43 feet at 14U?

[1prouddad]

Sam

I am not advocating moving the pitching distance for 14U back to 43 feet. All I am saying is that it is not that big a transition.

We will have to agree to disagree on whether merely increasing distance causes trauma or injury.

Apart from a "back door" curve ball, I am not aware of a pitch "on the outside corner" that would be intended to get less plate at 40 feet and and more plate at 43. Most pitches are intended to move off the plate rather than onto the plate. The pitchers I have been around were not throwing back door curve balls at 12U or 14U.

Curve ball inside corner to a RH hitter at 40' gets 1/3 of the plate at 43'.

True.......If the release is exactly the same. A good pitcher that can hit her spots at 40' will still be able to hit her spots at 43' with minor adjustments.
I don't agree with 43' - I seriously wish that high schools would go back to 40'.
That being said, I don't think that pitching at 43' is going to be a big factor injury wise to the pitcher. If a pitcher has bad mechanics, I can see an added strain on the body, but she's going to have problems at whatever distance she throws unless she fixes it.
I do think that pitching at 43' really gives the batter a much greater advantage being able to see that ball an extra 3' though. Bring it back to 40' and everyone will be happy (except for the hitters!

It may not be a big factor, but if it is a factor at all....why do it? If only a 2% increase in overuse or joint injuries in pitchers comes out of this...is it worth it? It isn't for those kids that have to put their lives at risk by undergoing surgery.

I agree with you Sam - I'm not advocating 43', like I said before, I even think that they should bring HS back to 40' - I just think it would be better all the way around. If they move 14u back to 43' come Spring, I think that you'll see more pitchers getting masks because they will be having the ball drilled at them much more often (which is another potential injury issue).

[What DA?]

The reason for moving the mound back was to prevent injury to the pitcher because of the Hitters using composite bats. I find its sad that money for making and selling these $300 plux bats is over exceding the fact that our kids could be killed or seriously injered by the bats, so now we just move the mound back for safty? wow!!! My daughter is a pitcher and does pitch from 43 feet. I know from experince that back before the composite bat there were less injurys to infield players, this includes baseball. This is fact, but the bat companies wont tell the that. Its all about the money!!!!!!

[3rd Base Coach]

I attended a NFCA meeting at their convention 2-3 yrs ago & I thought we/they voted to move the distance to 43 ft because they wanted to get more offense, more batting involved.

[B-Dad]

Curious if those that are "in the know" have any insight into if ASA may be considering this pitching distance change for 2012. What about PGF?

I for one would rather they adjust the age brackets to follow school ages so HS kids play with HS kids and keep that distance at 43'. Have 7th & 8th graders pitch from 40' and younger pitch from 35'. This would obviously be a major change and have to be implemented in a subsequent year (which ASA should do with rule changes anyway).

[Gone in 2.6]

DD is moving up to 14U. As a 12U this past season, she pitched from 43' in middle school ball. Did she notice a difference - yes. She told me more balls were put in play by moving the pitching plate back 3' for school. She had a bit less zip on the fastball, but more time for the movement pitches to move.

Overall, not a bad thing.

I've heard this theory thorughout the years but have yet to see it materialize. I don't remember any finesse or power pitchers actually benefitting from the move to 43 ft (this was from 16s to Gold). However thinking back on it the power pitchers seemed to fare better contrary to a lot of predictions.

[3'sDad]

2.6: The drop or screw ball has a feet feet extra to move, so it doesn't hurt. At 40' or 43' a good change up keeps the batter off balance. The again DD doesn't have to pitch too many players with your DD's ability (at least not yet).

DD has had a fair number of ball hit back at her this summer, that she either caught or deflected. Part of being a pitcher. She does wear a Gameface when pitching or playing the infield (this was her decision - WW & I fully support this and are thrilled).

It makes perfect sense to keep the middle school players @ 40" and the HS players @ 43'. We're not part of the rule makeing process do DD pitches from wherever the pitching plate is placed.

[Gone in 2.6]

2.6: The drop or screw ball has a feet feet extra to move, so it doesn't hurt. At 40' or 43' a good change up keeps the batter off balance. The again DD doesn't have to pitch too many players with your DD's ability (at least not yet).

DD has had a fair number of ball hit back at her this summer, that she either caught or deflected. Part of being a pitcher. She does wear a Gameface when pitching or playing the infield (this was her decision - WW & I fully support this and are thrilled).

It makes perfect sense to keep the middle school players @ 40" and the HS players @ 43'. We're not part of the rule makeing process do DD pitches from wherever the pitching plate is placed.

I understand the logic of what you're saying. As a matter of fact, when Gold first moved to 43 ft, it was debated many times on eteamz that it would actually HELP the pitching because the ball would have "more time to move". But alas, it never materialized as scores balooned in the Gold division overnight.

[ssarge]

I understand the logic of what you're saying. As a matter of fact, when Gold first moved to 43 ft, it was debated many times on eteamz that it would actually HELP the pitching because the ball would have "more time to move". But alas, it never materialized as scores balooned in the Gold division overnight.

kevin's point is well founded. But I wonder if all of the offensive increase can be attributed to pitching distance. Seems that a real emphasis on quality hitting mechanics was concomitant with the distance change. Maybe a combination?

What it WASN'T was bats. Even bats which break in past the limits do not approach performance that was LEGAL in the past. Plus the ball compression change from 525 to 375 a half dozen or so years agonegatively affected performance.


As for pitching distance, it seems to me that could be argued either way. Three extra feet could put extra strain on an arm, I suppose, although I don't realistically see how a pitcher can throw harder just because she is further away. Wouldn't she throw harder to be more effective from closer? - if she COULD throw harder, I mean. But maybe, I don't know. A trade-off, though, in my mind, for the fact that she has another 3 feet to react to a batted ball hit at her. And could avoid injury there.

Best regards,

Scott

[3'sDad]

SSarge: Rules currently say to pitch @ 43' at 14U. Hitting mechanics, thanks to good instructors such as you, have improved so balls are hit harder and farther.

It appears the only answer available to attempt to reduce injury would be to adjust the compression of the softball so it does not fly as far or can be hit as hard (sounds like a golf discussion). We all buy new balls for every game. Adjusting the ball is far simplier and cheaper than having everyone being required to purchase new bats.

[Gone in 2.6]

I understand the logic of what you're saying. As a matter of fact, when Gold first moved to 43 ft, it was debated many times on eteamz that it would actually HELP the pitching because the ball would have "more time to move". But alas, it never materialized as scores balooned in the Gold division overnight.

kevin's point is well founded. But I wonder if all of the offensive increase can be attributed to pitching distance. Seems that a real emphasis on quality hitting mechanics was concomitant with the distance change. Maybe a combination?

What it WASN'T was bats. Even bats which break in past the limits do not approach performance that was LEGAL in the past. Plus the ball compression change from 525 to 375 a half dozen or so years agonegatively affected performance.


As for pitching distance, it seems to me that could be argued either way. Three extra feet could put extra strain on an arm, I suppose, although I don't realistically see how a pitcher can throw harder just because she is further away. Wouldn't she throw harder to be more effective from closer? - if she COULD throw harder, I mean. But maybe, I don't know. A trade-off, though, in my mind, for the fact that she has another 3 feet to react to a batted ball hit at her. And could avoid injury there.

Best regards,

Scott

All true. I'm glad you made the point about the bats. Way too much is made about the "hot bats these days". Bat exit speed standards are as low as they've ever been and the increased performance by broken in composite bats is a bit overstated sometimes.

Some of the ridiculous performances in the NCAA that don't pass "the eyeball test" are due, in my opinion, to cheating, not naturally broken in composite bats.

IMO, the bats are fine as long as no one crosses the line. Problem is I think it's being crossed