Drive Mechanics

GunnerShotgun said:

I don't mind the opposing views as it leads to a better discussion in my opinion. One could use a little tact when providing an alternate viewpoint with a topic but it doesn't bother me or make the material presented less valuable.

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Gunner,

I totally agree with you... but you've been around this DFP block long enough to know that OILF is not simply adding a different perspective, she's trying to start a mutiny - because she NEVER... and I mean EVER offers suggestions on how to help a student/player (at least on the pitching forums...). I'm all about a good debate - but when it's not about an exchange of ideas... and you use the word "Wow" in a derogatory context, it's very evident that you disprove of the POSTER and care less about the content.

Why do I take this position regarding the content?... let us use the Carly article that OILF recommends... here's the link.

Carly says:

To put it simply, this is the load: It’s the part of your pre-motion where you get 100% OF YOUR WEIGHT on the foot you’re going to use to push off the rubber. That’s bold and all caps for a reason. I don’t mean 50% or 75%. I mean ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.

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I wrote:

At no time in this drill… will both feet bare weight at the same time. You MUST teach this concept correctly. It’s either 100% of her weight or 0%. No exceptions.

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Carly says:

A reverse load is characterized by a deep bend in the waist...
... And when you bend deeply at the waist in your pre-motion, it sends your hips BACK.

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Perhaps OILF needs an interpreter, but what Carly is saying is: Don't bend in the waist, as this can create a situation where your hips move back... and because you're bent over at the waist, you think you are performing a linear move (momentum change)... when in reality... you're just bent at the waist.

I wrote:

The rearward slide and center of the drive foot is absolutely critical. It shows you that she transferred ALL her weight backwards onto the stride foot and MOVED backwards.

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I don't exactly agree with Carly on this... as I know a bend in the waist can transfer into energy... it requires a rearward transfer of weight from one foot to the other. This said, I do agree that I don't encourage a huge bend in the waist.

In the video I say:

... and a slight bend in my waist. Don't want you pulling off an Amanda (Scarborough) here... where you're actually bent over looking at your feet...

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I also tell them to start the lean during the back-step... and if you do this, you will move backwards, not just bow... and have established more distance to travel your newly created energy through (pre-motion)

Carly says:

Notice how the reverse load is also characterized by rocking forward, then back, and bending only at the waist.

Now take a careful look at this video of a good, strong load. Notice how it’s achieved by rocking back, then forward, and bending at the knees as well as the waist.

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To which I say nearly the same thing!!!

… so we need to teach pitchers how to create what I call “stationary momentum”, teaching them immediate weight transfer, and establishing momentum through a rearward (or negative) move.

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I could do this all day... the point being... is that if OILF actually read Carly's post... or actually read mine and watched my video, she would immediately see that we are saying SIMILAR things. But, Gunner... it's not about the content with OILF... or the game, or instruction, or the KIDS!!!.... it's about criticism. She adds nothing, just TRIES to subtract.

In lieu of JJ's comments... I would like to point out one thing that I do not agree with that Carly says in that video... because this is ABOUT DRIVE MECHANICS... and SHARING information. If Carly wants to chime in, I more than welcome her feedback - as she is doing what I am doing: Trying to help people become better pitchers.

Carly says:

A reverse load occurs when the majority of your weight is placed on the stride foot during the pre-motion instead of the push foot. Think about that for a minute. Does it make sense to put your weight on the foot you’re about to stride with, instead of the one you want to use to propel yourself forward?

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To this... I do not agree. You will create more FORWARD energy if you have more space to travel through AND if you immediately transfer 100% of your weight FROM YOUR STRIDE FOOT... TO YOUR DRIVE FOOT. I've already posted proof of young pitchers... here's some older ones... I won't comment on what she meant... but frankly, I was a little surprised to see what she wrote in this context.





This is really the only glaring difference between Carly's post and mine... she doesn't talk about 'gym steps' either. For that matter... the words 'False Load' are not used either.

As you can see... these ladies have a 100% on their stride foot. Then 0%. It's immediate transfer... and wait... is that a gym step???!!! Wow... The two best pitchers in the world... hmm...

Let us not us use successful athletes... instead... lets just take the word of a varsity (JV?) coach that doesn't tell you what you should do... just what you shouldn't. To me, Gunner... and I know I'm not alone... OILF needs to start adding to this board - or just walk away.

Instant improvement with the 2 step drill! I worked with one of my pitchers today who has a real lack of leg drive. I have tried numerous things suggested on DFP and pretty much from anywhere I could find with little success. We walked threw the two step sequence as you described for about 30 minutes, then performed the 2 step with a ball into a tarp for about 15. After that she threw some balls to me using the 2 step and then we alternated between her regular motion and the 2 step drill. "The lightbulb" definitely turned on for this young lady. She was getting a good LEGAL push off, and her ball had some extra giddyup. I know we still have a LONG journey ahead, but this was definitely a key moment.

Thanks, Spartans! These little success stories really motivate and validate my efforts.

If you go back and look at some of the earlier posts... you'll see a bunch images regarding certain pitching positions we like to see in pitchers... and this drill will create many, if not all of them. I'll expand more on this later... but to give you an example:

Remember this one?



Performing the 2-step as we do in the video... gets the pitcher in that powerful and controlled position:



and...



Anyway... really stoked to hear some of you are already having success with it!!! Makes this whole experience worthwhile!

More to come soon!

To this... I do not agree. You will create more FORWARD energy if you have more space to travel through AND if you immediately transfer 100% of your weight FROM YOUR STRIDE FOOT... TO YOUR DRIVE FOOT. I've already posted proof of young pitchers... here's some older ones... I won't comment on what she meant... but frankly, I was a little surprised to see what she wrote in this context.





This is really the only glaring difference between Carly's post and mine... she doesn't talk about 'gym steps' either. For that matter... the words 'False Load' are not used either.

As you can see... these ladies have a 100% on their stride foot. Then 0%. It's immediate transfer... and wait... is that a gym step???!!! Wow... The two best pitchers in the world... hmm...

JS, I have to say this is a lightbulb moment for me, staring at the gifs from post 91 and your explainations of the 2 step and 100% weighted to unweighted feet and vice versa. I honestly say my dd does not do this comparing the gifs. They literally lift their foot off the ground, transfer weight and bang! We always been taught that the drive foot must stay on the plate. I am missing something?

00fpdaddy said:

JS, I have to say this is a lightbulb moment for me, staring at the gifs from post 91 and your explainations of the 2 step and 100% weighted to unweighted feet and vice versa. I honestly say my dd does not do this comparing the gifs. They literally lift their foot off the ground, transfer weight and bang! We always been taught that the drive foot must stay on the plate. I am missing something?

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The drive foot should stay on the plate... but too much focus on this leads to many younger pitchers having lead feet... which really inhibits their ability to develop a more ballistic style of weight transfer. Ballistic movements are something we'll talk about in the future... but for now... they are movements we perform that allow us to reach peak acceleration the fastest. It's an important concept in this pre-motion... as many timing aspects of the pitch can be developed/corrected here. The other two movements that you see are 1) more of a gradual acceleration towards power, or 2) more of a slow steady motion throughout. These two movements are, IMO, much less easy to work with... especially when trying to make changes/modifications.

Rules are often over-analyzed by pitchers, PC's, etc... so much that they create a certain level of paralysis. Although we must perform within the boundaries of the rules in games - ... we need not be sentenced or limited by them in training/practice. As long as we know where the lines are... it's a good idea to 'color outside of them' every once in awhile...

javasource said:

The drive foot should stay on the plate... but too much focus on this leads to many younger pitchers having lead feet... which really inhibits their ability to develop a more ballistic style of weight transfer. Ballistic movements are something we'll talk about in the future... but for now... they are movements we perform that allow us to reach peak acceleration the fastest. It's an important concept in this pre-motion... as many timing aspects of the pitch can be developed/corrected here. The other two movements that you see are 1) more of a gradual acceleration towards power, or 2) more of a slow steady motion throughout. These two movements are, IMO, much less easy to work with... especially when trying to make changes/modifications.

Rules are often over-analyzed by pitchers, PC's, etc... so much that they create a certain level of paralysis. Although we must perform within the boundaries of the rules in games - ... we need not be sentenced or limited by them in training/practice. As long as we know where the lines are... it's a good idea to 'color outside of them' every once in awhile...

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I think pitchers should push the limit of legality in doing this. Otherwise, as Java has pointed out, they tend to get lead feet. This is why I think the 2-step drill is liberating and energizing for pitchers. It appears to get them with less lazy feet and legs. I've even told one of my pitching students who has lazy feet to push it such that she even gets called on it from time to time. WHY? Because she NEEDS that much life in her feet/legs to help her get the drive she needs.

My 15yo gets called on this occasionally. Her pivot foot has a habit of sliding forward slightly as she loads (think Finch, her hero, my nemesis, go figure). In HS, they'll usually call it once or twice the first inning, with the result being just an extra ball or two. She reigns it in when she's called.

Although I'd prefer she NOT do this at all, she knows how to fix it on the spot, and it's far preferable to sticking her butt out in a fake load. There are a lot of things she focuses on improving besides this, and I agree with that focus.

-W

KK has been working on the two step and it has helped her tremendously. She is standing much taller,front side resistance is a lot better and most of all her timing. She has not been pitching because of HS softball but she will be ready for the summer

Awesome job, KK!

Nick, now that she has the motion down, have her work on pushing from the 'green' as opposed to the 'red'...



Focus on getting that knee out quickly (and foot down). She looks great. Great to see her doing the drill - it's really added to her pitch. Again... awesome job, guys!

Yawn. Troll.