Stride length

Watched TN and TexasAM last night. Texes pitcher is shorter but still didn't seem to have a very long stride from the rubber. Renfro for UT almost seemed to step off the rubber. I will admit it looked like a very powerfull step. Watched a replay of Baylor and OU this morning. One had a very long stride one seemed more of a med. If my memory is correct Abbott, Finch and several gifs on model pitchers thread seam to have a mission of there stride foot to land on home plate. I know that a powerful push is desired and a firm landing helps to gererate velocity. My question is where does stride length come into play for success. I was told the stride should be equal to hgt. plus or minus a couple of inches. I may be (usually am) wrong, but Renfro's stride length seems way shorter than her hght. The reason for this question is the coaches that dd has seen have always pushed her to stride as long as possiable. I am starting to wonder if maybe it should be "stride hard and low" length is a result that will vary. Last two practices in basement DD has been consistantly high. Had a coach tell me when his DD gets high in zone her stride was getting long and he had her shorten some. Any thoughts on this and I do realize that TV is viewed from behind so length of stride is hard to judge.

I would think most power pitcher strive for maximum stride, while spin pitchers would prefer a shorter stride which gives breaking pitches a little more time/distance to move.

JAD that makes sense.

Watched that game too. In addition to the lack of stride, i saw renfro with some serious glove swim and forward lean. It's much more interesting now that i am developing eyes for the technique.

when we first started lessons the instructor had my dd jump out as far as she possibly could. it seemed like you couldn't be a great pitcher if you couldn't jump far. then we went to a more experienced instructor and the first thing they did was shorten her stride. the reason being there are two parts to your pitch the start, AND the finish... if you push out to far, you can't finish your pitch, because your off balance. so i think it is different for everyone and you have to find the right mix for your dd to be successful. you need to land on a firm front side, and if you over stride ,i don't think you can maintain that...

stickpile I feel the same about my eyes developing, only problem is I don't always trust my eyes. I noticed the AandM pitcher leaning to left at different degrees depending on the pitch she was throwning. Dont know the different pitches but the lean did vary.

gvm I think I am going to try to shorten her up a little and see what changes it produces.

olf thanks. I know the view from behind can be deceiving. I also relize some people make a difficult task look easy and effortless.

Under ideal mechanical situations, stride length is a factor of arm circle speed. Since arm circle speed =/= ball speed, stride length =/= ball speed.

It's all about sequencing and timing, much more critically than it is about more or less of any one thing.

-W

Renfroe looked off against T a&m, her stride looks about 7 1/2 feet out (toes in the chalk)
Fox is only 5'4"... so her stride will reflect that. But she looked really good that game. Great drops with a wicked change....

This looks like 7.5:



and this one about 6.5: