Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching Help!!!!!

default · Nov 24, 2007

Hello All, I am new to the area and this site was suggested as a mean for getting some help. I have a 11 year old daughter who has been going to Bill Hillhouse for semi private lessons for a while now. We know there are differant styles but would like to continue to learn his type of style. Before leaving he game me a name and number of a person around the Columbus area who he said is one of 4 people in the US he would recommend but in the move I have lost it... I think he said he was opening a second location somewhere but I am not sure where. Can anyone tell me who this person is, If he is the areas best instructor, and if so how to get a hold of him.

Thanks in advance for any help...

default · Nov 24, 2007

fred - my 2 cents worth, which may not be very PC on this board. Don't get caught in the tunnel vision trap about pitching instructors. Find out all you can about pitching - ON YOUR OWN, don't necessarily take one individual's word as gospel about your DD's pitching. What expectations do you and your DD have? What are some standard benchmarks at certain ages? Is she progressing and constantly improving? How does she compare to other pitchers her age?

No two kids are alike, with unique physical makeup and strength. Using a cookie cutter style of teaching will never work for each and every kid. Without ever trying anything else, how do you know for certain that another "style" may work better for YOUR DD? You may also find out that your original instructor is in fact the best for your DD.

A few years ago, I watched a particular team where every single kid held the bat barrel tipped back at an odd angle. In spite of this, they weren't a very good hitting team. A good example of one coaches experiment that had no fundamental concept. In the meantime, a whole team of kids learned a set of poor mechanics.

My point is - unless you really do your own research and fact finding, just accepting what one (or two) individuals tell you, you may miss out on getting the best teaching for your DD. The grass isn't always greener, but if you never look over the fence, you'll never know.

default · Nov 24, 2007

Fred, Bill was problaby talking about Jimmy Yates .He has a new facility in London, Ohio and does instructions out of All -Star Family Sports on North end of Columbus.

default · Nov 24, 2007

Sammy

I agree and disagree with you. I agree that people should do their own research and figure out what's best. Having said that, how do we know this guy has NOT already done that and wants to continue on with what he's started? While you didn't directly say this, it needs to be pointed out that Hillhouse does NOT teach pitching style to pitchers. He teaches them the positions their bodies MUST be in for certain points in the delivery. He fully demonstrates why and what happens if the body is not in those positions. But, he lets them make their own 'style' to get into those positions. I agree with you wholeheartedly that many pitching coaches teach their pitching style as "THE WAY" to pitch. That is not the case here, Hillhouse makes sure the pitcher is in the right positions at the proper times. This is where his demonstration is invaluable because you can see what, when, why and how and the results are pretty amazing when you see it. Then you compare what you've been told/shown to the likes of Osterman, Smith, Ueno, etc. and they are all in those exact positions at the same times. Bill is a big advocate of there being right and wrong, and by that he means the positions his body must get into.

Having said that, I would suggest Fred just email Bill to ask him. But I'm pretty sure it'd be Jimmy Yates also.

CC

default · Nov 24, 2007

i can pretty much state for fact that he is talking about Jimmy

default · Nov 24, 2007

fred may well have already done all the research he feels is necessary in finding the right fit for his DD. Therefore, my explanation to him, in particular, is completely unnecessary. I'm just suggesting that if anyone has never been to at least 3 or more pitching instructors - for at least one lesson - they have no benchmark for comparison.

The instructors mentioned must be doing a lot of things right, because they are pretty popular and seem to have a good following. I would recommend them to anyone who hasn't at least given them a chance, and is currently looking for something new. However, there are a lot of kids who go elsewhere, and are also very successful pitchers. All I'm suggesting is don't get tunnel vision if things aren't going according to YOUR plan. For the record, my DD was never taught by either of the two instructors mentioned. Had we known of them when she was "in the market", no doubt we would have given them a try.

default · Nov 24, 2007

Sammy said:
fred - my 2 cents worth, which may not be very PC on this board. Don't get caught in the tunnel vision trap about pitching instructors. Find out all you can about pitching - ON YOUR OWN, don't necessarily take one individual's word as gospel about your DD's pitching. What expectations do you and your DD have? What are some standard benchmarks at certain ages? Is she progressing and constantly improving? How does she compare to other pitchers her age?

No two kids are alike, with unique physical makeup and strength. Using a cookie cutter style of teaching will never work for each and every kid. Without ever trying anything else, how do you know for certain that another "style" may work better for YOUR DD? You may also find out that your original instructor is in fact the best for your DD.

A few years ago, I watched a particular team where every single kid held the bat barrel tipped back at an odd angle. In spite of this, they weren't a very good hitting team. A good example of one coaches experiment that had no fundamental concept. In the meantime, a whole team of kids learned a set of poor mechanics.

My point is - unless you really do your own research and fact finding, just accepting what one (or two) individuals tell you, you may miss out on getting the best teaching for your DD. The grass isn't always greener, but if you never look over the fence, you'll never know.

Sammy - Very good post. I could not agree with you more.

default · Nov 24, 2007

It is Jimmie Yates. I played softball with Jimmie many moons ago. Jimmie also played with Bill Hillhouse, Doug Gillis and I believe Mike Larabee.

Jimmie's phone # is 1-614-282-3360

I also do lessons in the Dayton area. Having spent time with Hillhouse and Gillis, I use alot of their knowledge. There is a lot to pitching that when it comes right down to it is "style". However, there are also certain times during the delivery where there are "absolutes", things that every great pitcher has to do to be successful.

It is important to know the difference.

Scott Herman

default · Nov 25, 2007

Scott, Thanks for the number. I was able to contact Jimmy and he is the one we were looking for. After talking with him I am sure we can continue to build on what we have already gotten from Bill. It seems they have much of the same beliefs. The transition should be a fairly easy one.

As for the other post we did do a lot of research and had gone to several other instructors prior to Bill and his methods are much easier to understand.

Fred

default · Nov 26, 2007

Jimmy is great and I don't believe you will be disappointed.

default · Nov 27, 2007

Sammy

Well said and I agree completely. I think where the majority of people will disagree is: our definitions of 'successful' pitcher may be different. How do we define that? "Joe Blow had a lot of successful students". What does that mean? For me personally (and for my DD) she has a goal to be the best pitcher in the world, not the best in Ohio or in our league. We believe for her to accomplish that goal, she needs to learn from someone who has been (or is) one of the best in the world. Learing what they do, how they do it and the all important WHY. This is not something that can be taught by someone who has not been to the top tier level, in my opinion. This is in NO WAY saying all great athletes make great coaches, far from it. But if all things were equal in teaching ability and you wanted to learn golf... would you want lessons from Tiger Woods or the #200 ranked golfer on tour?

CC

default · Nov 27, 2007

cluelesscoach said:
... our definitions of 'successful' pitcher may be different... ~and ~ ... ?But if all things were equal in teaching ability and you wanted to learn golf... would you want lessons from Tiger Woods or the #200 ranked golfer on tour? ?

You are absolutely correct---I think people's definition of success are indeed different. ?Frankly, I don't need for my dd to be the "best in the world" to have her be successful. ?She and I will be perfectly happy with her personal best, and hopefully some satisfying college level play.

As far as taking lessons from Tiger Woods, I guess if the #200 ranked player lived fairly close to me and had reasonable rates and could give my dd hands-on, one-on-one lessons, I would probably be happy to take lessons from him. ?(jmho)

default · Nov 28, 2007

clueless - I couldn't agree more with you. Far too many folks just take for granted that since "coach so-and-so" has a portfolio of 30 DI pitchers he has coached, he MUST be the best for their DD. I can't stress enough about doing YOUR OWN research - and do what is right for YOUR DD. Personally, I would rather Tiger's DAD teach me golf rather than Tiger. Tiger may be a great golfer, but is he a great teacher?

The definition of success IS unique - it can only be defined by the individual. How many times have you heard an uninformed person say "Why is she settling for (fill in college) when she's a (fill in college) caliber player?" Doesn't that drive you crazy?? Maybe a kid has a dream of warmer weather, so she passes on northern state schools for a DII in Florida.

Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching Help!!!!!

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