What parents are saying about Abby Hanrahan and Practice Pro, LLC.
Practice Pro is such a positive program. Abby and her coaches are exactly the right type of people I want working with my 8th grader as she prepares for HS next year. - Kristin R. (Chicago, IL)
“Practice-Pro really is a great program. The group environment is a lot of fun for the girls. Competition and camaraderie help the girls stay in love with pitching. Each class includes a lesson on mental or other aspect of the pitching craft. My daughter wouldn’t be the pitcher or person she is without Abby’s lessons and support. #FreshmanPitchingVarsity” - Carl B. (Chicago, IL)
We are about to start our in house season, and had a scrimmage last night. Rose has gone from deathly afraid to take the ball, to asking if she can pitch the next inning. We ran out of time and she didn't get to go last night, but the change in confidence alone was impressive. - Matt D. (Western Springs, IL)
Your coaches are fantastic. Approachable. Knowledgeable. Great role models for our team. My daughter truly enjoyed the clinic. Looking forward to what’s ahead. - Mike J. (Welles Park, Chicago, IL)
Abby and her team have been nothing short of spectacular for our daughter. We live in a very competitive area for softball and pitching. We tried a few local coaches and felt rushed. I remember the 1st time I called Abby, she was interested and engaged. Since we live a long way from Oak Park, she even took the time to review videos. We signed up and was the best decision for our daughters pitching. Our daughter did not commit to full time softball until she was 14 and knew she was well behind the girls she had to compete with. With Abby and Co. instructions and my daughters effort, she has made her high school team, pitched a complete game 12 strikeout 1 walk game and also made a more competitive travel team each year. She competes and outshines girls who had lessons for many years in a much shorter time frame. She has 4 game ready pitches and increased her mph by 10 in 2 years work. I love the small group, my daughter was behind most girls in her group the 1st year and it only made her work harder and see what was possible. I love the mental aspect and the gratitude that Abby and her team bring to the surface to improve character and be competitive. The fact that she recognizes the parent commitment and touches on the relationship within the family is great. It has been a home run for us and well worth the one way 45 minute drive, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking. Practice Pro was the best decision we made for our daughter and softball. - Paul S. (Tinley Park, IL)
I just wanted to give you some feedback on the new online practice club lessons you have added to the app. I work quite a bit and really struggle with helping my daughter with proper form and juggling my job. She can be shy and isn’t always a go-getter. So having a quick lesson like this every day has been really a godsend for both of us. Because it’s been so cold, we are just using wiffle balls in the basement, but it works well enough at this point. I feel like she’s finally getting into a better groove, and during the run-in drill yesterday, she went from an all time high of 31 to 36, just after a week and a half of doing the home drills! Hope this feedback helps and thank you for all you do. - Parent (Winnetka, IL)
Sofia picked up the screwball today and her coach said that normally the spin is so hard to get but she had to spin right away. I attribute that to you because you had her doing that screwball spin when she was 10 years old. I think you're absolutely right about those neurons and muscle memory. I mean she literally has the pitch in like one day and it's going to try it tonight and scrimmage. - Tracy S. (Chicago, IL)
Abby, I just wanted to send you a note and let you know how much Avery enjoyed the pitching on Wednesday night. This is her first time stepping out from coach pitch/house league and she is loving it! She could not stop talking about how great it was. Looking forward to the rest of the sessions. - Matt B. (River Forest, IL)
I highly recommend Practice Pro for pitching. My daughter Lucy, who is 10-years-old, has been taking lessons since September 2019. Her speed, accuracy, and confidence have significantly improved. Recently, she started learning the movement pitches. The virtual lessons have worked very well with a flexible schedule of core lessons on Sunday, movement pitches on Saturday, strength trading on Friday, and special topics, i.e. mental game, during the week. The coaches know my daughter by name and are easily able to differentiate to her skill/ability/growth-potential to prioritize her learning without overwhelming her. I especially like the mental game lessons with Sarah and appreciate the patience of coach MK. We see so much value in the new weekly subscription model and have seen progress... even without being together in-person. - Patrick S. (Elmhurst, IL)
Abby, Sarah and MK just thought I would say THANK YOU. Right now in a time of uncertainty within our sports community, you have helped stabilize some consistency and normalcy with your virtual lessons. Not only have the pitching lessons been great, they have been just as consistent as the in-person lessons were. More importantly, you have added many other great mind and body benefits to Practice Pro in which the girls have been taking advantage of. The mental and strength classes are making them stronger both mentally and physically. The girls love their strength & mindfulness classes and the talking from many players and coaches. The variety of the classes are appreciated. Thank you for helping make both my girls stronger and confident little ladies! #practiceprotough - Mike L. (La Grange Park, IL)
Steve, our VP of Softball, and I continue to receive messages about how wonderful the clinic was. Thank you for all your time and your coaches were amazing too. - Raul C. (Clarendon Hills Little League)
My niece started with Practice Pro without ever throwing a pitch. The instructors do a great job of breaking down the mechanics and explaining the importance of each one. The classes not only teach the importance of mechanics but also the mental side of pitching. I have not only seen her mechanics improve and speed increase, her confidence has also grown. When both of her teams’ seasons were cancelled she was extremely disappointed. I thought it would be hard keeping her interested in pitching however the virtual lessons have not only helped her improve, it has kept her excitement and love for pitching going. The instructors have done a great job in making the lessons just as fun and engaging as being in the gym. - Jodi W. (Berwyn, IL)
I just wanted to say thank you to Sarah from running an unbelievable pitching clinic for the girls of LGLL. I've received phenomenal responses from many of the parents. - Paul O. (La Grange, IL)
Abby & Sarah - Thanks again for hosting your clinic yesterday and last week. My daughter Hailey really enjoyed your instruction, and you both were able to provide expertise and guidance I haven't been able to find elsewhere. You both do a fantastic job; please keep it going as long as you can. - Jason D.
Wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for sending Sarah to our 10U practice tonight - Sarah was great and the girls were very excited to learn from as "real life" softball player. After practice a few girls who had previously told us they don't want to pitch in a game had so much fun learning from Sarah that they told us they now want to give pitching a try. -Robert M.
“Such a fantastic approach to teaching pitching. My daughter started her first class not knowing which foot to start with and came out as a starting pitcher for her travel team. Abby teaches not just pitching but the mindset of a pitcher, preparation, how to make practice fun, and all while in a super fun class environment. I cannot thank Abby enough for everything she has done and continues to do for my daughter.” - Greg T. (Oak Park, IL)
“Abby's a great teacher and Practice Pro has been an excellent training class for my daughter to become a better pitcher. Her progress has been MUCH faster and better because of Abby and Pitching Pro. Highly Recommended!” Jack B. (Riverside, IL)
Thanks for making our daughters enjoy being pitchers and everything it takes to be one. “So, what? Next pitch.” is a mantra we use in all walks of life now. - Carl B. (Chicago, IL)
"Abby is awesome and runs awesome clinics! My daughter been taking private pitching lessons with Abby... we see results and attitude that stems from their relationship."
-Kathy Lim (Edgebrook, Chicago, IL)
"Julia’s 12U Windmills team won the USSSA 12U Great Lakes National Championship this past week. They went 8-1 overall with a perfect 6-0 record in bracket play. She started 5 of the bracket games and was the winning pitcher in four of them, giving up a total of 1 run. Your student was named the Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher! Most of the 12U pitchers are just big girls throwing fastballs. You’ve taught Julia how to actually pitch. It was fun to watch and she’s on cloud nine. Thanks so much." -Bob Youman (Oak Park, IL)
If any coaches, parents, or Little League Board members want to improve their softball program, I strongly recommend having Abby, and her team from Practice Pro, come out for Spring Pitching Clinics. In Riverside, we have been doing this for 3 years and you can see the increased quality of pitching. It is simple: when girls can pitch strikes, more girls can hit, more balls get into play which allows more opportunity to develop fielding skills. The girls will learn the proper mechanics of a windmill pitch, something many volunteer coaches are just not qualified to teach. Pitching is where the game begins and Abby is the person to get it all started! -- Katie McGovern Selover (Riverside, IL Little League)
"Thank you for everything! You were awesome [teaching the clinic], as usual, and everyone had a great time and most importantly, learned a lot. You were very patient, spoke to them on a level that they understood and made it fun. Some of the girls have even asked Grace to show them things that they may have forgotten how to do, so we hope she's doing it right! Thank you for inspiring her to find something she loves to do and for being such a great role model. She finally found her "thing" as she says, and I've never seen her so excited to do something!" - Dena Samatas (Elmwood Park, IL)
“When my daughter started with Abby she had never thrown a pitch. Now, a year and a half later, she throws hard, with good form, and even somewhat accurately! But even more important, she has developed a love for pitching and a work ethic to go out and practice every day. We highly recommend Abby’s classes!” - Doug R. (Oak Park, IL)
"When you go to games and are impressed with the pitching 9/10 they receive lessons from Abby. You cannot go wrong!"
-Hanna Buchan (Royal Ravens Organziation, Illinois)
“At practice tonight we went through the pitching warm ups that you taught us and then several of the girls pitched for about 20 minutes before we did done other drills. You've really helped so many girls on our team--Julia, Kiley, Stella, Alex, Campbell, Cally, Scarlett, and others--a lot. Even girls on the team that say 'I can't pitch' we're doing the drills along with them tonight and smiling because they were getting it too! They are having a lot of fun and are more confident. You've helped all of our girls at Welles Park so much--you have no idea how much better they are for going to you for instruction. Scarlett learned so much from you earlier this year and has really been pitching lights this last month. In her last two games she pitched 6 innings, gave up just one run and had a bunch of strikeouts. She's faster and more accurate. She's way more confident even when things don't go her way. We pitch together as often as we can outside of practices and games which really makes a difference as you said. Thanks for your insights. We will soldier on." - Paul Haynes (Welles Park, IL)
“Abby and crew are excellent instructors of pitching. The classes are on point and well organized. The instruction is very relaxed and highly encouraging. Abby does a great job of explaining and giving visual/ physical cues to the girls. She implements tools to explain, clarify and assist the girls to understand each skill/drill. Besides the physical she covers the mental side of the game. The girls engage freely. The personalities of each girl are different and she does a great job of modeling instruction for each girl. My daughter has improved by leaps and bounds. I owe it all to Abby and team for making my girl feel comfortable, confident and successful. Thanks Abby.” - Jose M. (Chicago, IL)
“My daughter has been working with Abby and the coaches at Practice Pro for over 5 years, and during that time, I have seen significant improvements in her technique, speed, and accuracy. My daughter has always been a strong pitcher, but she needed guidance to become a good pitcher. Practice Pro has provided her with the precise instruction that she needs to achieve her pitching goals. I have seen real, tangible results from my daughter’s workouts with Abby – increased confidence, improved performance, and a true love for the game. I wholeheartedly recommend Practice Pro to any player who wants to be a better pitcher, and to any parent who wants to give their child the best possible foundation for a long pitching career.” - Rachel M. (Hamlin Park, Chicago, IL)
"Thank you so much for coming out in the cold and coaching my girls. They were very excited before, during and after your pitching clinic session. My girls genuinely enjoyed your coaching style and more importantly your positive attitude. You made the learning experience fun for them. I thought you did a good job of explaining the mechanics of the softball windmill motion and breaking it down in to several steps that focused on different regions of the body to help the girls with the windmill pitch (e.g. pushing off the plate and step forward, zombie or Frankenstein, punch your chest, snap, etc.). I also thought the creative lingo to help them remember the different components of pitching was great. Now I have a bunch of groaning zombies walking around the infield. Thank you for being a great role model for my girls. You were a hit with my girls and their parents." -Coach Rob Menjivar
"Pitching with Abby has been a great experience for our three daughters. Her extensive playing and coaching experience provided her a broad background to draw from when working with our girls. Besides focusing on very safe and sound mechanics, which is a "must" from my perspective as a parent, Abby also focused on the mental side of pitching. As a result, our girls learned to be effective pitchers as well as strong, confident, young athletes. We've since moved out of Chicago, but all of our subsequent pitching coaches still have been measured by how they compare to Abby!" -Dennis and Paula Wolff
