practical help with drive mechanics

[ndlucy]

My DD is 12 and started pitching last fall 12U. She is effective, not top maybe pool pitching (fastball/drop and change). She is having a lot of trouble transferring her driving drill mechanics into her pitch. She is a very strong kid, I’m thinking it could do a lot with coordination and worrying about losing her release zone timing. She is making some progress and has eliminated a foot drag and monkey butt ( she still reverts an open style when she’s very tired).

I’m wondering if there are any practical movements that can help her get a better handle/ feeling on the drive and glide? Her drills are A+ but transferring them to the pitch is a real struggle. Thx

 

[DrRiello]

My DD is 12 and started pitching last fall 12U. She is effective, not top maybe pool pitching (fastball/drop and change). She is having a lot of trouble transferring her driving drill mechanics into her pitch. She is a very strong kid, I’m thinking it could do a lot with coordination and worrying about losing her release zone timing. She is making some progress and has eliminated a foot drag and monkey butt ( she still reverts an open style when she’s very tired).

I’m wondering if there are any practical movements that can help her get a better handle/ feeling on the drive and glide? Her drills are A+ but transferring them to the pitch is a real struggle. Thx

I feel your frustration. My dd was in the same boat for a few years. Broke out this year now she’s humming along.
The problem generally is timing. When their young their drive arm tends to be faster than the legs and that timing issue just slows down delivery. Younger pitchers tend to drive with the right arm. Meaning use it to push off the mound. Believe it or not the drive should start before the arm moves forward. Delaying the arm enough as it catches up to the legs creating good timing and proper delivery.
Work on some sort of arm delay tactics. My dd drops the hand down then back as she drives. Some girls push the arms forward then down and back. The old timers like Monica or Jennie or Amanda have big long backswings and get moving forward early. (Not recommended) Whatever you do the arm has to chase the legs so ball arm is at 3 when right foot detaches, ball arm at 11 on toe touch. Get this and she will begin throwing hard like in drills.


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[ndlucy]

I never thought about it that way. She’s a lefty. I do see that she uses the momentum of the left arm vs using her left leg/drive leg to push toward. She’s a strong kid and pitches 48 -50 mph without using her legs effectively. (If she pushed we her legs she flys forward and loses control- her core is not as developed) I do think the biggest issue is the timing. As she focuses on pushing with her leg we will figure out some way to get the arm delayed.

 

[ndlucy]

I never thought about it that way. She’s a lefty. I do see that she uses the momentum of the left arm vs using her left leg/drive leg to push toward. She’s a strong kid and pitches 48 -50 mph without using her legs effectively. (If she pushed we her legs she flys forward and loses control- her core is not as developed) I do think the biggest issue is the timing. As she focuses on pushing with her leg we will figure out some way to get the arm delayed.

 

[ndlucy]

I just asked her about using the momentum of her arm to push off the mound and she started giggling and laughing. Making pushing moves with her arms..She knows exactly what’s going on. She’s gonna have to continue to stick with getting the legs driving and arms timed up until she’s allowed to add on anything else. Thx again

 

[DNeeld]

Do the pushback drill.....a lot of it.




The good thing is this isn't an isolation drill. She can do it in her full pitch motion, so you should be able to avoid the "correct in drill, incorrect in full motion" problems.

 

[ndlucy]

Do the pushback drill.....a lot of it.




The good thing is this isn't an isolation drill. She can do it in her full pitch motion, so you should be able to avoid the "correct in drill, incorrect in full motion" problems.

This is great. She works drills with shin angles and floor pressure but is not implementing the push forward to achieve the weightless motion. I get that it will take time but this gives her the feeling in the right direction.