Thanks Ken
Effects of swimming glove?
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halskinner
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- May 7, 2008
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SHOVE THE GLOVE
Question; My pitcher has a problem with her glove swimming out to the side. Why does she do this and how can it be fixed?
Her glove is swimming and she does that to try and get a better feeling of balance in her pitching motion. In other words, she is out of balance.
Ever see a tightrope walker? Remember the long balance pole he used to keep balanced so he did not fall off the line / cable he was walking on? It is exactly the same for a pitcher and their arms in the windmill motion. The glove arm is the counter-balance weight for their pitching arm and the windmill circle it makes.
When you make a windmill circle, that arm action produces a pulling force to the throwing side, it is referred to as a “Distraction force”.
You are trying to drive straight forward (straight down the power line) and that distraction force is pulling you to your glove side. Just like a tight rope walker using his balance pole, your glove goes out to the glove side so you can stay balanced and stay on the power line.
Here is the first thing I always recommend. I have always called it “Shove the Glove”.
As your stride foot just starts to go forward of the rubber, shove the glove straight at your catcher. Shove it out there and shove it hard, hard enough and far enough that it opens your shoulders during the upswing. Now that part of your balance pole is pointing straight down the power line as are your shoulders.
Now, as the ball starts into the downswing, quickly pull the glove straight back just to the glove side of where your belt buckle would be, the ‘Holster’ position. That glove arm action puts the counter-balance weight straight down the power line and pulls it straight back on the power line. The force created by that arm action will counter some of the distraction force on the other side happening with the arm circle. This also brings the glove back quickly to the mid-section for the best self-defense position of tyhe glove. Have the fingers spread wide and pointed slightly up.
The force of your forward momentum, as long as it is strong enough, is MUCH more than the distraction force trying to pull you off the power line. That distraction force will have zero effect because the forward momentum will overpower it.
Shove the glove with power, pull it back with power and have a strong push off and forward momentum and eliminate all the balance issues that pop up with weaker piotching forms and mechanics.
This has always worked for my students.
I hope you find this useful.
Question; My pitcher has a problem with her glove swimming out to the side. Why does she do this and how can it be fixed?
Her glove is swimming and she does that to try and get a better feeling of balance in her pitching motion. In other words, she is out of balance.
Ever see a tightrope walker? Remember the long balance pole he used to keep balanced so he did not fall off the line / cable he was walking on? It is exactly the same for a pitcher and their arms in the windmill motion. The glove arm is the counter-balance weight for their pitching arm and the windmill circle it makes.
When you make a windmill circle, that arm action produces a pulling force to the throwing side, it is referred to as a “Distraction force”.
You are trying to drive straight forward (straight down the power line) and that distraction force is pulling you to your glove side. Just like a tight rope walker using his balance pole, your glove goes out to the glove side so you can stay balanced and stay on the power line.
Here is the first thing I always recommend. I have always called it “Shove the Glove”.
As your stride foot just starts to go forward of the rubber, shove the glove straight at your catcher. Shove it out there and shove it hard, hard enough and far enough that it opens your shoulders during the upswing. Now that part of your balance pole is pointing straight down the power line as are your shoulders.
Now, as the ball starts into the downswing, quickly pull the glove straight back just to the glove side of where your belt buckle would be, the ‘Holster’ position. That glove arm action puts the counter-balance weight straight down the power line and pulls it straight back on the power line. The force created by that arm action will counter some of the distraction force on the other side happening with the arm circle. This also brings the glove back quickly to the mid-section for the best self-defense position of tyhe glove. Have the fingers spread wide and pointed slightly up.
The force of your forward momentum, as long as it is strong enough, is MUCH more than the distraction force trying to pull you off the power line. That distraction force will have zero effect because the forward momentum will overpower it.
Shove the glove with power, pull it back with power and have a strong push off and forward momentum and eliminate all the balance issues that pop up with weaker piotching forms and mechanics.
This has always worked for my students.
I hope you find this useful.
Apologies! This morning has been crazy!
I'm with sluggers, Amy, Ha! and JD. I don't believe that leaning or glove swim is ideal, but I also know we'll see it at the highest levels. I prefer the glove swinging out hard to the target, pointing briefly, then pulling down to the body. I don't like seeing it:
-going along for the ride,
-being used only to balance out the body and
-not being used to add to the drive/delivery.
I don't believe in forcing the glove arm to do something (not swim) without giving it a purpose. Swim is the body compensating for something else. It's just doing it's part to keep the body in balance. Generally, if the glove is being used to help power the drive, then pull down to finish, I'm not worried about a little swim.
I also prefer a more upright (side to side) posture at release, along with a slight rearward lean. I think it simplifies and makes the pitch more efficient, especially for new/young pitchers.
I do question my opinions when I see top pitchers doing things I tell my kids to avoid, but ultimately I think it's a better place to start.
Ken
I'm with sluggers, Amy, Ha! and JD. I don't believe that leaning or glove swim is ideal, but I also know we'll see it at the highest levels. I prefer the glove swinging out hard to the target, pointing briefly, then pulling down to the body. I don't like seeing it:
-going along for the ride,
-being used only to balance out the body and
-not being used to add to the drive/delivery.
I don't believe in forcing the glove arm to do something (not swim) without giving it a purpose. Swim is the body compensating for something else. It's just doing it's part to keep the body in balance. Generally, if the glove is being used to help power the drive, then pull down to finish, I'm not worried about a little swim.
I also prefer a more upright (side to side) posture at release, along with a slight rearward lean. I think it simplifies and makes the pitch more efficient, especially for new/young pitchers.
I do question my opinions when I see top pitchers doing things I tell my kids to avoid, but ultimately I think it's a better place to start.
Ken
Last edited:
Oh, the leaners are a different story. I have 2 girls that actually slide backwards and push their butts out, when in the power K. They are waaay off the power line, by then.
- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,368
- 38
My .02
In general:
"Glove Swim" = Witch Hunt
Look for other more productive pitching areas to focus on.
In general:
"Glove Swim" = Witch Hunt
Look for other more productive pitching areas to focus on.
Proof that glove swim is actually an unfair advantage:
Darkfin gloves Swim video move your body.wmv - YouTube
Darkfin gloves Swim video move your body.wmv - YouTube
- Mar 15, 2013
- 69
- 6
Exactly! I usually think it is because she is closing too soon..is the glove swim sort of pulling her?
- Mar 15, 2013
- 69
- 6
love it- Mar 15, 2013
- 69
- 6
this looks to the side..my DD ends up more forward..kinda like the one of Chelsea Thomas that someone posted in the Chelsea Thomas then and now
When my daughter had severe glove swim, she, indeed, wasblosing too soon but was missing inside. She was hitting righties. Her pitching hand mirrored her glove hand and caused her to swing around her body and release an inside pitch, not outside.
