I have seen some pitchers use a flap attached to their leg with an elastic band as a pitching aid. I assume it was the Markwort Perfect Circle Pitcher's Training Aid.
They have it positioned so it sticks out directly to the right of the body. If the pitchers got open at all, they would not be able to touch the flap at any time in the release phase of the motion.
I have only seen this on pitchers with a closed motion.
Several years ago my DD was on a team with a young lady that used the flap in her warm ups. She would stand with both feet facing the catcher, somewhat wide stance and with a upper body windmill motion, she would wing the balls to the catcher. Her feet stayed put and didn't move. The exercise was all arm. She's a pretty good athlete and she could throw pretty hard. I thought it was impressively fast for someone not moving their feet. At that point she was considered the team's #1 pitcher. My first thoughts were that I couldn't understand how she had gotten so good with that motion and I couldn't understand how she worked out as hard as she did without having a shoulder problem. Two weeks later she severely strains her pitching shoulder and missed a year and a half. She could not get back to health no matter what doctor or therapist they went to.
That story aside, I can’t see any real use for the flap. Is there one that I am missing?
They have it positioned so it sticks out directly to the right of the body. If the pitchers got open at all, they would not be able to touch the flap at any time in the release phase of the motion.
I have only seen this on pitchers with a closed motion.
Several years ago my DD was on a team with a young lady that used the flap in her warm ups. She would stand with both feet facing the catcher, somewhat wide stance and with a upper body windmill motion, she would wing the balls to the catcher. Her feet stayed put and didn't move. The exercise was all arm. She's a pretty good athlete and she could throw pretty hard. I thought it was impressively fast for someone not moving their feet. At that point she was considered the team's #1 pitcher. My first thoughts were that I couldn't understand how she had gotten so good with that motion and I couldn't understand how she worked out as hard as she did without having a shoulder problem. Two weeks later she severely strains her pitching shoulder and missed a year and a half. She could not get back to health no matter what doctor or therapist they went to.
That story aside, I can’t see any real use for the flap. Is there one that I am missing?