power line question

[Ken B]

I see the powerline a little differently. For me the line extends from the inside of the pivot foot to the catcher. The toe of the stride foot lands on or near this line. The arm tracks on it's own line. Looking straight on or from behind at someone pitching in this manner shows the arm and feet tracking on two parallel lines.

Video is very helpful if it's possible--either from straight on or from behind.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

In Gillis’ DVD/VHS material he describes the objective of a pitcher striding directly at the catcher as a ‘myth’ that can inhibit rotation.

 

[Ken B]

Does he elaborate on the myth?

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Does he elaborate on the myth?

 

[LeftiesDad]

Clarification: I didn't say a pitcher should stride across their power line. I said in this case, considering her stated normal is 8-10 inches outside the power line, she might feel like she is striding across her power line.

I agree that the line of force of the ball needs to be inside the hips and will be slightly different than the line of force from the legs/hips. Making these two as close as possible is the goal for maximum efficiency. This helps explain importance of getting the hips all the way open and not closing until the ball as passed through. Not doing so, on the other hand, loses that efficiency and has the potential of breaking the kinetic chain causing the throw to become arm powered.

I would guess (blindly without video) that she has been taught to drive hard forward and only use her quads to power her stride as demonstrated in the Gillis video. Thus not getting her hips open, or open fully.

 

[starsnuffer]

So he's saying the same thing everyone else here is saying. "Stride at the catcher" is a bit vague. The catcher is a large target when they're squatted down, larger then the plate, and certainly the pitcher just doesn't pitch to the plate, but rather a 4" target somewhere over the plate.

What he is describing as wrong in his video clip above is step style pitching. How old are these videos?

-W

 

[Ken B]

I understand Coach Gillis to say that he is discouraging staying square to the catcher during the forward motion. It sounds like he wants his pitchers to use open mechanics. I think this is different than the powerline being talked about for pitchers already using open mechanics?

 

[CoachFP]

If you push off the right foot, then the power line by definition should be a straight line from the push off foot to home plate. Otherwise your power is going somewhere other than towards home plate.

 

[starsnuffer]

I always say that the balls of both feet should aline with the target. This allows for plenty of room for the plane of the circle to be over the toes, since feet project outwards from the body. If the heels are on the power line, then the ball cannot be on the power line.

By "power line", I mean the actual path of the pitch, not the silly line drawn on the center of a pitching mat.

-W