ThatGuy2120 said:
My question is when should different pitches be taught. I am seeing girls that clearly have power issues yet they are focusing on trying to throw peels, rises and I saw an awfull screwball. My view is that a pitcher should gain stability with their fastball, learn a simple change and then focus on technique and power. Then after the power is there start adding some pitches. I do not feel that a slow rise, drop or otherwise is effective nor productive in practice without a certain level of power.
I play mens fastpitch and can attest that if you pitch slow in our case sub 60 you are probably going to get pounded no matter what pitch you throw. Except maybe a good knuckle.
Interested to see what you all think about it.
Its really a complicated question and opinions vary from pitching coach to pitching coach. Some say that a starting pitcher should throw as hard as they can and control will follow. Others (probably a minority) will focus on taking off enough speed to stay under control.
In my opinion they aren't focusing on the right thing and that is a new pitcher should focus on throwing using the right technique. There are styles and absolutes about pitching and the absolutes cannot (or, rather should not) be ignored. Having a girl throw with all of her might with the wrong mechanics hoping that some day control will come is just asking for problems. At the same time taking off speed to "just throw strikes" is just asking for your pitcher to get a strained neck looking at all those balls sailing over her head.
So, I would say focus on throwing with the proper mechanics first then when the mechanics are correct start throwing for speed. Now if you're using proper mechanics and throwing hard start to focus on control and hitting those spots.
As far as the other part of the question; when should they start learning other pitches? If, and note the if, the other pitches don't require that you change your mechanics to throw different pitches then all that you're really talking about is a different grip or possibly release point. If that is the case then throwing a different pitch isn't that big of a deal.
In reality there isn't that much of a difference between a fastball and a peel (e.g. good 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock spin), so that pitch is usually one of the first to learn as the difference is release a little sooner and you focus on snapping the pitch off at release.
Next you go to the change, as every pitcher should have a change in their repertoire. There are different grips; flip, circle, palm, handshake, etc., but the focus should be on deception. That meaning that the arm action should look the same.
Then I'd go with the riseball. You can't start too early, in my opinion, on working on getting the right spin as this pitch will take the longest to master. That isn't to say that you can start throwing it in a game too early, as you'll have to have the right amount of speed and spin to make the pitch move.
