Pitching and Pitchers Discussion along the line of pitching technique

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should a pitchers hip come through on the delivery. If a pitcher throws the ball and does not follow through with her hip (leaves it open) what is she losing on her pitch. Not a pitching expert by anymeans but I do remember when my dd wanted to pitch her instructor told her the as soon as her hand passed the hip the hip needs to close. some help would be appreciate to this and what does a girl gain by closing the hip after the arm pitches.

thanks

 

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My dd has her hips stay open after the release from what I see. If she does close, it isn't by much. Her coach taught her that. But there are so many techniques, who is to say who is right. I know it works for her.

 

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It really depends on your dd. My dd started out closing the hip (10U-12U) and then went to an instructor who taught her to stay open (13U-15U). She did well with that until she was asked by another instructor to try each of her pitches both ways. She decided closing the hip works better for her. However, she is a girl and may change her mind at any given moment...

 

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There's a LOT more to it, but what's important is "getting the backside through" on the pitch. Old school teaching is getting the hip around and through, "slam the door" but that is only one style. Many girls do not use the "slam the door" technique you describe, but stay nearly open. DD started very young with the slam the door, then was converted to what I call the "K" finish - drag foot (sort of) comes up to meet the plant foot. From a catcher's perspective, the legs (RHP) resemble a cursive backward k at finish. She found out she got far more zip on the ball that way, and her hip didn't get in the way as much. However, your DD may feel entirely different - she has to use what works for HER.

 

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Girls that do not close their hips are Resistance type pitchers. They build a strong wall from their front side, hip down and push against that. That is why you will see their hip stay slightly open.

There are girls that throw using their hip. Ball comes through first, hip follows through to add power and direct the ball to the desired target.

Both are successful. I teach both styles and give the pitcher the choice as to what works best for them.

 

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what i have noticed is there are 2 ways a pitcher pitchs.
#1 is a locked elbow (straight arm) seems to me these pitchers are faster at a younger age, but also peek to their max speed younger as well, Most straight arm pitchers i have seen the max speed is in the high 50s...to 61 or 62 mph
#2 is the snapping across the body, the elbow is bent and comes to the hip first, then the arm snaps down and acrossed the body or hips.. these pitchers are the ones that increase in speed to a much older age like late high school or into college, max speed is around 66mph and up...this is the way every single Olympic pitcher pitches...