Candrea not liking Kobata's training?

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I recently watched Kobata's first two videos: Series 1 and Series 2. I was impressed by his detailed and to-the-point explanations of the mechanics. I also enjoyed some of his techniques - definitely nice explanations of pivots, fielding the ball left of centerline (for right hand throwers) and base coverage.

I did, however, find some of his techniques troubling. I would NEVER have one of my players use his side throw technique, for example, which (at least as demonstrated in the videos) has the player throwing the ball at about a 3/4 angle with the elbow below the shoulder and the wrist snapping and stopping in front of the body. Frequent repetition of this motion, in my opinion, can cause both shoulder damage (from the elbow position during the throw) and elbow problems (from "stopping short" in front of the body). Regardless of whether this is softball or baseball, this throwing motion has a HIGH risk of injury if performed many times.

There are other little things, like the way that he has second basemen cover first base on a bunt that seems to miss the forest for the trees (i.e. For instance, he seems to disregard the fact that having the second basemen set up at first in the traditional manner provides an easier target for the catcher or third basemen that is AWAY from the runner coming down the first baseline).

Overall, I think the videos are good . I enjoyed them and have picked up a few drills. However, I am not sure I see anything revolutionary or new in them. It's just a good video set. That doesn't devalue watching them, but I have seen others that are just as useful. I applaud him for being able to market a defensive skills video in a market where hitting and pitching videos outsell fielding videos probably 10 to 1.

 

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He doesn't have them throw "side arm", they just stay low because if you stand up to throw on some pivots...your to slow, if I see your team standing up to make throws I already know my team is much faster.

 

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He doesn't have them throw "side arm", they just stay low because if you stand up to throw on some pivots...your to slow, if I see your team standing up to make throws I already know my team is much faster.

Uber... you have been hanging around Howard so much you are starting to sound like him!!!!!

 

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No would be TO SLOW TO SLOW,
You worst I ever see, No you not worst she worst you 2nd worst.
Just some things I've heard from Howard.

 

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Uber... you have been hanging around Howard so much you are starting to sound like him!!!!!

Don't worry I might be BSing a lot during his clinics but my mind is like a bear trap!!! :lmao:

 

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Catching a ground ball and dental work and surgury. Those are apples to apples. Most people spend thousands on this stuff and and these guys take the Knowing knowing that the kid is wasting there money. Catching a ground ball is not surgury or dental work. Heck its not auto work. Does anyone have a clue here. Some of you home school your kids but think teaching how to catch a ground ball is above your pay grade? MyvDad was a steel worker that loved the game and taught me enough to get tow DI program. I guess if I would have paid more I would have been in the show.

rbaggs, Don't let the Gestapo folks bother you. They smell blood and they go for it. It's like the Tortoise and the Scorpion thing.

 

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I really believe that being selective in which clinics and/or instructors are involved in my daughters' training not only helped keep costs down, but it also helped stop the confusion of instructors teaching different methods. Our daughters have both experienced Howard Kobata in person as well as having their high school coach reinforce Howard's training. Our daughters were also fortunate enough to attend clinics and receive personal instruction from Howard Carrier. Both of the Howards played a major impact in my daughters' game.

We spent a lot of money on travel ball and softball in general. There were some great perks that went with it like vacations to many places and great friendships. I can definitely say that the money we spent on softball is some of the best money we ever spent on our children. Better yet, it doesn't even come close to how much money my daughters were awarded in college scholarships.

 

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Uber:

I am specifically talking about minutes 9:06 - 10:20 of Series 1 which he describes as the "side throw". This is not a side arm throw. This is what he calls as a "side throw," and regardless of whether or not it is faster, it is not sound mechanics in terms of what is good for your arm.

 

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Uber:

I am specifically talking about minutes 9:06 - 10:20 of Series 1 where the girls perform a technique which he describes as the "side throw". This is not a side arm throw. This is what he calls a "side throw," and regardless of whether or not it is faster, it is not sound mechanics in terms of what is good for your arm.

"if you stand up to throw on some pivots...your to slow, if I see your team standing up to make throws I already know my team is much faster." LOL You do realize that Kobata is all about "popping up" into your throw on pivots, correct? Just messing with ya. As I stated, I liked the videos.

 

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Uber:

I am specifically talking about minutes 9:06 - 10:20 of Series 1 which he describes as the "side throw". This is not a side arm throw. This is what he calls as a "side throw," and regardless of whether or not it is faster, it is not sound mechanics in terms of what is good for your arm.

Tony, are you talking about this section?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUSMMMYo69s&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLDE019CA513C37C5A

 

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Uber:

I am specifically talking about minutes 9:06 - 10:20 of Series 1 where the girls perform a technique which he describes as the "side throw". This is not a side arm throw. This is what he calls a "side throw," and regardless of whether or not it is faster, it is not sound mechanics in terms of what is good for your arm.

"if you stand up to throw on some pivots...your to slow, if I see your team standing up to make throws I already know my team is much faster." LOL You do realize that Kobata is all about "popping up" into your throw on pivots, correct? Just messing with ya. As I stated, I liked the videos.

It's a side throw not side arm. It's for quick short throws. It's a defensive weapon for high level middle infielders. There is no "Pop" on the side throw. You stay low and don't stand up throwing from over the top not the side. We never pop up either lol, it's a momentum pop off the ground towards the target, but that's on pivots not side throws

 

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Yes, CShilt:

That is exactly what I am talking about. Thanks for providing that.

Coach Tony

 

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I have read discussions about submarine baseball pitchers, and how folks think it must wreck their arm/shoulder/elbow. But the key is keeping the upper body and arm angle the same as an over-the-top throw - by tilting from the waist.

Similarly, a lot of misinformation has been injected into hitting principles in the past. Before slo-mo video became the norm, most people only saw the result of the swing - that's probably where "get extended" and "bug squishing" came from. The same things can happen here by only watching the arm angle without paying attention to how the torso is tilted.

My focus was primarily on pitching, and I really haven't watched Kobata's videos much. But after watching that clip, I see exactly what he is explaining about using sound over-the-top throwing mechanics - not sidearm.

 

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Have used Kobata techniques with my HS and travel girls including all 3 of my daughters for close to 8 years. I have seen great improvement in every girl that I worked with.

One problem I do see, and this happens with anything you do repetitively, is on balls where the fielder needs to get rid of the ball right away, the fielder still trys to get the footwork and create "momentum," and sometimes this makes the throw late. This could be alleviated with working drills where the feet aren't moving and/or a better understanding of when to get rid of the ball.