One of our students recently asked us a great question: why is it that in pitching we emphasize the hips moving in a linear fashion and the hand getting through first, but in hitting the hips rotate through and the hands lag behind? Watch today’s video for an explanation.
Read MoreOk, you’re leading off in the top of the 7th; your team is down by one run; the coach for your top choice school just stepped up to the fence; you lace a first pitch curveball into the right-center field gap, turn on the jets and dive safely into third for a triple. You get up, pump your fist, beat your chest, and strut your stuff to a wildly cheering group of faithful fans. You just showed that college coach everything he or she need to see, right? Not so fast… read on.
Read MoreDid you ever have the feeling that you were being watched? When you make it to “The Show, ” it won’t just be a feeling!
Read MoreSo you finally made it. The next field you play on is going to be surrounded by college coaches, and guess who they might just be looking at? Welcome to “The Show.”
Read MoreThere are three “gifts” that all windmillers would love to receive this holiday season. Unfortunately, putting them on your wish list probably won’t get it done.
Read MoreIt’s no secret that windmill pitching is not easy. It requires not only a tremendous amount of practice and aptitude for the skill, but also a tremendous amount of strength and stability. Core strength is something that is lacking in many—if not most—young female pitchers, yet it is absolutely essential to pitching with sound mechanics.
Read MoreIn response to my original post, a parent of a 14U travel player comments on the relatively non-competitive nature of 16U softball in their region. She goes on to indicate that many good 14U players skip right up to the 18U level which, in their area, is mainly showcase softball. She asks: a) Should her daughter play up? and b) What type of team should she look for if she is not quite ready to be seen by college coaches?
These are excellent and compelling questions and, although there are no simple answers, I hope my perspective will be helpful to the may players facing similar choices.
Read MoreAs a follow-up to last week’s post on “Recruiting Camps: Good, Bad or Indifferent?”
I received two excellent questions, the answers to which may be relevant to many of our followers.
The first question refers to a multi-talented player who pitches for her high school and travel teams, but only pitches at around 60 mph. In addition, she is an outstanding hitter and fielder. The father of this athlete is concerned that showcasing as a pitcher might not impress college coaches sufficiently to get them to stick around long enough to see her other considerable abilities.
What follows is an answer which should apply to any prospect under similar circumstances.
Read MoreEvery season our older, more advanced students, mainly pitchers, ask the same question: Should I register for a recruiting camp? This is a much more complex issue than it would appear, especially since my answer will likely be different for pitchers than for hitters and fielders.
Read MoreIs there a difference between practicing and warming up? Do you warm up the same way that you practice and do you practice the same way you warm up?
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