Drive Mechanics

Rocketech1 said:

Regarding the two step drill, can a pitcher achieve similar and optimum weight shift by lifting the pivot foot up (heel still on the pitching plate) while rocking back on the stride foot before the weight shift forward? DD "naturally" started adding this to her pre-motion routine before each pitch.

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Rocket,

I might be wrong... but, I think what you're asking is: instead of getting on 'point' with the toes... they do so with the heel down and toes up/off. Like this?...



The following applies if we're on the same page.

Everything I add on here is my opinion of 'optimal'... and this means that I spend time trying to make it easier for people to instruct it to their kids over the internet. This rocking motion you refer to is used by many... BUT... in this dorsi-flexed foot position (drive foot, that is)... The forward motion is more of a rocking motion... in order for them to push from the balls of their feet. To me... this is less optimal. I think if the pitcher drags the pivot/drive foot back to a 'point' position (up on toe)... the foot is in the proper push position, and because of this, the transfer from the rear foot to front foot happens MUCH faster... like Cat and Monica...

Hope that answers your question... if not - let me know!

txnick said:

Could not make gif to fit file size requirements so here is the link.

http://tinyurl.com/kk2step

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Nick, that's a marvelous gif. I'll try and put a smaller version up for the general masses later. I don't see that as illegal in any shape or form...

"Stationary Momentum". I love the term! Ding! Ding! Ding! I am always looking for ways to easily explain things to DD. What u said about walk throughs to create momentum is what I needed to try and explain to her what we r striving for. I want her to feel the power just like walk throughs! I am excited to start working harder on getting DD to buy into this 110%.

U rock Java! Live changing stuff!!!!!!

Nick. I admire your drive to help KK! KK u r lucky to have a Dad that wants the best for u. Remember that each time he wants u to practice something new! Nick that is an awesome gif! Keep up the great work u r doing! KK u look awesome on the 2 step and remember that I use u as an example so that my DD can also 2 step!
Thanks for all your help!!!!!

JS,

Here is update 3 of KK.



[video=youtube_share;dMfcCPmapvE]http://youtu.be/dMfcCPmapvE[/video]

javasource said:

Nick & KK,

Awesome job!!! The only thing I'd really, really, really recommend (really)... is that KK start with her right heel at the FRONT of the rubber... and as she transfers weight back... she slides & centers the drive foot (to the position she is starting - in these videos).

The reason: I see KK getting to the point where she skips the back motion (rushes through it)... and completing a slide rearwards will ensure that it happens... which helps maximize the energy forward.

Hook looks better, too. Get her to firm up the stride leg a bit... maybe tell her to send her hip to the catcher... so she gets a little better rearward spine angle.

Her front side timing is really good in the second video... amazingly better than the last 6 months... which was always one of KK's larger issues.

You rock, KK!!!!!! Good work ethic and good parenting go a long way!

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txnick said:

JS,

Here is update 3 of KK.

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Nick, I'd get her drive heel even closer to the edge... but the most noticeable thing is...

... she's blasting through the rearward transfer and not completing the move. Take a look at the stride leg of all the pitchers (including the young model pitchers) in this post. Need to get her in this position... no need to bend the rear (stride knee).

As I mentioned in the previous post... many super-athletic kids will start to skip the back motion... and I see KK trying to get her leg out before she has established that falling forward feeling of the lean. The reason: is that she is moving her drive foot back and not dragging it back. There's a difference... the rearward slide is a result of a rearward transfer of weight... not a result of the leg forcefully moving it back.

All in all, she looks great!

I combined 2 videos from last night. On the left video she did not drive into the ground which is a crucial piece of the 2 step. Looking at both videos KK went further in her stride on the right side video but her explosion was faster which made her land .05 seconds faster. Her arm speed to touchdown was .08 seconds faster than left side video as well.


[video=youtube_share;siLrsjVV4EU]http://youtu.be/siLrsjVV4EU[/video]

Looks like Ueno does/did the Java Two-Step...

Thank you for this. I have a high school pitcher that does what I call a "Hoedown". Where the back leg is turned back and the back foot is on the heel with the toe in the air.
I've been trying to correct this forEVER! Every week she has homework to correct it, she will stop doing it now but only when her focus is on it, once she stops the focus it comes back.

Her high school team recently had a college coach come to talk to them and since he was also a pitching instructor he felt the need to show the pitchers things he'd like them to do like, "gas pedal, front foot", his change-up, etc.
She asked him about her hoedown since she told him I always make a big deal about it and his answer was it wasn't a problem. Lots of pitchers do it he says. So now this leaves me in a position where she doesn't feel like she needs to change it.

javasource said:

If I didn't tell you this was a RHP, you might assume it was a lefty...

RHP, too.

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Doug Romrell said:

Looks like Ueno does/did the Java Two-Step...

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Yeah, I work with her on the weekends...