes to pitching the majority of parents and team coaches have it wrong. They are "Results" driven. They are not happy unless every pitch is a strike. Especially with the younger girls who are learning how to pitch. It has the pitchers worried about the wrong things because the are trying to please their mom or dad by throwing strikes. That's when the slowing down and steering the ball comes into play.

Learning how to pitch needs to be "Process" driven. The young girls need to be focused on what they are doing with their motion. NOT where the ball goes. I will tell my young girls "I don't care where the ball goes." Then I will ask them if anyone has ever told them that before? Pretty much everyone of the will say "No." What I tell my young students and especially the parents while I'm pointing to the pitching rubber, "When everything is right at that end. The other end will take care of itself." Once the parents buy into that thought process the kids seem to learn much quicker.

 

[mmeece]

Makes good sense. I like the idea of incorporating the tarp/net drill into our practices so we can evaluate mechanics without even being able to see where the pitch ended up.