Pitching Wrist Bands

[sdiamond]

I for one like the wristbands. It keeps other teams coaches and parents from watching the opposing coach sitting on a bucket throwing down hand signs that are easily readable after an inning. Wristbands keep coaches from stealing signs even if a pitcher only has a fastball and a changeup wristband codes give locations too.

[Lace]

Worst thing to happen to youth softball. Puts the focus on the coach and off the players. Slows the game down and is basically irrelevant at the young ages. Stealing signs? I think not.

[Hinky]

wristbands are a tool
and it doesn't dumb it down it actually intensifies how many combinations of numbers / letters can be used to call pitches/ plays. stop treating younger kids as if they can't be as intelligent as well let's laugh and say they're 10U and 12u coaches...they certainly can throw different pitches that while it may not have as much movement they still have some spin that can make a difference.
plenty of 12u pitchers have good movement hitting their spots and definitely can see the difference between curve rise drop and change spin.
kids are intelligent enough to memorize numbers....the wristbands go beyond memorizing because it's so many combinations.....
training at an early age to do what many many colleges do

[ocfibell]

A pitcher has a good fastball/change that she can locate, she would be very competitive at the younger levels. Then work on another pitch. Wrist band or not. The best 3 pitches in softball. Strike 1, Strike 2, Strike 3

[Hinky]

10u pretty much "OC",
getting into competitive 12u and up
striking batters out is the goal. being able to throw around the plate is just as important. pitchers must throw great pitches that aren't strikes. obviously we're seeing 12u players hit home runs now...
spin in softball makes a difference.
even a pitcher who puts a curveball spin on it even with no movement can create more
mis-hits like grounders and pop-ups

[C77fastpitch]

I certainly agree with a couple of posters. Watch youtube's best college pitchers, then please tell me where all the movement is. I see speed, rise-balls, and great change-ups, most of the other pitches are literally right down the middle. These are the best! a good fastball coupled with a great change up is 90% of the game. Young pitchers should work on developing a smooth effortless pitching style, one that allows her to pitch at her optimum pitching speed. Wrist bands don't support that type of training. (Well said Lace and ocfibell)

[Hinky]

I see pitches are literally right down the middle. These are the best! a good fastball coupled with a great change up is 90% of the game. Young pitchers .

10U only...12U need to start throwing around the plate.

[C77fastpitch]

Control is the most important aspect of fast-pitch softball pitching. Developing a smooth pitching style enables a pitcher to throw with optimum speed and control. Learning the change-up would be the next order of business. A good change up helps keep good hitters off your fast drop. Lastly, the rise-ball is the opposite to the fast-drop, it's the yeng and yang of pitching. The fast-drop, Change-up and Rise-ball thrown effectively is all the movement any pitcher needs to be good. The amount of speed she develops is basically natural and will certainly play an important role in where she will finally play. Most kids and parents obsess about pitching speed, which leaves them vulnerable to less than honest pitching gurus. The simple truth is that pitching speed for the most part is natural, however most won't acquire their optimum speed without developing a smooth, safe, simple pitching motion. Young pitchers don't need wrist bands for two pitches, however the coach may need them to be noticed. The screw ball and curve, and variations of these pitches maybe acquired by veteran pitchers, but are not needed. Kids have enough to worry about developing the proper pitching motion and delivering the fast-drops, and change-ups for a strikes.