Softball Throwing Mechanics

MTS said:

In response to the bolded part above - I played catch with a few players that have this action throwing OH (sliders) and even a couple windmilling while saying they are throwing (trying to throw) a screwball. Facing the ball to CF is never a good thing - have no idea where this idea came from but it is like trying to change someone's political or religous views...

Click to expand...

People definitely freak out over it. When you show them repeated video of the best throwers in the world not doing it, it's hard to stand by it. I need more video of high level SB players making overhand throws... Any tips on where to find some???

Tewks said:

People definitely freak out over it. When you show them repeated video of the best throwers in the world not doing it, it's hard to stand by it. I need more video of high level SB players making overhand throws... Any tips on where to find some???

Click to expand...

I wish I knew where to find clips of OH throwing - I just surf Youtube and hope I find something - not too much luck so far.

Here is Jeter in warmups


Here is a HS player in a skills video. Check out the front leg at foot plant and compare. I think this is one of the big reasons girls have trouble following through. It looks like pole vault throwing.

Here is my DD as a 17 YO. Her coach played for Purdue.

Amy in AZ. said:

Here is my DD as a 17 YO. Her coach played for Purdue.

Click to expand...

She's dropping and flying open with her glove, which is pretty common, but probably more so for girls IME.

This can lead to problems with horizontal accuracy.

I teach what Danica Patrick is doing in the pic I posted; to control the front elbow better.

MTS said:

Here is a HS player in a skills video. Check out the front leg at foot plant and compare. I think this is one of the big reasons girls have trouble following through. It looks like pole vault throwing.

Click to expand...

Locking out the front knee is one way to get a velocity boost and is probably one way she (they) compensates for less upper body strength.

However, hers is a pretty high-level throw.

That's how we differ. I thought it was awful and if I was recruiting her from that tape, I would move on to the next candidate.

I disagree - the posted leg is not a method to increase velocity - it is a flaw in technique. It shows the inability to transfer weight.

And check out the head position of Jeter and the girl - Jeter's chin looks to be buried in his front shoulder.

What have we learned about the head position and upper body muscle engagement. Maybe if they were taught the correct technique - their upper body strength would be more then adequate to throw a ball 75ft (SS to 1B).

And do I have to mention that the girl cannot be really dialed in on her target with this head position. I read a stat recently that about 75% of fielding errors are throwing errors.



Also check out Jeter's point and throw old school technique.

I sometimes wonder if part of the reason that technique is overlooked is due to the high emphasis on speed in softball. By speed I mean the time it takes to get to the ball, field it, and get it to the first baseman, not necessarily throwing speed. I'm curious as to peoples thoughts on this. Perhaps "correct" is slow?

-W

Chris, did you download the skill video throw and view frame-by-frame? She is close to the Inverted W upper body pattern with a poor lower half... less that ideal sequence. Tremendous stress on her elbow. And it starts way upstream from the Inverted W position.


I made some baseball throwing GIFs last night.... Lincecum throwing off a fielded tapper is interesting....



Rivera



Locking out the front knee is a velocity boost? Somebody tell Mo. And Posey...



Jose Bautista has a good arm too...




The front leg lands firm... Lock it out early and you are throwing uphill, not down hill. It doesn't need to be straightened, but it does need to be firm.