Drive Mechanics

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Jul 10, 2011
77
6
Javasource - You are in absolute BEAST MODE! Thanks for sharing, and please keep up the great work!!!
 
Mar 12, 2009
556
0
I have just now finished reading this thread and the information is amazing! JS is so generous with his time and knowledge that it blows me away. Kudos for everything you have provided for all of us trying to learn and help our daughters reach their full potential!!
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
All,

I will get my act together and continue the I/R supplement... BUT...

I created a pretty long video that I'd like to share with you all as a supplement to the original 2-Step video. Many people have had success with the drill... but just as many are still sorta confused about how to properly perform it... and as such, aren't receiving the maximum benefits it can create.

So... this whopper of a video (23 minutes) includes a bunch of snippets from my Texas trip - all related to the 2-Step. Many thanks to Nick & Richard, it was an incredible experience.

After the Texas snippets, I've also included a video breakdown of a phenomenal pitcher I've the privilege to work with. This clip is taken from our second clinic this last winter. At the age of 10, I feel that her athleticism and dedication to the sport will be helpful for all of you to see. In this segment, I go into finite detail about some very important aspects of Drive Mechanics... and how you can use the 2-Step drill to achieve them.

Hope this is helpful to you all! Best, ~JS

The Two Step Drill: Notes for Successfully Performing & Building a Powerful Drive


 
Sep 19, 2013
420
0
Texas
Java! Fantastic video!!!! Your student looks amazing. Great technic. This video will b great to reference back to. I want DD to watch it so that see can see exactly what we are looking for.

Thank you for being so giving with your time. 23minute video but 2 or 3 hour preparation!
 
Jan 27, 2014
84
0
I think I just had a light bulb moment. This makes so much sense and explains a lot! Thanks so very much :)
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
The Pushback Drill

Ok, here's another video... this time for the Pushback drill.

Couple of notes:

  1. I constantly refer to the foot becoming a rigid lever. The foot should not gradually apply pressure to the pitching plate... but do so immediately and powerfully in a pawing (downward and backward) motion. In order for this to happen, it should not bear any weight until it is pushing. Here's the concept of the lever:

  2. The rigidity comes from NOT allowing the heel to recess while applying force to the plate... and also during the backstep. Liken it to starting blocks behind the foot (the red triangle in that horrible illustration I created above). ;)
  3. Plantar-flexion is as such:

  4. If you do not utilize ALL six inches of plate depth, you are only hurting yourself. Same goes with the width, use as much as you can. Allow the foot to center on it's own... through 100% rearward transfer.
  5. The Two-Step is a way of POWERFULLY pitching... NOT just a drill. The Pushback drill is just that... A DRILL. Maximize your motions as you get comfortable with properly performing the drill.
  6. For every action there is a reaction equal in amount and opposite in direction. i.e. The pitching rubber will push back with a force equal to that which was applied, and in the opposite direction. The heel applies vertical pressure… the forefoot applies horizontal pressure... guess which we desire...
  7. In optimal sprinting mechanics (same goes for pitching), the foot should be moving backward with a velocity equal to the forward movement of the trunk. Some call this ‘pawing’.
  8. In the slow and fast forms of walking/running, the foot functions in a heel-to-toe fashion… but in sprinting, the foot functions in a toe-to-heel fashion. All sprinters maintain weight-bearing on the forefoot from contact to toe-off (take-off).
  9. A rolling heal-to-toe sequence - or flat foot push - lengthens the impulse, lowers the impact force, and lengthens the time to change the velocity because the duration of the impact force (work) is longer/slower (the roll versus the rigid foot w/raised heel).
  10. The vertical momentum of the leg (when the heel is in contact with the plate) is almost entirely absorbed by the vertical component of the collision force… mostly negating it. Vertical pressure applied by the back half of the foot during a roll... is IMO, useless... as any non-absorbed force the ground provides is in a direction I don't want the pitcher heading (up).
  11. I don't worry about the 'illegal' step backwards, as I'm not training the stride leg... I'm training the drive leg.

So, after considering all of that stuff... I decided that I need to train pitchers to increase the impact force with a rigid lever... where ALL force of the foot was applied in a direction opposite of the intended stride direction. To me, anything less than this is sub-optimal, so I don't consider it... or better put, train it.

I discovered that I could not use Walk-Throughs for this nearly as effectively. In fact, I mainly use them to train the stride leg... as the body momentum and foot patterns are nothing like a real pitch.

Ok... Here's the video, just under 16 minutes. Special thanks to Em & Steve for allowing me to share this with you all.

The Pushback Drill



Work towards detaching from the plate by the time reaches 3 o'clock!!! To do so, you must forcefully and quickly exhaust all energy in the drive leg push.

Best, ~JS

P.S. Paul, this is a wonderful drill for your DD... considering your focus this off-season. Hope she gets the most out of it... and congrats again on the school selection!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Apr 5, 2009
748
28
NE Kansas
Thanks a lot, Java. We were close but I was letting her stride heel touch (actually was using it as a timing point on the backswing :() for bottom of swing going back and didn't have the glove going forward as the heel was dropping. She was getting lag just not as much as your pitcher is getting. Thanks.

Now my next question is at stride plant. I have been watching a ton of film and there is a weightless backside move that starts right before this point and I am wondering how to train/chain this. Some call it hip snap but I am starting to think hip snap is a result of inner workings involving core thru diaphragm. I have no idea on how to train the timing for that. I hope this makes sense. And if it is a natural thing then what is the trigger for it to start occurring?

And if this muddies up the thread, please move it. :)
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
Thanks a lot, Java. We were close but I was letting her stride heel touch (actually was using it as a timing point on the backswing :() for bottom of swing going back and didn't have the glove going forward as the heel was dropping. She was getting lag just not as much as your pitcher is getting. Thanks.

Letting the stride heel touch is preferred... except when performing the pushbacks. While pitching in games... keep the heel down, for sure.

Now my next question is at stride plant. I have been watching a ton of film and there is a weightless backside move that starts right before this point and I am wondering how to train/chain this. Some call it hip snap but I am starting to think hip snap is a result of inner workings involving core thru diaphragm. I have no idea on how to train the timing for that. I hope this makes sense. And if it is a natural thing then what is the trigger for it to start occurring?

I would say start with getting her off the rubber by 3. As far as the hip snap you refer to...

At stride plant... meaning when the stride foot receives energy back from the ground... I think you're seeing the hips response to the force.

Or... you could be seeing the pitcher adducting forcefully, and depending on the timing of the plant/adduction, you could be seeing the resultant proximal movement from the contraction....

Or... you could be referring to the glutes firing after plant (cracking the walnut)... creating that last second snap of the hips.

Those are my guesses... have you any video as an example? If so, that shows the whole body...

I think if you focus on getting her first two timing points down... and getting her off that plate early... much of what you see in others may start to appear in yours...
 
Mar 12, 2009
556
0
Java,

Is the goal of the drive foot to come up off the rubber as or when the ball of the stride foot touches the ground even when first learning it or performing it at power level 10?
 

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