Rise ball questions

[radness]

So if you know (correctly I might add) that the pitch is bogus, thrown at an angle instead of moving by spin, then why bother? Your kid can work on throwing inside (rise and drop) and have the same effect. Moreover, the more time spent doing all these things for a "screwball" is going to make working on the riseball even more difficult.

Hmmm for discussion?! @uncdrew did not say the pitch is bogus, he commented to the angle of the pitchers body assists in the trajectory appearance of the pitch.
Brings the topic~
If a pitcher is doing whatever they are doing and it is helping them be successful
It's not bogus.

Then it can be discussed the level at which the success is being achieved.

Put it in that perspective because very possibly the playing level of achievement is what determines the level of pitching ability, if it is successful or not.

 

[_MIA_]

Hmmm for discussion?! @uncdrew did not say the pitch is bogus, he commented to the angle of the pitchers body assists in the trajectory appearance of the pitch.
Brings the topic~
If a pitcher is doing whatever they are doing and it is helping them be successful
It's not bogus.

Then it can be discussed the level at which the success is being achieved.

His issue (I think) is with calling it a screwball, not whether a pitch is effective, and I agree with him. Screwballs have a specific spin associated with them.Carl Hubbell threw a screwball in baseball 100 years ago. Fernando Valenzuela threw one in the 1980’s. Unless you want make up different conventions for softball, a ball which may move to the throwing hand side isn’t a screwball if it doesn’t have screwball spin..

This is the second or third time in the last year this conversation has happened…not sure why people are so adamant on calling it a screwball other than to be able to tell people their little Suzy All World throws one..

 

[radness]

His issue (I think) is with calling it a screwball, not whether a pitch is effective, and I agree with him. Screwballs have a specific spin associated with them.Carl Hubbell threw a screwball in baseball 100 years ago. Fernando Valenzuela threw one in the 1980’s. A ball which may move to the throwing hand side isn’t a screwball if it doesn’t have screwball spin..

Yes I get that.

Have to call it something!
But probably Mr. Pattar you already know that

 

[_MIA_]

Can't just say Throw Your fastball especially when they're breaking in different directions because of spin.
Curve
Drop
Screw

That happens in baseball too and they come up with different names other than screwball (cutter, etc)

A coach asking a kid how many pitches they throw (and having the kid name them) is pointless anyway without actually seeing the pitches. Once they see them the pitch caller, catcher and pitcher (and anybody else who needs to know ) just needs to be on the same page.

 

[ArmWhip]

If a pitcher is doing whatever they are doing and it is helping them be successful
It's not bogus.

I was at a mid level Showcase this summer and watched a very 'athletic' pitcher warmup. She looked good but I noticed the 'step left, throw right' screwball was part of her repertoire. She threw that pitch in the game and it repeatedly got smoked. Maybe she didn't get it inside enough or maybe the hitters were smart enough see what was coming. Whatever the case I'm sure it was a killer pitch at the 14U level.

 

[radness]

That happens in baseball too and they come up with different names other than screwball (cutter, etc)

Yep.

Possibly could then add the difference between where the ball is being released in Fastpitch and its trajectory path. Because not all softball pitchers will throw a screwball to intend to stay low, some pitchers throw a screwball to intend to go higher.

 

[_MIA_]

I was at a mid level Showcase this summer and watched a very 'athletic' pitcher warmup. She looked good but I noticed the 'step left, throw right' screwball was part of her repertoire. She threw that pitch in the game and it repeatedly got smoked. Maybe she didn't get it inside enough or maybe the hitters were smart enough see what was coming. Whatever the case I'm sure it was a killer pitch at the 14U level.

Never stepped in the box in fastpitch but would the step left be something a batter could pick up early enough to help them?

 

[radness]

I was at a mid level Showcase this summer and watched a very 'athletic' pitcher warmup. She looked good but I noticed the 'step left, throw right' screwball was part of her repertoire. She threw that pitch in the game and it repeatedly got smoked. Maybe she didn't get it inside enough or maybe the hitters were smart enough see what was coming. Whatever the case I'm sure it was a killer pitch at the 14U level.

That is why I commented to paying attention to what level a pitcher is reaching success. After all there are people who's only reference to softball is from what they've been sitting in the bleachers staring at their kid for a few years.
Which is the only tool a lot of parents have to gauge their kids talent level. Majority of people do not see top tier or even upper-level average.

 

[_MIA_]

Which is the only tool a lot of parents have to gauge their kids talent level. Majority of people do not see top tier or even upper-level average.

Ignorance is bliss…

 

[radness]

Ignorance is bliss…

This became a noticeable trend of people coming to catching lessons later when they were 14, 15 or 16.

Run into similar situations with parents of catchers who in younger age bracket or C/B type teams,
their daughter's throw to 2nd gets the out.
Until they go tryout for a competive team.
Either don't make it or told they will be the last catcher in the lineup.
And they're confused, frustrated, mad, and they're seeking a solution.

They find out the solution is you have to be faster, throw harder and be more accurate, because the players have gotten better and their decision making is faster and they're stronger physically.
Picks up the level of the game.

It has happened where parents were mad at themselves because they did not see anything beyond the softball that was right in front of them to even recognize should/could have been doing better.

High school can be a very Awakening situation for a lot of these.