- Oct 4, 2020
- 55
- 8
Hi everyone, I know I owe a lot of people a lot of responses on this thread. Wow, can't get over the wealth and learning that is possible here. So before I went ahead and started the process of catching up I thought I would pass along a heartfelt thanks. Can't tell you how much I've (we've) learned from your input. Ok, about this drop...
First, a video. In short working on it. You'd think it would be a hell of a lot easier. When considering 6 days a week school ball, 3 days a week travel ball, pitching lessons, hitting lessons, and 3 days a week weight lifting and a few bullpens a week with the old man it can get tough to fit something new in. That said, I'll get one! Be nice though, mechanics are still being worked out as a HE to IR convert and her PC (Who we think is an absolutely fantastic D1 Fordham powerhouse) is, to some degree, embracing what DD is showing mechanics wise. Stay tuned on this front. And believe me, we don't push her on these things...she loves all of it.
One thing that seems to have started to help is the use of the bands. As her PC says we need to "find the right arc" for her. We've placed a window about 8 feet in front of her to give her feedback that she can adjust to. After a few pitches we adjust its height to try and create the desired effect of the drop. Definitely seems to be helping.
Another piece of advice we've adopted from this thread is drawing quarter sized circles on the ball to monitor spin - I think there's something to this "spin isn't right" idea. Weird thing is when she's doing her warmup drills the spin looks great and the ball drops sharply - right at dear old dads feet! Seems her release from might have some variation in it. I'm beginning to think, like some of you have pointed out, is things might be related to the action of her release. More study happening here. Have to be careful though as we're in the middle of her school season and getting ready to start a heavy travel ball season.
With regard to being too short or tall...not a believer. When I said "this is what I was thinking" i was referring to the reference to the potential for her release action to be changing from pitch to pitch.
On the drop being her primary tool, we think this idea might be changing. She was taught a palm up curve this last off season and she's been seeing interesting results even though its not "curving" like you might expect (is thrown on a bit of an angle with 3-9 spin. Seems to "Hover" so to speak and snipe the outside corner. Curves at times but right now not much if at all. Gets called to throw it maybe 20% of the time now. See's fouls and weak hits (one or two solid hits where she let it float over the center of the plate) on it so far. Seems to be service a a bit of an off speed as well when compared to her FB. All this to say, now we're thinking the rise might be a good tool for her given her success with the palm up curve. Shrug, we'll see I guess.
OK finally, you'll see a number of responses after this one because I'm going to go back and answer/comment on a series of posts I found interesting so get ready!
Again, thanks for everything. More helpful than you can imagine. What a journey!
First, a video. In short working on it. You'd think it would be a hell of a lot easier. When considering 6 days a week school ball, 3 days a week travel ball, pitching lessons, hitting lessons, and 3 days a week weight lifting and a few bullpens a week with the old man it can get tough to fit something new in. That said, I'll get one! Be nice though, mechanics are still being worked out as a HE to IR convert and her PC (Who we think is an absolutely fantastic D1 Fordham powerhouse) is, to some degree, embracing what DD is showing mechanics wise. Stay tuned on this front. And believe me, we don't push her on these things...she loves all of it.
One thing that seems to have started to help is the use of the bands. As her PC says we need to "find the right arc" for her. We've placed a window about 8 feet in front of her to give her feedback that she can adjust to. After a few pitches we adjust its height to try and create the desired effect of the drop. Definitely seems to be helping.
Another piece of advice we've adopted from this thread is drawing quarter sized circles on the ball to monitor spin - I think there's something to this "spin isn't right" idea. Weird thing is when she's doing her warmup drills the spin looks great and the ball drops sharply - right at dear old dads feet! Seems her release from might have some variation in it. I'm beginning to think, like some of you have pointed out, is things might be related to the action of her release. More study happening here. Have to be careful though as we're in the middle of her school season and getting ready to start a heavy travel ball season.
With regard to being too short or tall...not a believer. When I said "this is what I was thinking" i was referring to the reference to the potential for her release action to be changing from pitch to pitch.
On the drop being her primary tool, we think this idea might be changing. She was taught a palm up curve this last off season and she's been seeing interesting results even though its not "curving" like you might expect (is thrown on a bit of an angle with 3-9 spin. Seems to "Hover" so to speak and snipe the outside corner. Curves at times but right now not much if at all. Gets called to throw it maybe 20% of the time now. See's fouls and weak hits (one or two solid hits where she let it float over the center of the plate) on it so far. Seems to be service a a bit of an off speed as well when compared to her FB. All this to say, now we're thinking the rise might be a good tool for her given her success with the palm up curve. Shrug, we'll see I guess.
OK finally, you'll see a number of responses after this one because I'm going to go back and answer/comment on a series of posts I found interesting so get ready!
Again, thanks for everything. More helpful than you can imagine. What a journey!
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