Creating Correct Core Torque

I love the fact I get to try this again (be a pitching coach) with all the technology and social media available. I'm learning as surely as my students. I have four of them at the moment.

Click to expand...

WillyT812 said:

If there is an easier way to save YouTube clips I can't imagine what it would be.

Free Download from Rapidshare, FileFactory. Free Download Videos from Youtube, Google, Metacafe - SaveFrom.net

Click to expand...

Rick Pauly said:

Fastpitch Softball Pitching Slingshot TTL Drill - YouTube

I've created a separate post for this because it seems to be one of the most needed drills for the many posters on this site. Use of the core to create torque is one of the very first things a young pitcher should master. Every key movement in pitching begins in the midsection/core and either works its way down or up.
It seems that many pitchers are trying to learn how to pitch by going back to the mound and throwing full distance/full energy......most will fail at this. As several on this site have suggested it is best to backward chain.
This drill throws from the "K"/Slingshot position and allows the pitcher to have a chance at controlling her mechanics. In this drill note Sarah's back foot/leg action: "Turn the shoelaces/lift the heel/knee to knee". Make sure you understand that this movement is created with the core......it is not a pushing action by the leg!!!!! Also, note how this movement puts her hips at 45 degrees to the powerline at time of release.
Here is an interesting tidbit for everyone......a pitcher that has reasonably mastered this drill can throw 90% of her top mound speed from this "K/Slingshot" position. I have my students perform from this position more than any other.....why not, it is 90% of what counts in pitching mechanics.

Click to expand...

Rick Pauly said:

Going to copy some quotes from SS's post and give my rationale. In a "left handed way" I think his suggestion works.....but mostly because of the athletes natural instincts to use their core to create torque.

"I prefer the pitcher to understand the pendulum and use physics instead of brute strength."

Just as a whipping arm creates more speed/energy than a straight arm, a torquing movement creates more energy than a linear move.
I love physics and the law of the lever and there is definitely physics involved in pitching.....careful though 'cause most levers are straight. The pitching arm is definitely a lever....but an efficient pitching arm is really four levers: Upper arm/lower arm/wrist/fingers.....aka arm whip. So why not use the biomechanical movement that transfers more energy into the arm....torque.

"The rear leg either drags toe down or calf-to-calf (figure 4) depending on how the pitcher was taught and pitches the ball with good arm whip".

What causes the rear leg to drag???? Core torque! (again, same as in hitting)

"The trick to pitching is learning how to transfer forward momentum into ball speed."

Aha....the old linear to rotational discussion. The forward drive of a pitcher is a linear move. When the landing foot plants it (the landing leg) is one of four key body areas that provide front side resistance which in turn assists the core in rotating. Note that lots of pitchers landing foot is actually rotated close to 60--90 degrees as it strides forward, but it begins rotation even before toe/heel plant.....we note that it is at 45 degrees at foot plant but where was it as it approached foot plant? They are not turning their foot some may think of it....their core is torquing the hips which subsequently turns the leg/foot from 60--90 degrees to 45 degrees. This movement is very very similar to elite hitters with their stride/toe touch/heel plant. (stride=linear/rotation=core torque)

"you can see this clearly as she does not transfer weight to the front foot and resist forward momentum to create a pendulum,"

So what percent of her weight is on the front leg vs the back leg???? I am guessing it's nearly 95+% front leg or else how would she so freely drag the back toe? Again, same as hitting. Curious, what pendulum are you referring to?

"If the pitcher can throw 90% speed from a stationary position like Sarah, she isn't utilizing physics to her advantage"

Are you suggesting that the wind up/premotion/linear drive should account for more than 10% of the speed factor? I could be off a percent or two either way and there could be an exception to the rule, but I've seen it in live action to many times to alter my thinking on this. If a pitcher is not achieving 90% then they are leaving something on the table.
I think the key to note is that from the "K" position you can generate 90% of your top speed.....I'd say that this core torquing movement is a huge part of that 90%. As you get better at this drill your speeds from this position will increase.....your mound speeds increase almost in lock step.
Also, this drill isn't primarily intended as a speed drill....it is intended to encourage the body to work the way it really wants to work.
A later post accurately points out that this drill is a great method of correcting pitchers who have been taught some inefficient movement..exactly!.....look at the posters asking for help with their daughters......almost all of them display the need for this drill.

Click to expand...

STRIKE3 said:

Seems that I bump this one every couple of years. It started as a great thread but got hijacked a bit and lost focus shortly after Rick's post above. Anyway, thought I bump it again.

Click to expand...