Drive Mechanics

javasource · Jul 6, 2015

Tips for Bucketmom's and Bucketdad's

Here's a quick video for the bucketmom's and bucketdad's... the real pitching coaches.

Over the years, I've noticed that certain items get over-emphasized in practicing this craft... resulting in unnecessary focus and repetitions (bend in elbow, getting open, etc). Hopefully a few items mentioned in the video will help some adjust their focus... making their already limited time, more efficient.

drc9805 · Jul 7, 2015

javasource said:
Here's a quick video that I've been meaning to do for awhile... for those that are just starting out the journey into this marvelous world of pitching. I know my posts can get pretty technical... so I thought I'd take a moment to break down some of the more common issues I've seen with kids working over the years... and put them into an easy to watch video.

Took this video in my backyard... with a cat that loves photo-bombing, a snorting deer, and a wife stomping up the stairs (in approval, of course...). Sorry for the lack in professional quality!

I'll post some more videos for you all over the next few days... just thought I'd post in this sticky...as these will touch on things already discussed in previous posts.

Good to see you in shorts and a T-shirt with no snow on the ground! How's the fishing?!?!

BoardMember · Jul 7, 2015

Nice job Mike.......

javasource · Jul 7, 2015

I/R Drill Tips

Here's another one... specific to issues that I commonly see in person and on this site... regarding kids working on the I/R drills. I've said it a thousand times, but I can't stress how much those drills have helped kids learn the proper way to throw... and drastically improved the quality of athlete I see in clinic. That said, some people miss some of the details along the way... or skip over Lock-it-in... so here are a few tips to help those that are giving those invaluable drills a go:

drc9805 · Jul 8, 2015

Great videos Mike! Heck...some of the experts could be better if they would incorporate this stuff!!!

Thanks to BM as always.

drc9805 · Jul 8, 2015

You need to delete the rest of my post because it really doesn't make too much sense without the part about ???? learning from Mike. Heck...we all learn from Java and BM!!!

Madsofball · Jul 8, 2015

Mike...this is fantastic. I encourage everyone to read Boardmembers IR sticky, but if you don't these two videos are a concise starting point!

Thanks again for your efforts!

Buttermaker · Aug 7, 2015

Stick mostly to the hitting side but this thread was recommended to me by a few people for the content re: the core.

I have watched the videos a few times digesting the info here and find some parallels wrt fielding. I teach somewhat the same thing to move laterally so the info here is quite fascinating and most importantly it makes perfect sense.

Understanding that just by driving out that your pelvis will start to open compared to pitching schools that actively teach their students to get open by pivoting the drive foot is gold. Drills that promote the pivot to open usually create timing issues for some.

Fielding clip I use to show the footwork to "drive" laterally

Thank you, Java for some really well presented information.

javasource · Sep 22, 2015

Understanding Overlap and the Pushback Drill

Catchermom's DD recently gave the Pushback Drill a go... and I was really stoked to see her application/understanding of the drill. Let's cover some points that I think most people are missing:

You Learn to PERFORM THESE MOTIONS:

Establishing FORWARD LEAN EARLY is PART I of this drill.
DELAYING THE START OF THE BACKSWING is PART II of this drill.

THESE ARE RESULTS, not motions you 'practice':

STRIKING THE PLATE REARWARD with the drive foot (forefoot, not flatfoot)
DETACHMENT FROM THE PLATE BY 3 O'CLOCK
TIMING CORRECTION
OVERLAP

Without the first two points, the last four are not optimal... and may NOT happen.

I see kids trying this on video quite often... and perhaps I did not explain it well enough in the video... but I see a lot of them:

Gym-Stepping
Backswing Deeply... with a long pause at the top
Minimal Established Early Lean.
No Delay of the Backswing.

Let's walk through each of these so you all understand WHY all of the above points are so important.

You will Gym-Step if you establish forward lean/momentum too late... and/or... are uncomfortable/uncoordinated with a falling start.
The drill is performed with a staggered start (space between feet is exaggerated). This added distance REQUIRES that you delay the start of the backswing more than usual, because your stride leg must overcome the extra spacing (distance) you created with your feet.
Establishing the forward lean EARLY will have your body moving so quickly through space, that the DRIVE LEG can perform work AGAINST the plate SOONER... and MORE EFFICIENTLY... resulting in detachment from the plate EARLY.
The forward lean and delayed backswing result in the body rapidly moving forward... while the arm is moving backward. This is overlap. The goal is to create so much forward momentum... that the FORWARD BODY MOMENTUM PULLS THE ARM OUT OF THE BACKSWING. When reviewing video... you should NOT comfortably reach the top of your backwing, AND you should not see the pitchers arm pausing at the top of the backswing.

Let's take a look at what this means... that is, BODY MOMENTUM PULLING THE ARM OUT OF THE BACKSWING:

As you can see... the established forward movement of her body PULLS her arm forward and down... OUT OF her backswing. In other words, her FORWARD MOMENTUM CREATES HER UPSWING. This is a perfect example of the RESULT of DELAYING the BACKSWING because of the negative move (forward) that she performs to delay it. Let's take a look at that negative move... or what I call DELAYING THE BACKSWING:

As you can see, her stride leg has accepted the weight transfer at the same time her arms are fully extended AWAY from her body. This is a negative move... because the intended move (positive) is a backswing. NOTE that she has already established a lean of her torso FORWARD, even though her body is moving rearward. SUPER IMPORTANT!!!

Here's the whole thing:

I've put pauses in the gif to allow you to see the following things:

She hits a wall... meaning her backside is firm into the rearward weight transfer.
She hits that wall... with a forward lean. Her head NEVER gets over her rear heel.
She hits that wall BEFORE the backswing begins. As such, she can start forward body momentum early, so that the backswing contrasts the body movement. The arm going back contrasts the body going forward. These are OVERLAPPING MOVEMENTS.
Note the INCREDIBLE FORWARD LEAN that results from doing the drill correctly.
Note the detachment from the plate happening even before 3 o'clock (ball to catcher).

Here's a version with notes:

Once this young woman develops comfort with this drill... she's doing it wrong! Keep working harder to fall more, push harder, and stagger LESS... all while maintaining that feeling of the body pulling the arm out of the backswing.

It would also be wise to pitch with a ball, too. (wink, wink)

None of these movements feel natural or 'comfortable'... they defy the comfort we have grown into. As such... I'll post some other drills that will help those of you that are struggling with:

Developing that "lean, fall, go" feel
Hitting a wall (pushing back)
Maximizing the force of the drive foot off the plate

One of the things that I bring up a lot... is lack of hip flexion/extension. I'll post a couple more exercises that you (catchermom13) should have her work on to increase both... as she exhibits deficiencies in both, which create rotational compensation in the hip area. Sound first attempt... be sure to send me a video of her throwing it with a ball once she is more acclimated with the motion!

Many thinks to catchermom's DD... really made me happy to see such a successful first attempt. Thank you! This is a great MODEL... and a great example of how we all learn by sharing/posting our experiences.

corlay · Sep 22, 2015

javasource said:
She hits a wall... meaning her backside is firm into the rearward weight transfer.

She hits that wall... with a forward lean. Her head NEVER gets over her rear heel.

She hits that wall BEFORE the backswing begins. As such, she can start forward body momentum early, so that the backswing contrasts the body movement. The arm going back contrasts the body going forward. These are OVERLAPPING MOVEMENTS.

Note the INCREDIBLE FORWARD LEAN that results from doing the drill correctly.

Note the detachment from the plate happening even before 3 o'clock (ball to catcher).

Looks great!

One quick clarifying question:
When you "hit the wall" my understanding is that it is optimal for that back heel to stay down. ("stretch")
Is that correct?

But with the greater separation (front/back direction) of the feet in this drill,
does that make it more difficult to keep that back heel down, I wonder?

Drive Mechanics

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javasource

6-4-3 = 2

drc9805

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javasource

6-4-3 = 2

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Madsofball

Buttermaker

javasource

6-4-3 = 2

corlay

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