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Reply to "Sidearm Pitcher trying out for highschool team"

The gyroball is not actually a myth...the pitch was developed by a Japanese computer scientist and a Japanese baseball coach.  Unfortunately, the media (especially the US media) jumped on the story, hyped it beyond all recognition, and mostly got it wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

The gyroball is a pitch that has bullet-like spin.  That is, the spin axis is exactly aligned with the direction of flight.  While that spin axis is good for bullets (because it stabilizes their flight and makes them accurate) it is bad for a baseball pitch.  It is essentially useless because a gyroball can only be thrown with slider-like speed (think of the release mechanics needed to get bullet-like spin) and the pitch has no deceptive movement--it goes where you (and the batter) think it's going.  Another apt name for the gyroball is "back-up slider"...i.e., a slider that accidentally gets the spin axis exactly aligned w/ direction of flight....leading to zero Magnus force on the ball and no lateral movement.  If they are in the strike zone, those pitches are usually hit a long way.

 

Assuming you are a righty sidewinder, your pitch that moves to the left and drops is most likely a slider.

 

The answer for your velocity concerns is probably about the same as any other pitcher at your level of development....start taking pitchers' strength and conditioning training seriously, work with a good coach who can help you overcome any mechanical flaws (note:  being a sidearmer is NOT a mechanical flaw, despite what some people may tell you), do the right thing when no one is watching--that is, apply yourself to achieving your goals with real dedication.

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