Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitchers Arm Rotation After pitch release.

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Post some video!

Good point.

 

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I certainly do not imply that Bretman is wrong. I simply an inferring that the rule leaves too much for interpretation in its current vague state and that the "slingshot" pitch is legal as long as a complete revolution does not occur (after release).

Note that all I did was post the actual rule from the rule book. I didn't offer any opinion on the legality of the pitcher in question. The rule is what it is, so I'm not sure what part you might not be implying that I'm not wrong about!

I'll leave the judgment of the illegal pitch up to whoever is on the field seeing this with their own eyes.

 

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The rule is what it is, so I'm not sure what part you might not be implying that I'm not wrong about!

Wow, the rare triple negative. Well played, sir!

The NCAA rule is worded similar to ASA:
10.6.5 The pitcher may not make another arm revolution after releasing the ball.

The spirit of this rule and the one limiting the revolutions prior to releasing the pitch is obviously to prevent the pitcher from using the same pitching motion and having 2 different release points with a full revolution between them. I wouldn't be surprised if there are official interpretations of the ASA and NCAA rules that are similar to the NFHS rule.

 

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Note that all I did was post the actual rule from the rule book. I didn't offer any opinion on the legality of the pitcher in question. The rule is what it is, so I'm not sure what part you might not be implying that I'm not wrong about!

I'll leave the judgment of the illegal pitch up to whoever is on the field seeing this with their own eyes.

My Bad, Bretman. You are correct in that I assumed you provided an opinion. You merely posted the rule.

 

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Wow, the rare triple negative. Well played, sir!

I wondered if anybody would notice that! ;&

 

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6-1-4e: The pitcher shall not continue to wind up after taking the forward step or after the ball is released.

NOTE: Continuation of the windup is considered any action that, after the ball is released, causes the arm to continue to rotate past the shoulder.




Bretman is right, once again.

This is the rule that most umpires will rely on when explaining their call. On slingshot pitch, some umpires want the hand to stop parallel with the ground no higher than the shoulder and they will then cite this rule. Every fastball ever thrown is therefore illegal if the hand ends above the shoulder..... but FB's are legal, aren't the?. The NOTE is poorly written for it references the pivot point of the entire circle and has no clear meaning. (who writes this stuff) It would be substantially clearer if the rule would cite some body part that is not at the pivot point like the ear or the hip. Now would have something to hang your hat on, what you got now is just mud.

I would still recommend that your dd throw it and see what happens. It is a lot of fun and after all isn't that what its all about.....?

 

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Illegal...nuff said. There is an ASA video showing this exact pitch and says that it is illegal. I will keep looking for it.

 

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The NCAA rule is worded similar to ASA:
10.6.5 The pitcher may not make another arm revolution after releasing the ball.

The definition of revolution is a 'complete circular turn'. The starting point is the release.

Since the ball is released in front of the hip the arm can go up and over and back down as long as it doesn't pass the release point.
So what maybe illegal in high school and maybe illegal in TB is clearly legal in college.

It is no small wonder that this pitch is called randomly legal/illegal.

I still say throw it.

 

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I think most pitchers have experimented with this at one time or another. Mostly out of a sense of curiosity, and to see how well they can pull it off.

It's sort of one of those anomalies to safely test at a scrimmage/ practice, or low risk situation, when adding a little spice to a game and witnessing the reaction to it from both sides could be beneficial...

Still....at the end of the day, and regardless of how the ruling is spelled out within any given sanction, you're ultimately at the mercy of whatever the plate umpire perceives to be the right call. If you are the coach that called the pitch, even though you may technically be on solid ground within the rules, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be called that way by EVERY plate umpire. You're going to face some disparity in how it's perceived and called, and it's a risk that you assume on your part.

I would imagine that most umpires would rather not have to issue a ruling on this on such short notice, so I would say that any coaches odds in getting this called as legal would be <50% of the time.

 

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Interesting topic, but I just don't see why anyone would mess with it. I agree with others that some umpires are going to call it illegal whether it is or not. If you as a coach believe it is legal, and the umpire calls it illegal, are you going to go out and debate it with them ... probably not winning the argument, maybe making them PO'd, and for sure delaying the game? In my opinion, this is essentially a quick pitch meant to deceive the batter. The time you take to master the pitch would be better off spent on working on a change up or drop or rise which are also meant to deceive the batter, but which are going to be considered legal 100% of the time.

 

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Some people thrive on going against the grain.

 

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Just a quick update:

My dd has shown the slingshot to her coach (college) and team in scrimmages and it is absolutely devastating against slappers. It throws their timing way off. They can't be as aggressive and a tentative slapper is an out.

She will be throwing it this season.

Let your dd's throw it and see what happens.