Pitching and Pitchers Discussion whats better at 10u

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I think you're all nuts. My dd threw 4 junk pitches.

The rise--it rose so high it went above the umps helmet

The drop--it dropped so fast it hit the dirt before the plate

The curve--hit every right handed hitter

The screw--hit every left handed hitter

;&:lmao:

 

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Klump nailed it...they dont have 4 or 5 pitches. The have a bunch of pitches that all do the same thing. Fastball/Change at 10U is all they need, they really arent getting the RPM's to get a drop ball to fall off the table, or a drop curve to really do much either.

Mastery of the Change up at the 10U level for a top 10u pitcher will serve her well for the rest of her pitching career. Its one of the few "Junk" pitches little ones can learn and throw well. One of the top pitches in softball and most pitchers spend very little time on it. Power for show, Change up for dough hahaha

 

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I would have to say that almost half if not more of the 10U girls are coming from a "parks and rec" program. I haven't seen a lot of "parks and rec" girls in 10U throwing over 30-35 so once they get into travel ball it takes them a while to have the confidence to stand in the box against someone throwing 44-48 let alone geta hit off of her. I would say speed is the dominating factor at 10U for sure.

By the end of the summer though most pitchers cannot rely on speed alone. After seeing 40+ games 10U girls will be confident and comfortable hitting a pitcher throwing mid to high 40s that is why it is important to develop a good change and to hit your spots because it's one thing to miss with a 46mph fastball down the middle in May and June, its another to miss in July.

 

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speed coupled with a very strong mind. Been there 4 years at that level and seen alot of pitchers.

Now, 50 mph with a change-up... you'll win 75% of your basic games.

Go to Nationals... you had better have defense...

And oh BTW, your catcher better have something to offer as well or this entire discussion is a mute point...

 

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Coaches are doing the girl a great disservice and cheating her out of an opportunity to become a great pitcher by rushing things. Always throw with maximum energy, stay relaxed and confident. Proper mechanics creates accuracy, and boosts confidence. Like Klump says, a pitch is not learned until it can be thrown to any spot AT ANY TIME. Can your pitcher throw a change-up FOR A STRIKE the first pitch of a game? Can she throw it FOR A STRIKE to the number 4 batter when the count calls for it?

Few pitchers really learn a pitch enough to control it confidently. A peel drop will develop naturally from a fastball as the girl relaxes and gets great arm whip - letting the ball roll off her fingers. No way should she be attempting to throw a turn-over drop at 10!

10u needs nothing more than WELL PLACED relaxed speed (fastball), and WELL PLACED change of speed (change-up). A lot of high school pitchers would be well served to heed that also.

That's what's better at 10u!

 

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When I was at the 10u tryouts this year, talking to other pitcher's parents there were a few that said DD had 3, 4 or 5 piches. However, when watching them pitch none of them were over the plate. Our #1 pitcher who has been pitching for about 3 years is now learning the drop. She has speed and control with both the FB and the changeup. Just my observations.

 

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Speed kills at 10U!!!! Granted, if you can't throw strikes it doesn't matter. The NSA A Champ at 10U last year had a girl who thru 55mph and nothing else. The 3rd place team at ASA/USA (Knoxville White Lightning) had 3 girsl who were 50+ with their ace hitting 56mph. We played them in KY last year and she hit the outside corner at 55-56mph almost every pitch. We couldn't touch her lost 4-0. Every now and then dropped a change just to make you think. Bottom line, SPEED SPEED SPEED!!!!!!!!!!

 

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Coaches are doing the girl a great disservice and cheating her out of an opportunity to become a great pitcher by rushing things. Always throw with maximum energy, stay relaxed and confident. Proper mechanics creates accuracy, and boosts confidence. Like Klump says, a pitch is not learned until it can be thrown to any spot AT ANY TIME. Can your pitcher throw a change-up FOR A STRIKE the first pitch of a game? Can she throw it FOR A STRIKE to the number 4 batter when the count calls for it?

Few pitchers really learn a pitch enough to control it confidently. A peel drop will develop naturally from a fastball as the girl relaxes and gets great arm whip - letting the ball roll off her fingers. No way should she be attempting to throw a turn-over drop at 10!

10u needs nothing more than WELL PLACED relaxed speed (fastball), and WELL PLACED change of speed (change-up). A lot of high school pitchers would be well served to heed that also.

That's what's better at 10u!

I'm glad you mentioned the Peel drop and turn-over drop. I cant believe anybody would teach a 10 yr old the turn over drop, but I have seen it and that just looks like an arm injury waiting to happen.

I also think your point about rushing things is a wonderful point and one of the best points I have read regarding 10u softball on OFC in quite sometime. It goes for more then pitchers but I think that point you made should be placed on a sticky note at the top of the general softball page lol...maybe some new Dad with the next Jenny Finch will read it and understand the value of your advice.

 

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icecream truck in the parking lot behind the backstop.


I love it, thats funny. They may have an inshoot or outshoot. But speed at that age is going mow down alot of batters

 

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Oh one more thing about the junk pitches. I read where 10u usually does not have the speed or distance for them to do nothing. I totally agree; when my daughter was 10 she may have knew how to hold a screw ball, rise, etc. of course they did not break, but me sitting on the bucket would watch for the spin of the ball and knew we where headed in the right direction. Now she is 14 (and knows everything in life like every 14 year old) and the pitches work.

 

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Some of these 10U pitchers must be from a different planet and made of different DNA hitting 55 and 56 mph. There were a lot of pitchers I saw from D1 colleges last year on TV that were just clocking at 57 -58 and I clocked a lot of high school kids and some pretty successful ones and the majority were at 51 - 53. I know my 10U team would not be ready for 55 - 56.

 

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10U's throwing 50 and higher? :lmao:

 

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Are those true times, or what the parent/ pitching coach says?

 

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I agree - some of the times I here on this site, from parents, and other coaches make me laugh. These girls have 5 pitches also - the drop curve is deadly!

Call Candrea right now!

 

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Interesting discussion, I have my own opinions and have seen different but to the point. The last few pitching clinics have all taught that by the end of 10u the pitcher should have most of their pitches/spins. It is much easier to teach the spin and motion of the pitch with the smaller ball than trying to incorporate later in the pitchers career. By 12U most top pitchers have almost all their pitches and are working on control. At 14 should have control and speed. That said every pitcher is completely different and their body type will dictate their style.

 

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Speed kills at 10U!!!! Granted, if you can't throw strikes it doesn't matter. The NSA A Champ at 10U last year had a girl who thru 55mph and nothing else. The 3rd place team at ASA/USA (Knoxville White Lightning) had 3 girsl who were 50+ with their ace hitting 56mph. We played them in KY last year and she hit the outside corner at 55-56mph almost every pitch. We couldn't touch her lost 4-0. Every now and then dropped a change just to make you think. Bottom line, SPEED SPEED SPEED!!!!!!!!!!

10u throwing 56???.....:lmao::lmao::lmao:......did she drive her own car to the park....

 

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Oiler Pride gunned one of my pitchers at the Laser Tourney last year at 52. She was very sucessful last year, at 35 feet that ball is on you quick. Any 10u pitcher that can throw strikes and is throwing in the mid to high 40's will have some success. I think hitting spots is more important. Good control can go a long way.

Mad Hornet mentioned his player with lower speed but a great change up. That thing looked like it was in a slow motion cartoon and some real good hitters looked bad as they whiffed at it including my daughter! I think a 10u pitcher with a 10-15 mph decrease from fastball to change can eat up 10u hitters who are going to the plate white knuckled ready to rip a fastball.

 

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Read this whole thread, by the time I got to the end my jaws were aching from laughter. 10u with 3 pitches = 'STUD" LOLOLOLOLOL

 

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What kinda gun was it? I need one of those. Maybe my dd could throw 60+

 

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why is so hard to believe a 10u pitcher could throw in the 50's? Anyone who saw the Laser Red pitcher 2 years ago knows she was in the 50's. Velocity=distance/time, they are throwing from 35 feet. It is like when in the LLWS they show a pitcher at 70 and flash it is equal to 95 in MLB. No, Now that I think about it ESPN must have the pitcher's dad working the gun beacause a 12 year old boy could never throw 70 mph ....Just sayin