9 Signs You Need Help With Mechanics

Think back to your last golf round. What type of player are you? Are you praying that you'll hit your next shot in the air, or are you calculating the difference between the 5 and 6 iron? Are you just trying keep up with the rest of your group, or are you visualizing the angle of your draw?

These questions show a clear difference in competency level. One person is competing while the other is focused on skill development, without knowing what skill needs to be developed. She just knows she has to get the ball over there, with no idea how.

Asking a player to pitch a strike is similar to asking a golfer to successfully hit a ball in the air, down the middle of the fairway, as far as she can. What's your success record on that? I know what mine is, pretty abysmal!  As a softball coach or parent how do you know when your memories of your high school playing days are not enough? 

Here are the signs it's time to get help with pitching mechanics.

1. You think your daughter can pitch without learning how to do it.

When you perform in a piano recycle, do you just go out there and start playing, or do you go to lessons and practice first?  Not learning how to do something and expecting to be able to "get by" is usually not very fun.  Did you teach your daughter how to catch with two hands or how to field a ground ball? Of course! I'm sure you remembered how to teach her these things from when you were her age, and your memory was refreshed from watching all those Cubs and Sox games. 

My question to you is: when did you learn how to pitch windmill style when you were a kid? If both of you don't learn how to pitch properly you'll notice a huge gap when she's competing against other players who have done so. Plus, her games will go on for a very long time, and no one wants to get that sunburned. 

2. She experiences pain when she pitches.

Alert!!! Girls should not be in pain when pitching, aside from muscle soreness. If she is experiencing acute pain she most likely has problems with mechanics, specifically in the back of her shoulder. A common problem with pitchers who have off-line arm circles and bad follow-through mechanics are at higher risk for torn labrums and biceps.

3. Everyone else is quickly passing her up on speed.

Some pitchers end up getting left behind when they were successful at a young age. Since they are getting results at that level, they don't think to learn the proper motion. Why would they? 

After a year or two of your daughters building the neural pathways for incorrect motion, other players start to catch up. They've learned the mechanics and are gaining command and speed. If your daughter is just as strong as the other players but her speed stops showing it, she needs to learn more. Before you get to this point, note that it's very difficult to re-wire 2 years of neural pathways built for incorrect movement patters. Try to learn early for best results.

4. She can’t throw any movement pitches, even when she tries.

Pitchers need to be able to get their bodies in a position to allow the hand and fingers to move around the ball with intention.  If a she doesn't understand resistance or have a straight arm circle it will be impossible to release the ball at the proper angles for movement pitches.

5. It's the spring and summer.

During the season pitchers are competing. Old habits start to creep in when focus is not on mechanics, which it shouldn't be during the season.  Advanced pitchers should be tuning-up their arm circles, resistance, movement pitches, and changeups. Make sure they are sharp. Prevent bad habits from creeping in when competing.

6. She’s been practicing four-plus days per week and still hasn’t gotten faster or more accurate.

When a pitcher has a complicated motion with extraneous movements, she’s created something that’s difficult to repeat. A motion that’s difficult to repeat produces a release point that is hard to repeat, therefore, she throws wild pitches. Remember, the fastest way from one point to the next is in a straight line. Instructors help students build a simple, repeatable motion. 

7. Her changeup is either too fast or is not deceptive.

If your daughter doesn’t understand the mechanics of a changeup she's probably slowing her arm down to control the ball. Hitters see this coming every time. A great changeup looks like a fastball, but travels to the batter slowly. In all pitches except a changeup, she loosens her arm in a "whip-like" fashion, but for a changeup, reverses the delivery sequence and stiffens her arm.  If her changeup is too fast she needs to learn the mechanics of reversing the arm circle sequence to make it more effective.

8. She keeps throwing the ball to the inside.

This is a sign of an arm circle that is going off-line. This is not an easy fix and requires deliberate drills and concentration over a period of time.

9. Her pitches are going straight, but alternate between very high and very low.

If your daughter struggles with this but has been pitching consistently for a while, it’s a symptom of a mechanical problem. Usually she’s leaning forward too far at release, then tries to correct it the next pitch by leaning back. Changing the way the body leans changes the release point.

On the other hand, if the pitcher has not learned the basic mechanics or is inexperienced, she has probably not built a repeatable motion, and can't feel a consistent release point. 

One thing you won't see in my "9 Signs" is “If a pitcher has a game tomorrow and needs to the learn mechanics, she should go get a lesson.”  Going through a few mechanics in this circumstance will not help with throwing strikes. Learning how to pitch is a long, deliberate, and challenging process. This is why I created a year-round pitching school, designed to teach commitment and constancy. 

Our day-before-game clinics include information on how to approach the mound, what thoughts pitchers need to have, and lessons on leadership. Basically, they learn to control the controllables. If you need help with any of the nine issues above, don't hesitate to give us a call. Pitching school is fun and rewarding, maybe even more than golf.