- Aug 21, 2008
- 2,430
- 113
Chris is onto a very big element as to why I'm opposed to swingbacks. The overwhelming majority of girls who swing back lock their elbow. These girls notoriously get sore in the shoulders and pitch with muscle rather than an easy relaxed whip.
The other reason is, why give the batter a chance to see the ball and grip on the ball? Or the coaches for that matter to look and relay to batters? Has anyone noticed the overwhelming majority of former Team USA men's players now coaching D1 ball? I could name you 18 off the top of my head and probably more at other levels or that I don't know about. Watch an Oregon game sometime and see if Mike White is watching his hitter... he's not. He's watching the pitcher give away her pitches. And he uses that. Team USA did that in 2006 against Ueno, had men's team players pick her change up. Then they saw it clean with her back swing. In 2007 Japan didn't bring her over and in 2008 without someone to pick pitches she stuffed up the USA's butts in the Gold medal game. True story.
I realize not every girl is going to be D1. But shouldn't that be what they strive for? If so, why do something that will ultimately help the hitters. Remember it doesn't gain extra speed if the elbow locks anyway so, it's a gamble.
No question it's a STYLE choice. But as the hitters get better and better and reading pitchers with their coaches, it will become an absolute. This is why men's pitchers do not do it (at the top level), or very very few do.
Bill
The other reason is, why give the batter a chance to see the ball and grip on the ball? Or the coaches for that matter to look and relay to batters? Has anyone noticed the overwhelming majority of former Team USA men's players now coaching D1 ball? I could name you 18 off the top of my head and probably more at other levels or that I don't know about. Watch an Oregon game sometime and see if Mike White is watching his hitter... he's not. He's watching the pitcher give away her pitches. And he uses that. Team USA did that in 2006 against Ueno, had men's team players pick her change up. Then they saw it clean with her back swing. In 2007 Japan didn't bring her over and in 2008 without someone to pick pitches she stuffed up the USA's butts in the Gold medal game. True story.
I realize not every girl is going to be D1. But shouldn't that be what they strive for? If so, why do something that will ultimately help the hitters. Remember it doesn't gain extra speed if the elbow locks anyway so, it's a gamble.
No question it's a STYLE choice. But as the hitters get better and better and reading pitchers with their coaches, it will become an absolute. This is why men's pitchers do not do it (at the top level), or very very few do.
Bill