by curveballerguy124 » Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:53 pm
Whoa Whoa Whoa there Sam!!!! You could not be any further from the truth, I instruct and I DO NOT teach girls re-planting, crowhopping, skipping, jumping, whatever, I never have. Neither does Mike White, Bill Hillhouse, Doug Gillis, Reno Rico, Rob Scwayer, Rich Balswick, Joe Salcido or any other male fastpitch hurler I know current or former!!!!
I was never taught leaping from day one, I learned legal just like most guys have, toe drag and all. I didn't start leaping until I was throwing for a few years. Believe it or not its actually a lot harder to do then most people think and very tiring. Even now when I play as I get tired I switch to pitching legal because I have more control that way. The biggest advantage of leaping is it gets me closer to the batter, biggest disadvantage of leaping it gets me closer to the batter!!! The way men are allowed to leap yes there is an advantage to that, the way some female pitchers "leap" I don't see an advantage in that at all to be honest they don't gain enough ground or push off hard enough on the landing to make a difference. Pitchers like Barnhill that "leap" she is not gaining anything in my opinion.
So Sam, don't spread vicious rumors that ain't true.... I play fastpitch I'm a man but I DO NOT teach girls how to leap or crow hop. However, I do teach them how to use their legs properly as they drive out, something that most come to me not doing correctly.