Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching Mechanics Help

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I coach a 10U team and our top pticher turned nine in May. She has done very well as we approach game number thirty. The last four games we have noticed that on her release the pinky is the finger closest to the sky and her palm is facing away from her body. The thumb is moving toward the ground and the result is a riseball type of spin. She is right handed and lately misses a lot high and away to right handed batters. We have tried a ball with tape to get proper spin, wrist snaps and emphasizing releasing the ball from the middle finger. None of these have worked. Any suggestions?

 

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Without really seeing her its hard to tell what is going on with her but it sounds like she is attempting to throw a screw ball. Is she attempting to learn this pitch now or playing around with it?

Have her make a power line to the catcher from the middle of the pitching rubber. Check to see where she is landing her front foot in relationship to the power line. She may be missing because of her step, not her release. Also, watch how that front foot is landing. Is it in the 1:00 position or is it more in the 3:00 position? This will affect the hip position and the windmill motion/direction on release.

If you have a film clip of her I would be glad to take a look at it and let you know what I see.

Take Care,

Elliott.

 

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Buy a spinner or use a hockey punk...this is assuming her body and arm mechanics are clean. These items are light enough that she can go full motion. Should fix the hand position at release.

 

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I'll try thre hockey puck. What is a spinner?

Thanks!

 

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It's a $20 thing that's shaped like a hockey puck (or a can of tuna) that is used in pitching drills that help get the proper rotation on a certain pitch.