Elbow UP when you throw....and my 7 year old son....

[The Glovedoctor]

The hardest habit to break for my son is getting his elbow up when he throws. He has a very strong arm, but he just can't progress from "slinging" the ball with his elbow looking like it is tied to his side. This is very frustrating for both of us, and I just don't know what to do next. Do I just let him work it out, or continue to insist that he get the elbow up? I know he is just 7, but this really seems like something he can not master and I don't want to push him. Me trying to correct him has resulted in tears and frustration more than once, and I really don't want to ruin anything for him.

I could really use some pointers and advice. Thanks in advance.

[bbrages]

My son just sort of worked it out. Play catch, have fun, wait and see. Did anyone teach you proper arm action when you were a kid, or did you just figure it out?

I wonder if it's just related to relative strength. Try to throw a bowling ball and your elbow will probably be down (like a shot putter's?)...

[The Glovedoctor]

I'm a very odd case, because I didn't play baseball until I was a freshman in HS (14). I played in college and in amatuer leagues until this day (37 now). My son is pretty strong, and has decent size - so I don't think it is a strength issue.

[azmatsfan]

Although he's only 7, I'd work on it now. I have two boys on by 10U team that still throw side arm. They know they do it, and in practice when they are conscious of it they do a good job of getting the elbow up and keeping their fingers on top of the ball. But as soon as it's a game situation where they just react the old habit comes back and throw the ball from waist height and the ball usually sails on them. The older he gets the harder the habit is to break. The key is to find a cue that works for you son as opposed to nagging him to "get yer arm up" after every throw.

[songtitle]

Have you tried just having him do a simple drill... elbows up, then twist.

[HeinekenMan]

I'm not sure I understand exactly what he's doing wrong. If he's dropping his elbow, is he also throwing sidearm? My son has had issues with doing both. He drops his elbow and that causes him to throw with his hand away from his body. It's a sidearm motion. Last spring, the most successful thing was to do the one-knee drill with a batting tee under his right arm. He has to be close to the tee. If he drops his elbow, it hits the tee. It helped my son last spring. He started throwing sidearm again this fall. Last night, I got the tee out again. He warmed up with it before last night's game. Then he threw most of his pitches overhand during the game, and he pitched really well. In fact, it was his best game ever. So I recommend the tee.

[bbrages]

^ what's wrong with throwing sidearm anyway??

[The Glovedoctor]

I'm going to try the Tee drill.

What's wrong with throwing sidearm? Well, the ball tends to sail right or left - instead of up and down. You want the ball to bounce true, should it ever hit the ground in route to the target. Throwing sidearm, the ball will bounce right or left when it hits the ground, right?

[HeinekenMan]

^ what's wrong with throwing sidearm anyway??

Accuracy and speed are what's wrong with throwing sidearm. You lose both when you try to throw sidearm. Sure, there are a few guys who figure it out and play in the big leagues. A lot of folks say that throwing sidearm will cause injury. it seems like there are good mechanics for sidearmers just like there are good mechanics for traditional throwers. If you don't have good mechanics, you'll get hurt either way.

[TexAg]

the most successful thing was to do the one-knee drill with a batting tee under his right arm. He has to be close to the tee. If he drops his elbow, it hits the tee.

I like that drill and will try it tonight. Thanks!

[HeinekenMan]

I like that drill and will try it tonight. Thanks!

Let me know how it goes. I was surprised by how successful it was. We tried the standing next to a fence thing, and it didn't work.

[pstein]

The hardest habit to break for my son is getting his elbow up when he throws. He has a very strong arm, but he just can't progress from "slinging" the ball with his elbow looking like it is tied to his side. This is very frustrating for both of us, and I just don't know what to do next. Do I just let him work it out, or continue to insist that he get the elbow up? I know he is just 7, but this really seems like something he can not master and I don't want to push him. Me trying to correct him has resulted in tears and frustration more than once, and I really don't want to ruin anything for him.

I could really use some pointers and advice. Thanks in advance.

There's nothing wrong with throwing sidearm, but it's better to learn to throw overhand. I'd suggest the following:

Give him a ball, and just have him work on the correct arm action. When he gets that down, have him work it into throwing.

[pthawaii]

The hardest habit to break for my son is getting his elbow up when he throws. He has a very strong arm, but he just can't progress from "slinging" the ball with his elbow looking like it is tied to his side. This is very frustrating for both of us, and I just don't know what to do next. Do I just let him work it out, or continue to insist that he get the elbow up? I know he is just 7, but this really seems like something he can not master and I don't want to push him. Me trying to correct him has resulted in tears and frustration more than once, and I really don't want to ruin anything for him.

I could really use some pointers and advice. Thanks in advance.

My son had the same problem at 6. Here's what I learned from the journey.
1. Make sure it's not tears and frustration for your son (okay if it's you lol). It's easy to get upset and not be patient.
2. It could take a long time to correct, as in over a year. So be patient.
3. Activities we did include (a) the tee thing already mentioned, (b) putting him in the throwing position with the ball facing (if he were a pitcher) ss, high on a fence, then he stepped forward and threw moving the ball forward off the fence, (c) playing catch in a pool (water was chest high), (d) having him throw the ball towards the ground and make it bounce high (you have to put a broom stick a couple of feet in front of him so he has to come over the top to bounce it high and not just side arm it at his own feet), (e) play catch but start the throw with the ball touching your head.

Kept is light, that way he'd do it, and I wouldn't get all serious with him. Better he do it and have fun than make it a chore (especially at age 7).

Just my 2 cents, good luck, I'm sure since you are aware of it and are trying stuff, it will work itself out overtime with your help.

[The Glovedoctor]

Thanks a lot, pthawaii (and everyone else). There are some great ideas there!

[StanTheMan]

Do you find he throws with better form if he "reaches back" properly with the ball in his hand and then comes forward? If so, set him up against a fence, side of the house, basketball pole, mailbox, tree... Anything. Before he throws it back to you, he has to reach back, hit the ball on the object, and immediately step and fire to you. Might decrease the likelihood of the "shot put" elbow movement if he has to start with the arm extended properly.