Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Best of the Best PITCHING INSTRUCTORS in OHIO

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I think it becomes very easy to give props to the pitching instructor your daughter sees, and think they are the best. However, sometimes the blinders need to be removed. Unfortunately when comments like "not just cashing your check each week" or to talk about all the all state pitchers they've produced, it makes you lose credibility. This thread is so funny.

There are quite a few very credible instructors that are in it for the girls and do it to help the girls. There are also ones that aren't in it for the right reason and do just "cash your check each week" It would be interested to hear turn over rate from some of these instructors? Obviously you have to find the right coach for your DD, but when you are expecting have a private lesson with a coach and you show up and there are two or three other girls there at the same time, that is not fair or conducive to the girls.

My hope is for each girl to find a coach they like, and to enjoy the journey. There is no guarantee that each girl will get a scholarship, but if the girl enjoys pitching and has a good time with the coach, and they are improving, isn't that what matters?
You said,"or to talk about all the all state pitchers they've produced, it makes you lose credibility. This thread is so funny. "

One would think if an instructor has been a good enough instructor to have coached "several" kids to All State status, or to a college scholarship, it just might lend some credibility to his methods. I see nothing wrong with that, and certainly I do not find it "funny"
 
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punchy took the words right out of my mouth, For_the_girls.
 
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Me.............I have my DD hitting 74 mph on her fastball, 22 mph on her change up. She has currently mastered a 2 seem fastball, a 4 seem fastball, a palm change-up, a horseshoe change-up, a backhand change-up, and a change-up knuckle ball, a drop ball, drop curve, curve, screw ball, a riseball, a screw riseball and a curve riseball.......yes she has 13 pitches that she can throw for strikes anywhere, anytime........lol.......I hope she gets some JV time this year..........
 
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lol fpitchdad - but you forgot the double secret rise-changeup!! :lmao:
 
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I couldn't agree more with Strohbro! And fpitchdad that made me laugh!!

Find a coach that you like and that works well with your daughter. Just because Coach X has a lot of students and many of them are good, does not mean that Coach X will be right for you daughter.
 
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I know they have been mentioned but Diamonds and Dreams Chris Miner and Pat Pollock. My DD started with them at the age of 9 and has come a very long way since.
 
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Punchout, I have to say your Avatar picture is great! I got to see your daughter play a couple of times there, and what a player!

As I re-read my initial post, I wanted to clarify a couple of things. I was not trying to offend anyone, nor was I talking about anyone specific. The all-state pitchers wasn't a jab at the pitching coach. It was more directed as I don't feel we can base a pitching coaches abilities solely on the all state awards because the supporting cast a pitcher has makes a big deal, as well as the politics that go into the voting for those, in addition to the athletic ability of the pitcher. (A hitting pitcher that excels at the plate but may not be the best pitcher, is often times selected to the all state for her all around play)HOWEVER, I am NOT taking anything away from any of the all state selections because it is an honor!

Like sports88788 said, each DD is going to be different, and one coach will work for some, and not for others. My hope is for each girl that has an interest in pitching be presented the opportunity to try pitching, for pitchers to improve and enjoy it, and make memories along the way. The game can be taken away in a blink of an eye.
 
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For the Girls makes a great point. Any teacher who works with enough students is bound to get a few that excel. It's a number's game. The question is, how does that instructor do with someone who's less talented? Unfortunately we never get to see that. We never see or hear about the pitchers who had no ability or God Given talent, yet went on to make 3rd string on a travel team or get a college scholarship. And there is a lot of truth in saying not every kid will gel with every coach.

I won't deny that I'm a Hillhouse fan. His rapport with kids astounds me, the way he makes them laugh while they learn this. And he will not talk about his own pitching much or his accolades. And he told me he sometimes gets slack because he won't announce how many or which of his kids go onto college or put that on his site. Right or wrong, he says he thinks that would be taking credit for the kid's own hard work. But I know that people fly from all over North America to his lessons and clinics, I've seen it. But softball aside for just a second, last year when I lost my job, Bill refused to stop seeing my daughter even though we don't have the money for pitching lessons. I know there was a couple others in the same boat. I was skeptical at first cause nobody wants charity. But as he pointed out, this is for the kids not for the parents, which made it seem ok. I cannot even begin to tell you how much that meant. Now things are ok and I'm back to work, we didn't lose our spot in seeing him, and he's never said a word about it to anyone. I'm only mentioning this, #1. because this is anonymous. #2. I don't think he reads this and #3. things like that make him much more than a pitching instructor to our family. Not only do I think he's the best in the country at what he does but how do you put a price on what he did for my DD?
 
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Punchout, I have to say your Avatar picture is great! I got to see your daughter play a couple of times there, and what a player!

As I re-read my initial post, I wanted to clarify a couple of things. I was not trying to offend anyone, nor was I talking about anyone specific. The all-state pitchers wasn't a jab at the pitching coach. It was more directed as I don't feel we can base a pitching coaches abilities solely on the all state awards because the supporting cast a pitcher has makes a big deal, as well as the politics that go into the voting for those, in addition to the athletic ability of the pitcher. (A hitting pitcher that excels at the plate but may not be the best pitcher, is often times selected to the all state for her all around play)HOWEVER, I am NOT taking anything away from any of the all state selections because it is an honor!

Like sports88788 said, each DD is going to be different, and one coach will work for some, and not for others. My hope is for each girl that has an interest in pitching be presented the opportunity to try pitching, for pitchers to improve and enjoy it, and make memories along the way. The game can be taken away in a blink of an eye.

I now totally agree with what you said. Pitchers do not do it alone, but a really good pitcher can mask a lot of "potential" mistakes in an average defense. I do agree many times, the All State awards can be very politicial, and sometimes resemble a team award. I have seen some kids very deserving and some, not so much. This IS a team game after all. Some of this states best pitchers never made it to the final four in high school, probably because their supporting cast were not up to it.
An error caused by a collision between our second baseman and our right fielder on a can of corn with two outs and two on late in a regional game that allowed two runs to score, kept DD`s high school team from the final four. Yet she went on to win the ASA, NSA and USSSA states in one summer. Defense and hitting ARE important, obviously.

Thanks for the compliment on DD, she had a blast playing at OSU. Told me she really misses the travel, hotels, nice resturants and games. But she doesnt miss the weights, running, 6AM practices and the injuries.
 
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This is my DD's first time pitching at 7 years old. We are working with Kasey Reis from the Akron Racers, and she has been wonderful to work with. I have literally gone from jumping off my bucket every pitch to get to the ball pitched, to being able to actually sit down to catch, and be able to enjoy the workout with DD LOL! She has come a long way in a short period of time. SHe actually throws a fastball and a change up at the moment, and gets better every week. I look forward to working with Kasey for as long as she will have us, and can only imagine what things will be like when DD gets to her teens!
 
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There is one important matter that we are all missing, the work ethic of the girl. If your DD wants to be good then all these coaches are the perfect fit, if pitchers do not have the work ethic then the best pitching coach wont make a differnce. How about the poor guys and moms that sit on that bucket 3 or 4 days a week taken pitches off shins , getting your fingers beat up by the hard throwers.

Champions are not born there developed!!!
 
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There is one important matter that we are all missing, the work ethic of the girl. If your DD wants to be good then all these coaches are the perfect fit, if pitchers do not have the work ethic then the best pitching coach wont make a differnce. How about the poor guys and moms that sit on that bucket 3 or 4 days a week taken pitches off shins , getting your fingers beat up by the hard throwers.

Champions are not born there developed!!!

I would add that most of my pitchers are also my best hitters as the pitchers rotate their hips, belly button towards the hitter whenever they pitch unlike any other player.

I would also add some instructors teach mechanics that hurt the hip, shoulder, elbow and hamstring of the pitchers. I have recommended to my hitters to try Gillis or Hillhouse and suddenly their pains go away and control improves and speed goes up.

There must be something to the mechanics that is different enough that causes the problems and if I were you I would do some research to find out what it is in my opinion.
 
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There is one important matter that we are all missing, the work ethic of the girl. If your DD wants to be good then all these coaches are the perfect fit, if pitchers do not have the work ethic then the best pitching coach wont make a differnce. How about the poor guys and moms that sit on that bucket 3 or 4 days a week taken pitches off shins , getting your fingers beat up by the hard throwers.

Champions are not born there developed!!!

NO DOUBT, and the Pitching Coach that tells those MOM & DADs,, I think you are wasting your time,,, IS A GREAT pitching coach. The one that keeps taking the money , well I wouldn't like to be in his/her shoes once Mom & Dad figure it all out.
 
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Triple.. I asked Bill Hillhouse about this very subject once. And I liked what he said a lot, in a nutshell it was that he would never tell a kid they are wasting their time if they enjoy doing it. If a kid wants to pitch, despite not being very naturally talented, he will help them be their best. But he also won't sell them on having a huge potential in pitching when there isn't one. I don't think any kid should be discouraged from doing something they love doing. That doesn't mean they should lied to about having a big future in pitching but they should keep trying and working if they love it. Not everyone will be Osterman. But as the judges says in Caddyshack: The world needs ditch diggers too!
 
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Once again, I apologize for not being very clear the first time.

Triple and Heaven, I often wonder the same things, and it is a very thin line. I wonder, how many coaches tell the parents if they aren't going to practice they are wasting their time instead of continue to take the money? (Believe me, I know life happens and practicing can be missed occasionally) Is it the coach's responsibility to tell them they are wasting money if they aren't practicing?

However, there are girls that don't want to devote their entire life to pitching and may just pitch for high school or the local recreation team... I think it's all a matter of what the girl/parent is looking for and what they want out of it...
 
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Ed Beavers is an excellent instructor for fastpitch. His methods and techniques are great. He instructs so you can hear everything your DD is doing so you can take that info and help her out when you are doing your practice. He is one of the best. If you are in the Trumbull County or NE Ohio area he would be the one to go to.
 
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Pete Cook in Springfield, Ohio. and a great hitting coach as well...
 
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Jimmy Yates in Plain City. Watch that hand shake. You might get your hand crushed.
 

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