Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Proper pitching mechanics?

[default]

I am curious what everyone's opinion is on where the pitcher should finish. I have 2 different pitching coaches saying 2 different things. One says you should "peel you fingers and finish straight up". They say this is more accurate and as they get older they will finish across body when leaning the curve ball. They other coach wants the pitcher to snap and finish across their body by the opposite shoulder. They claim this is less stress on pitchers arms and increases speed. I would love to hear opinions and also remember there 10u. Thanks

 

[default]

PC #1 is teaching "Hello Elbow" run away. PC #2 is teaching correctly. Finish is not forced. If you are looking for an intro into pitching fundamentals check Fastpitch TV and look for episodes of Bill Hillhouse or go to Discuss Fastpitch Forum and read all I/R threads in the pitching sub forum.

 

[default]

Totally agree with go4fpsb....hello elbow run away as fast as you can. And I cannot agree more with going to Discuss Fastpitch and going to the pitching forum and reading all that you can on IR....watch as many if the videos as you can. Watch all the best pitchers in the world..they all use IR.

 

[default]

While I have seen success in both styles, my DD and I are both believers in the finish across the body style. Hillhouse says it produces "whip" and asks if you have ever seen a baseball pitcher finish on the same side of his body.

 

[default]

Whats I/R?

 

[default]

Please-
Be careful with dogmatic opinions to pitching. Check out this amateur throwing her fastball at the 2:30 minute mark of this video. Jennie Finch Pitching Demo - YouTube just sayin..

 

[default]

I disagree. My dd doesn't pitch the Hillhouse style and finishes straight up. If you go to Hillhouse he teaches finishing across to the opposite shoulder, if you go to just about anyone else they teach finishing up. It all depends on which pitching coach you go to. I prefer pitchers who do not finish across their body and normally will not take a Hillhouse style pitcher. He is a very successful pitcher but men and women are not built the same and their pitching rules are not the same.

 

[default]

Doug Gillis doesn't teach that way Klump. Not to be a smartass but what Hillhouse teaches works. Sounds like you have an issue with him.

 

[default]

No "hello elbow" in this game footage:

Jennie Finch pitching! - YouTube

 

[default]

Please-
Be careful with dogmatic opinions to pitching. Check out this amateur throwing her fastball at the 2:30 minute mark of this video. Jennie Finch Pitching Demo - YouTube just sayin..

This is considered "hello Elbow" right?

 

[default]

I agree no hello elbow in the game footage, but I'm not sure she threw one fastball in that entire series of pitches. Stroh, Do you not agree that in the Clinic Footage, where she is instructing young kids, that she is not finishing high when throwing the fastball?

 

[default]

I would say the high finish is a fastball from what I can tell. So that tells me that every time she finishes high, look for the fastball. Thanks for tipping off the pitch to the batter. Hillhouse has them finish across on every pitch so it makes it harder for batters to pick up pitches and tendancies. When you throw overhand, do you not throw and your arm crosses your body? Same philosophy he has in pitching.

 

[default]

I agree no hello elbow in the game footage, but I'm not sure she threw one fastball in that entire series of pitches. Stroh, Do you not agree that in the Clinic Footage, where she is instructing young kids, that she is not finishing high when throwing the fastball?

if you also watch Finch throw in the Sports Science episode she did throw all fastballs not once did she finish high.....Also in the 1000 frames a second clip show a great example of IR, one the best in my opinion.

 

[default]

Doug Gillis doesn't teach that way Klump. Not to be a smartass but what Hillhouse teaches works. Sounds like you have an issue with him.

I do not have an issue with him, he's a great guy and has helped my batters in the past. I do not agree with his pitching style is all. His pitching style works for some but I prefer my pitchers to pitch like women.

 

[default]

Julie ... I usually agree with you on most things, but that's a BS thing to say ("I prefer my pitchers to pitch like women") ... Hillhouse always gets **** cause he's a male pitcher, so anyone who doesn't like his style rationalizes he tries to teach girls to throw like boys. My daughter essentially went to 2 pitching coaches during her career ... each one taught her different things, but Hillhouse did teach finishing across the body and not only did my DD love it, she had a pretty successful collegiate career with it despite not having all of the physical gifts lots of pitchers do ... and believe me, she is 100% woman. As I said above, either style can and does work ... 90% of the pitching coaches I have ever met (dozens and dozens of them) think they have the only way to do it, including Hillhouse. I don't buy into that, but don't tell me either that a finish across the body doesn't work for women or that it's not lady-like ... give me a break.

 

[default]

isn't pitching kinda like hitting... each girl will have her own style that works for her best. It's never black and white. whatever works, works. BUT I have to say that I think girls need more lower body and legs than boy would. I once took my DD to a hall of famer men's pitcher and when he told my DD that she had too much leg drive... that was the last time we went to see him. He actually is a hall of famer men's pitcher and current HS coach. ;&

 

[default]

Julie ... I usually agree with you on most things, but that's a BS thing to say ("I prefer my pitchers to pitch like women") ... Hillhouse always gets **** cause he's a male pitcher, so anyone who doesn't like his style rationalizes he tries to teach girls to throw like boys. My daughter essentially went to 2 pitching coaches during her career ... each one taught her different things, but Hillhouse did teach finishing across the body and not only did my DD love it, she had a pretty successful collegiate career with it despite not having all of the physical gifts lots of pitchers do ... and believe me, she is 100% woman. As I said above, either style can and does work ... 90% of the pitching coaches I have ever met (dozens and dozens of them) think they have the only way to do it, including Hillhouse. I don't buy into that, but don't tell me either that a finish across the body doesn't work for women or that it's not lady-like ... give me a break.

I didn't say anything about being lady-like.......hahahah. Being lady-like on the field is not a top priority for me. :lmao: :lmao: Men's and women's fastpitch has different rules pertaining to pitching and men and women have different body types. IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION (which is what we were asked by the OP), I want someone to teach my dd to pitch who has similar body issues and strengths as my dd. I want a pitching coach for my dd who played their entire career pitching with the same rules that my dd has to abide by. I didn't say he teaches girls to throw like boys, just that the 2 aren't the same. I've heard my dd discuss menstrual cramps, her boobs getting in the way, and a myriad of other issues with her pitching coach that I know she would NEVER discuss with a male coach. FOR ME, I prefer someone who can teach her every aspect of the position from a point of view similiar to hers.

I NEVER said Hillhouse wasn't a great pitcher or a great guy.....only that I PERSONALLY don't like his pitching style. Last time I disgreed that Hillhouse wasn't the best pitching coach in the world, I got one guy who PMed me for 2 weeks telling me what a know nothing a$$ I was because I didn't agree he was the best in the business.

 

[default]

Julie ... I had missed your earlier post where you acknowledged it works for some people, but I am still hung up on the "I prefer my pitchers to pitch like women" ...

So my daughter is now giving lessons herself, and she teaches primarily the Hillhouse style which worked well for her ... I am pretty sure she has "similar body issues" as your DD and other female pitchers ... help me with the logic there ...

Don't get me wrong ... I respect the fact that you or others don't like or agree with a particular style, and you certainly won't get any stalker PM's from me on the subject, but it almost sounds to me like you're saying guys can't teach girls ...

 

[default]

I think that the follow through will be determined mainly by position if the hips and shoulders at the finish. The more open the finish, the arm will be in plane with its own shoulder. Which is by far the most physiologic neutral you can possibly be. If your hips remain relatively closed the follow through will be to the opposite shoulder. Either way the goal is to have an uninterrupted circle from rocker to finish to deliver the most speed and to avoid injury.

 

[default]

Btw I define open for pitchers facing third base and close facing home