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Nov 12, 2013
417
18
maritimes
if only i could get dd to want to practice either drill it would really help her velocity. she has seen recent video of herself pitching in games and of pitchers with good drive mechanics and knows she is not doing that but she is lacking in desire lately and i know nothing :) maybe it will pass.
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
What's the difference between the two step and push back...I don't see any difference?

Sorry about the late response.

Although they appear the same, the Pushbacks are intended as a drill only... to help instill proper fundamentals... specifically timing points (overlap) and proper drive leg mechanics. The Pushbacks to not TRAIN the stride leg at all. Other than hitting a firm backside (heel up, etc)... there is no emphasis on that leg other than remaining firm. This said... because the stride leg does take a step rearwards (by design), it REQUIRES that the pitcher delay a backswing. This is a helpful learning experience for pitchers... as this process gives them an understanding on how to correct timing in their regular pitch.

So... once you're done perfecting the Pushback DRILL... you'll have learned:

What proper timing feels like,
How to Allow the drive leg to center through 100% weight transfer,
How to maximize the horizontal and vertical spacing of the plate to your advantage,
How to EXPLOSIVELY drive INTO and OFF OF the rubber,
... and if you're doing them correctly... how to pitch with 110% effort.

From there... enter the 2-Step. Yes, the 2-step is a drill at first... BUT... it should be used to take all of your learned concepts above (pushbacks) and turn it into the full pitching motion. In addition, the 2-Step draws focus onto the stride leg... and proper stride mechanics. As stated in the video, the 2-step becomes a legal pitch... and is the goal after all the proper drive leg mechanics are learned.

Make sense? Hope so... ;)
 
Dec 31, 2014
54
0
pitchfastnow@yahoo.com
Java

I recently had the pleasure of viewing all three videos, I am puzzled by a couple things, in the pushback video you state do not let the heel drop, then in the two versions of two step videos you say drop the heel to get stretch, which I agree with. I find it hard to do the push back drill without dropping the stride leg heel, I think I'm not sequencing the drill properly, can you touch on when you activate or move the push foot during the push back drill.
 
Dec 31, 2014
54
0
pitchfastnow@yahoo.com
I'm not sure what if anything we have gained in the two step drill as far as footwork as my daughter already had a pretty aggressive sprinters position, but EVERYONE should take note of the delaying of the backswing part of the lesson, I have been preaching that for a while. That and if you speed your footwork up your brain will give the arm the que....lets get going, it's not the speed of the arm, the quick feet that rush the arm is the ticket, the point you make about delaying the backswing to give the arm a rushed feeling is right on the money! Thank you for that.



It is the feet moving faster that will cause the arm to move faster. Its not the pitcher trying to move the arm faster. If they do that it will throw off their timing. If they move the feet faster the brain will always automatically adjust the speed of the arm to create the same timing mechanism the pitcher has developed from practice and pitching. Fast feet = Speed

One of my favorite cues for this is fast feet / fast hands. Along with getting into the sprinting position (I use a drill I call the sprint drill) if they move the feet faster then they will speed up. This actually applies to both girls and boys when they pitch. I teach both.

I have now started offering agility and speed training to my clients for just this reason. The faster I make their footwork the faster they will be on the mound.

Great videos.

Lot of horrible teachings on YouTube etc.

Good advice is hard to come by.

Free and great advice on the internet! Double win!!!
 
Last edited:

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