My daughter wants to start pitching. She is only 9 and this is her first year. I'm more than willing to spend the time working with her, just don't want to go spend $80-100 for a bucket of balls plus other gear for something that may or may not work out. Hoping to find somebody that may have some used balls laying around whose daughter has moved up the the 12" ball. Anywhere near Birmingham would preferable but I travel 20 toward Atlanta, East on 20 to Alex City and 65 to Clanton fairly often and willing to go anywhere around those areas. Thanks

Also, want to add if know somebody that may have some PM me and I'll give you my phone number so they can contact me or I'll call them if they don't mind you giving out their number.

I have some

I have quite a few 12" if you want you can have them. PM me if interested

Smack her in forehead and say NEVER touch those yeller things again!!!!

Best advice...besides the above...ebay, buy them by the dozen

Gave away a bucket full last year and my last few holdouts a few weeks ago. Too far south for you anyway.

Best useful advice I can give you is when she begins to bend forward at the waist smack her forehead a la SFC3. Make sure she develops a strong front side to snap against. Many young pitchers want to bend forward to "aim" the ball.

Slapping this one on the forehead would not phase her one bit. She is the youngest of 5 and mean as snake. I've got 4 girls and the other ones I can look at funny and make them cry. This one wouldn't cry just out of spite. She is more competitive than her sisters and brother combined. The only reason I agreed to let her pitch is because she is the type that is determined enough to put in the practice necessary. I built a swing trainer off the deck in the back yard for my son years ago. I adjusted down a little to her level and she hits on almost every day. And not by my prompting. She just loves softball.

I do appreciate the advice though. I'll watch for her bending. I am 100% clueless about mechanics of fastpitch. She is starting lessons on Sunday. Parents are required to attend (to play catcher) so hopefully I can learn along with her. Any other advice is certainly welcome. This is her 4th year to play softball but first year at pitching.

One of the members on here...lumberbroke gives lessons...overlook his hair style;-)

Scroll down a bit to the gal batting pic on this link...thats my youngest kid...
Shes WAY tougher than me...
Sarah

That attitude will help her a lot. Most of the time high/low is release point and left/right is stride foot placement. There are other things that can affect location like bending at elbow, not keeping a long arm, that causes the pitch to go high but that relates back to release point. Timing of hip/shoulder closing can also affect it left/right too.

A good pitching coach is well worth the money. We try to go 2x/month when our schedules allow it.