Basic pitching checkpoints

The following are some basic checkpoints, comments, and observations derived from information previously provided by BM, JS, RP, BH, and MW.

1. Taking the pitchers plate with throwing hand and glove hand separated.
Nice and relaxed.
Weight should be COMPLETELY forward over the DRIVE foot.




2.Hands are brought together.




3. As the throwing arm goes back, all of the weight is on the stride foot, and the COM is back. The drive foot is completely unweighted.

Note: Cat takes the throwing arm back with the back of her hand facing the catcher similar to Sara Pauly. As BM previously mentioned, when you allow your hand to get on top of the ball during the back swing you are more prone to over extending back swing. A palm-facing-back, or palm-facing-body ball position assists in eliminating over extending the backswing.

4. The hips are driving forward. JS describes the hip thrust as a result of the body moving forward as the arm is moving rearward. This image also shows one area of overlap JS and BM discussed earlier as the ball is going back, the body (COM) is moving forward. You can also see the classic sprinter position described in the DM thread, that is obtained by keeping the stride heel on the ground until the drive leg must do work (drive off the rubber).

4.1 Drive knee is in front of the ball of the foot.
4.2 The drive foot heel is off the ground and the ball of the foot is in contact with the pitchers plate
4.3 Nice posture
4.4 Hip thrust

Note: this is a Premium Position to drive out from the pitchers plate.




5. We want the stride leg thigh perpendicular to the torso, as the pitching arm passes the side... meaning that the stride leg is ahead of the pitching arm. Important timing piece...




6. During the drive, we want to see:
6.1 the pitcher driving toward the target
6.2 the drive foot striking the front of the plate with the ball of the foot, and getting up over the big toe.
6.3 the stride knee coming out ahead of the pitching arm
6.4 the hips driving out and opening early.
6.5 the shoulders opening in response to the hips getting open.

7. When the pitcher's arm reaches 3 o'clock, you can see the classic BH “up together” happening.
Her hips HAVE opened, and the drive foot should detach from the plate; a result of an explosive drive.
7.1 The glove shoulder should start to get out in front of the throwing shoulder




8. At circle peak (sometimes referred to as the K position), we are looking for:
8.1 the pitcher to be very tall with good posture
8.2 slight bend in the throwing arm ELBOW, which loads the whip.. called a 'hook'
8.3 ball facing the target
8.4 hips and shoulders already opened, and not opening further
8.5 gliding on the toe
8.6 weight about 60/40. 60% back
8.7 head should be aligned with the stride (landing) foot toe, which is a good posture position for balance.

9. As the front foot comes down and makes contact with the ground, we are looking for
9.1 a firm front side. Some pitchers may have more flexion in the stride leg than others
9.2 head in the middle of the stance
9.3 flexion in the elbow
9.4 classic palm up ball position with the elbow leading down toward the hip
9.5 still some bend in the back leg, if the leg was locked out, the pitcher wouldn’t be able to effectively drive the knee down the power line... because they pushed too late
9.6 Adduction is already occurring. The pitcher is pulling both arms into their body with rear elbow pointed at the ground; which powers the whip
9.7 from this position we are looking at driving the back side into a firm front side
9.8 glove hand is slightly outside the body, and may even swim slightly but should not pull the front shoulder significantly
9.9 Stride foot will be angled to allow the hips to stay open 45-55 degrees which will allow the arm to pass through nice and tight to the body

10. At release we are looking for:
10.1 release against a firm front side
10.2 release point at the rear thigh
10.3 elbow by the hip, some brush interface, some flexion
10.4 Internal Rotation of the upper arm and Pronation in the forearm
10.5 good posture, not bending over (bowling)
10.6 driving the back knee down the power line
10.7 glove back down by the side as a result of the adduction
10.8 slight tilt in the shoulders with the throwing arm shoulder lower than the glove side




11. For the finish we are looking for
11.1 balanced finish
11.2 back side not left behind
11.3 nice relaxed follow through, with the arm following the ball out
11.4 good finished posture




JS Note:
9.7 and 10.6 are something that occur because of momentum and conditioning... and optimally occur when the function of the glutes, hip AB/ADductors and hip flexors are strenghtened... which is not always the same thing as sending the knee forward... which often results in posture issues... when a weakness is present in the hip/pelvic region.

Thanks Knight You posted the one Pitcher I am Using to show My DD in every Part of the motion I have bookmarked this Page

With a few edits, Knight... you ought to throw that up on Sluggers Basic Arm Body or the Drive Mechanics sticky. Really nice job... should be helpful to many!

Couple of edits to consider, or not... up to you!

Edit:

Weight should be COMPLETELY forward over the DRIVE foot.

Click to expand...

This next one could cause timing issues... because Cat's motion involves taking her hands up over her head... which puts her body and the COM ahead of her arm. If the style of the pitcher has less of a 'wind-up'... this may screw up the overlap it should create. Might consider scratching or editing this one...

2. As the hands are brought together, weight shifts from drive foot to stride foot... to prepare for a sudden weight shift forward (running start).

Click to expand...

Edit:

3. As the throwing arm goes back, all of the weight is on the stride foot, and the COM is back. The drive foot is completely unweighted.

Click to expand...

The hips are driving forward. JS describes the hip thrust as a result of the body moving forward as the arm is moving rearward. This image also shows one area of overlap JS and BM discussed earlier as the ball is going back, the body (COM) is moving forward. You can also see the classic sprinter position described in the DM thread, that is obtained by keeping the stride heel on the ground until the drive leg must do work (drive off the rubber).

Click to expand...

Replace all instances of "Pivot" with "Drive". Pretty please!

Don't really agree with this:

5. As the drive begins, you want to see the pitching arm coming forward with the stride leg.
You want the stride leg and pitching arm coming out together.

Click to expand...

I would say... you want the stride leg thigh perpendicular to the torso, as the pitching arm passes the side... meaning that the stride leg is ahead of the pitching arm. Important timing piece...

Edit:

6.2 the drive foot striking the front of the plate with the ball of the foot, and getting up over the big toe.
6.3 the stride knee coming out ahead of the pitching arm
6.4 the hips driving out and opening early.
6.5 the shoulders opening in response to the hips getting open.

Click to expand...

Edit:

7. When the pitcher's arm reaches 3 o'clock, you can see the classic BH “up together” happening.
Her hips HAVE opened, and the drive foot should detach from the plate; a result of an explosive drive.
7.1 The glove shoulder should start to get out in front of the throwing shoulder

Click to expand...

Edit:

8. At circle peak, we are looking for:
8.1 the pitcher to be very tall with good posture
8.2 slight bend in the throwing arm ELBOW, which loads the whip.. called a 'hook'.
8.3 ball facing the target
8.4 hips and shoulders already opened, and not opening further.
8.5 gliding on the toe

Click to expand...

Edit:

9. As the front foot comes down and makes contact with the ground, we are looking for
9.1 a firm front side. Some pitchers may have more flexion in the stride leg than others
9.2 head in the middle of the stance
9.3 flexion in the elbow
9.4 classic palm up ball position
9.5 still some bend in the back leg, if the leg was locked out, the pitcher wouldn’t be able to effectively drive the knee down the power line... because they pushed too late.
9.6 Adduction is already occurring. The pitcher is pulling both arms into their body with rear elbow pointed at the ground; which powers the whip.
9.7 from this position we are looking at driving the back side into a firm front side .

Click to expand...

Edit:

10. At release we are looking for:
10.1 release against a firm front side
10.2 release point at the rear thigh
10.2 elbow by the hip, some brush interface, some flexion
10.3 Internal Rotation of the upper arm and Pronation in the forearm.
10.4 good posture, not bending over (bowling)
10.5 driving the back knee down the power line

Click to expand...

9.7 and 10.5 are something that occur because of momentum and conditioning... and optimally occur when the function of the glutes, hip AB/ADductors and hip flexors are strenghtened... which is not always the same thing as sending the knee forward... which often results in posture issues... when a weakness is present in the hip/pelvic region.

Anyway... it's a nice piece, Knight!

nice concise summary, thanks. might even be short enough for a teenager to read

It's the parents we worry about...

It would also be great to have Boardmember chime in with suggestion/additions/modifications to this list. Further, there is a ton of stuff in the various Rick Pauly clips.