High Level Throwing mechanics

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fanboi22

on the journey
Nov 9, 2015
1,138
83
SE Wisconsin
tumblr_pjp6mqaZ061usf292o1_400.gif

so this skeleton doesn't drop it's hands(phalanges?) deeply nor as close to the head due to not as much bend in arm. So if I have my DD use a drill to work strictly on arm pattern, keeping her feet shoulder width apart and facing target, and twisting torso, what drill best emulates the high level pattern i would want her to attain? i like the below drill with cord, but the drill i have seen has ball in hand starting on back of neck, but seems to emphasize too much of that close to head loop (spiral staircase) motion that the skeleton does, just not to that extreme.

so just looking for the right drills to work on arm path then will focus on core, unless the two cannot be separated. I need DD to work on the whipping action as it looks like she has no kinetic chain at all, all moving the same.

http://twitter.com/Wass_Strength/status/1004385284656717826
http://youtu.be/kwEzslpiD-Y
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
I found the link below to be helpful to some degree on the questions you are asking. My DD has worked on the pattern that Austin explains in his ebook so I am somewhat familiar with his thoughts. With that being said my DD has started a throwing program with a local gym near my home and one of the first things that they corrected is getting the forearm and the upper arm closer to the 90 degree angle instead of the much tighter angle. Another thing that they are working on changing is to use the front arm better, they want to see it coming into the chest area/body and pulling more. I believe Austin is more in line of letting it dangle and not using it to pull the back side if my understanding is correct of his teachings. They also are working with her towards getting a later shift to the front leg. In the past she had/has the tendency to shift her weight to soon on her throws.

Some of the things I noticed since she started the new program. Her velo has definitely increased. Her throws are a lot straighter due to her hand getting behind the ball better, allowing back spin instead of side spin like throwing a curve ball. What I believe was happening is that much like your DD mine had a tight angle between the forearm and the upper arm. This was causing the hand to work out away from the body more than it should. The direction of her hand moving away made it hard for her to get the proper pronation at the release of the ball instead of the funky side spin. I also find that the tucking or pulling of the lead arm into her body has helped her accuracy by causing better direction with the body, straighter lines rather than pulling off with the body. I want to make it clear that in no way am I trying to discredit Austin and his material and just wanted to share some of my experience with the matter. When I watch Austin throw I feel as if his style is different than most throwers esp the tight angle between the upper arm and the forearm. The thing that needs to be taken away from his videos and the drills he is promoting is the overall sequence of the movements. Which is the big issue with most young women. You can see that the girl in the video has a different style of throwing compared to Austin but the sequence is correct.

I took some video of my DD throwing the other night that I am willing to post if you would like. The video doesn't contain any dialog but you could see the pattern that she is working in.

https://www.highlevelthrowing.com/college-softball-coaches-look-recruiting-throwing-athlete/
 
Last edited:

fanboi22

on the journey
Nov 9, 2015
1,138
83
SE Wisconsin
I found the link below to be helpful to some degree on the questions you are asking. My DD has worked on the pattern that Austin explains in his ebook so I am somewhat familiar with his thoughts. With that being said my DD has started a throwing program with a local gym near my home and one of the first things that they corrected is getting the forearm and the upper arm closer to the 90 degree angle instead of the much tighter angle. Another thing that they are working on changing is to use the front arm better, they want to see it coming into the chest area/body and pulling more. I believe Austin is more in line of letting it dangle and not using it to pull the back side if my understanding is correct of his teachings. They also are working with her towards getting a later shift to the front leg. In the past she had/has the tendency to shift her weight to soon on her throws.

Some of the things I noticed since she started the new program. Her velo has definitely increased. Her throws are a lot straighter due to her hand getting behind the ball better, allowing back spin instead of side spin like throwing a curve ball. What I believe was happening is that much like your DD mine had a tight angle between the forearm and the upper arm. This was causing the hand to work out away from the body more than it should. The direction of her hand moving away made it hard for her to get the proper pronation at the release of the ball instead of the funky side spin. I also find that the tucking or pulling of the lead arm into her body has helped her accuracy by causing better direction with the body, straighter lines rather than pulling off with the body. I want to make it clear that in no way am I trying to discredit Austin and his material and just wanted to share some of my experience with the matter. When I watch Austin throw I feel as if his style is different than most throwers esp the tight angle between the upper arm and the forearm. The thing that needs to be taken away from his videos and the drills he is promoting is the overall sequence of the movements. Which is the big issue with most young women. You can see that the girl in the video has a different style of throwing compared to Austin but the sequence is correct.

I took some video of my DD throwing the other night that I am willing to post if you would like. The video doesn't contain any dialog but you could see the pattern that she is working in.

https://www.highlevelthrowing.com/college-softball-coaches-look-recruiting-throwing-athlete/

If you would be willing to that would be great. I think it would help me try to help my DD. I will take a look at the Wasserman video you posted as well. Thanks for the help and info.
 

fanboi22

on the journey
Nov 9, 2015
1,138
83
SE Wisconsin
The video isn’t in the best angle but it does show the arm action well. I hope it can help you some.

https://www.hudl.com/technique/video/view/jcD8wmGz



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for the video, She looks very good. As i see your DD, i think we are definitely putting too much thought into the arm drop water bottle feel and not enough into hips/core/rotation. the article you referenced above shows that. see my DD throwing line vs the girl in the Wasserman article throwing 74mph.

throwCapture.jpg
throw2Capture.jpg
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
Thank you for the video, She looks very good. As i see your DD, i think we are definitely putting too much thought into the arm drop water bottle feel and not enough into hips/core/rotation. the article you referenced above shows that. see my DD throwing line vs the girl in the Wasserman article throwing 74mph.

View attachment 13545
View attachment 13546

Yes and my DD had the same issue as your DD in that picture and was one the first things that they worked on and are still working on. My take on Austins water bottle drill is that it is more of a sequencing drill. My understanding of it is that the arm/hand drops below behind the head to allow enough time for the hips and torso to gain some separation and that is what should be taken in from the drill IMO. Have you ever reached out to Austin? When i first purchased his ebook a couple years ago now, I would email him and he always responded to me and from what I understand from others they had the same experience with him. He seems like a very friendly guy who is is in it for the right reasons and wants to help.
 

fanboi22

on the journey
Nov 9, 2015
1,138
83
SE Wisconsin
Yes and my DD had the same issue as your DD in that picture and was one the first things that they worked on and are still working on. My take on Austins water bottle drill is that it is more of a sequencing drill. My understanding of it is that the arm/hand drops below behind the head to allow enough time for the hips and torso to gain some separation and that is what should be taken in from the drill IMO. Have you ever reached out to Austin? When i first purchased his ebook a couple years ago now, I would email him and he always responded to me and from what I understand from others they had the same experience with him. He seems like a very friendly guy who is is in it for the right reasons and wants to help.

Thanks again. I have not reached out directly, but a coach in my DD's organization has. I will probably do so at some point as the coach is trying to get Austin out here during August sometime.
 

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