Pivot Foot

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Jan 20, 2010
36
0
I like it straight at push off. If it get's turned to much they have a tendicy to push off power line to the left and weight will get forward a little. When you get up on toe pushing straight its easier to get your hips open all the way.
 
Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
I searched for "Pivot Foot" in the subject and found this older thread which is related to an issue I noticed my 12U DD having. Immediately before she pushes from the rubber, she turns (pivots) on her toe where her pivot foot is pointing to the right of the power line (she is a RH pitcher). I believe she is doing this move early to get a jump on opening her hips. Last night I had her doing a one leg drill where she starts with her stride foot off the ground and it makes it harder for her to pivot before she pushes off. She seems to get a decent push even with a slightly off line pivot foot.

Is looking for an in-line pivot foot being too picky about her mechanics?
 
May 7, 2008
174
18
Hal Skinner argues for pivoting the drive foot before the drive foot is "planted" for the push off. For pitchers who have no problem getting open in their stride I never even investigte or worry about it. Only when I have a pitcher who can't get open soon enough or is not getting open do I suggest a pivot on the drive foot. It does move the hips in the right direction.
 
Last edited:
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
I don't worry about it either. I do know that I pivot, initially.

Here is a decent video on what some of you are wanting to accomplish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnS2N-QUzj8&feature=related

As far as the power line goes, if both feet are in alignment, that is what I look for. I do not have a white stripe down the middle of the rubber. I line up more to the right. I am right handed. I could put my right foot in the middle of the rubber and hit the conventional power line, I suppose.

I have one 16 YO student that pitches "wide open" almost. It is not what I taught her, she came to me that way and her dad stated that "She does not hit a power line." Meaning - do not try and change her.
 
Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
Hi Amy, that is the drill I had her do last night. When she she goes back to her full pitch, she has this little move right before she drives off the rubber where she pivots her drive foot instead of pushing off with it in line with the power line or catcher. My concern is the twist of the drive foot will reduce the force she is able to drive up and out with.
 
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
There are tons of pitchers that turn their toe out before they start, which is why it's a commonly accepted practice. Nearly all of these pitchers also swim with their glove arm, and nearly all of them either never open completely or close their hips too early.

As it's been clearly pointed out many times on this forum, a pitcher is perfectly capable of achieving great success with sub-optimal mechanics. Many former D1 pitching coaches teach exactly as they pitched, and they teach the mechanics they used for success in spite of various flaws in their form, and thus these habits are continued to be taught. Many teachers would rather "prove that they are right" then continue to learn about the game, and thus they will tell you, "no, it's fine, I do it that way too".

All that said, when teaching a new or young student that has not yet developed these bad habits, I would prefer to enforce the most optimum mechanics possible, rather then teach a flaw from the getgo and just assume that "she'll be fine".

Keeping the toe, and everything else, going in the direction of the catchers mitt is the most efficient motion, and by having efficient motion at the beginning of the pitch (in this case the very very beginning), the rest of the pitching motion is also more likely to be more efficient and void of the other flaws mentioned in the first paragraph of this post.

-W
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Someone sent me a red plastic shoot that attaches to the pitching rubber. It is supposed to keep me from turning my foot, too early. I can't use it, because I do turn my foot too early.

Whomever the creator is, never communicated any further with me - or I would give him or her credit.

If you are in Tucson and want this thing, come and get it.
 
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
I just put an extra softball next to their toe (off to the right side for a righty) when they're on the rubber. If the ball moves, they turned their toe out, if it didn't, they know they did it right.

-W
 
Feb 26, 2011
90
0
My youngest DD also turned her foot to start her push as I think most all the new or younger pitchers do. The best drill I found for this is the walk through. When my DD started doing this the turning of the pivot foot went away. I think having your momentum going foward forces the the foot to stay straight till you come up on your toe.
 

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