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November 1, 2007

Bill Dryden
Rivals High

Bill Dryden has coached softball and baseball at the Little League, middle school and varsity levels and has become an expert in teaching the windmill, "experimenting" on his two daughters in the late '80's including Ashley, who was a 1st team All-State player in Delaware.

He has coached several players who have gone on to D-I schools and currently has over 100 girls he's working with including Maryland juniors Stephanie Speierman, who has committed to Michigan, and Lauren Gibson, who has verballed to Tennessee.

During the winter he conducts weekend clinics in Western Maryland sponsored by the Maryland Stars organization and Saturday morning clinics in Hanover, Pa. sponsored by the PA Intensity. He's also an assistant coach for the Lady Orioles 18-U team. To reach Coach Dryden, e-mail him at: billdryden1@comcast.net.

*****


After returning from the beautiful rain soaked softball fields of the Rising Stars Showcase where my beloved Lady Orioles 18U went 2 and 1, I sat in my back yard sipping a Delmarva Peninsula Mint Julep (iced sweet tea with lemon, but mint julep sounds better) and watching the branches of the Delmarva Palm (everyone keeps telling me they're oaks but palms give me that warm, fuzzy feeling) sway in the gentle breeze of the balmy 50 degree temperatures.

Suddenly I had another of those conversations I so often have with myself. In those fleeting moments of near sanity I came to the conclusion that human beings take the path of least resistance.

Why take the stairs when we can take the elevator? Why walk over the hill when it appears easier to walk around? Why drive when we can fly? Why swim when we can take a cruise?

Then, just before I lost my temporary sanity it occurred to me pitchers take the path of least resistance unless they are taught why that may not be a good idea.

For instance, stretch out your hand with the palm up. Those who have thumbs probably have them to the side of their hands. The thumb quite naturally lies there. Now drop a softball in your hand and grip it. Most likely you will take the path of least resistance and grip it with the thumb in the same place it lays, which will be the side of the ball.

The problem is when you pitch that ball, the position of the thumb will probably cause a bullet or spiral spin on the ball at snap. That spin will cause the ball to go straight. If it goes straight it is easier to hit. Other factors can also cause bullet spin, but this is one that is easily corrected, but also means you have to think and place your thumb somewhere other than the path of least resistance.

Place the thumb on top of the ball. If you use a three-finger grip, place the thumb opposite the middle finger. If you use a two-finger grip place the thumb halfway between the two fingers. This will aid in getting 12/6 spin. 12/6 spin means the catcher sees the spin going straight down. This spin will cause the ball to drop when enough spin is applied and the ball is set in the fingertips or pads and not back in the hand.

The ball no longer is going straight and is harder to hit.

The path of least resistance also causes some pitchers to not lift the stride foot. The lower the stride foot is when driving to the plate the more the body will bend forward and affect the release point and the speed. It is also harder to drive with the pivot or drive leg when the stride leg is already on the ground, which is the result of not lifting it.

Ah, it is a vicious circle.

Everything depends on good mechanics and good mechanics requires us to fight the path of least resistance.

The phrase I despise to hear from a pitching student is "I can't." To me those words mean it is outside their comfort zone. It isn't within the path of least resistance. It takes work, effort, determination, and repetition. I tell the girls and the parents that if they continue to say, "I can't," I will believe them and they "can" move on to another instructor.

Whether it is working a drill that requires the stride foot to rise or if it is practicing grips and spins while the student is watching TV, the path of least resistance can be overcome.

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