M&J:
I won't deny that Americans have a tendancy to put a "brand name" on just about anything......heh he heh
There are SOME subtle differences to Lardy's 3HC and regular baseball drill.
First, 3HC is used to INTRODUCE casting and is also used as a LOW PRESSURE "fun game" after force fetch (where you can use the "fetch" command to introduce "back" casting....."fetch-baaaaacccckkkkkkk"). You must use alot of praise at this time to teach pup casting.
Second, the distances in 3HC as opposed to baseball from pitcher's mound to 1st, 2nd or 3rd base are not nearly as great. More like 10 yards (or 30 feet maximum). You MUST remember to give 3 or 4 "back" sends for every "over" send.
Third, I hear about trainers over here in the U.S. who drill for MONTHS on 3HC (or baseball for that matter)....I totally disagree with this approach. Your pup will get bored. Use this drill until you see the lightbulb come on in pup's head, make sure they've got it and then move on......your second 3HC session, FTP and Double T will entrench casting skills.
So, your logical training progression is.....complete Force Fetch procedure, 3HC and OB (usually about 10 - 12 days), Collar Conditioning, a few days of easy OB, reintroduce 3HC and quickly move on to Force to Pile (FTP) and Double T. I like to suspend marking drills COMPLETELY during Force Fetch (to head off delivery problems) and REDUCE marking drills during 3HC (to minimize confusion). Substitute OB with LOTS of praise to cater toward the dog's need for success at this point. However, don't be so locked in to a training regimen that you forget to read the dog...some do fine with marking drills during FF, most don't though.
ALL introductory 3HC should be on a checkcord. If you read confusion, have a bumper in your back pocket to throw to the correct pile and then cast....remember, you are TEACHING the dog at this point. When you get to the second (reintroduced) 3HC session you MAY be able to dispense with the checkcord since your pup should have been debolted in CC...however, I strongly discourage using an e-collar for anything but to enforce OB (i.e. "sit" and "come") until FTP.
As stated previously, Lardy didn't invent this drill....he gives all credit to Rex Carr and others in the tape credits.
CS