Opening Early Driving Off Rubber

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Mar 9, 2015
321
18
My DD is opening early when pushing off the pitching rubber. Any drills or videos recommended to correct this issue?
 

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
I've been having some success with the cue to drive "ankle over toe" with the drive foot and to let the throwing arm cause the opening. In essence changing from a get open to a let open mindset. I think I got the ankle over toe from Javasource but at this point I have no idea who's cues I am ripping off.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I'd recommend studying the thread drive mechanics as much as possible. Opening too early is generally a result of a poor drive, or in some cases it happens by loading the glove back on the ball side hip (this opens the chest too much before the drive). I've changed my teaching to a double pump arm swing with emphasis on the drive leg quad muscle.
 

IR a Pitching Dad

Sitting on a Bucket
Dec 4, 2014
49
0
My DD's PC often has referred to the drive off the rubber should look like a 3 pronged plug in a effort to keep her from opening too early.
 
Aug 21, 2011
1,345
38
38°41'44"N 121°9'47.5"W
Find the root cause. I notice it's usually one of two things. 1st is when they their arm swings back, their upper torso will twist to the open position. Have them work on keeping their shoulders facing the plate. 2nd is rotating their drive foot. Many like to take the weight off of it during their arm swing back and twist it towards 3rd base (Rt. handed pitcher). Have them drive off the plate with their toes pointed toward the circle.

My DD rotates her drive foot. When she does this, the right handed batters pay for it.

Video record them and show them where it is they are opening up. That will often help them with their corrections.
 
Last edited:
Aug 18, 2013
91
6
Im dealing with the same issue. My DD spins off the mound and is out of sequence. The queues I give my DD are "push to get open" and "run off the mound". Start with the 2 step drill from Java.
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
Personally, I like them to do the walk-in drill, swinging both arms back then out. It helps keep the shoulders from opening prematurely.

 
Last edited:
May 26, 2013
372
18
Ramstein Germany
In an attempt to get my girls to drive off the rubber we do a drill where I stand in front of them, put our hands together and I have them push off with their drive foot/leg. The goal is to get for a full straight leg drive along with foot extension. We do this up and down the gym a few times once a week. That being said, I've noticed some of the elite pitchers also have an ever so slight twitch off their drive foot in an attempt to set the hips up for early open. A smidge of an angle on the drive foot shouldn't be a deal breaker, too many of the top pitchers do it. Strong drive, full extension of the leg and foot is what your looking for. Watch Monica's drive leg and foot. Both achieve full extension (explosion) off the "rubber" while still having a bit of an angle. Someone mentioned a while back that if they don't do that (full extension) they're just stepping off the rubber not exploding. Explode off that rubber.

 
Last edited:
May 26, 2013
372
18
Ramstein Germany
You know what I like best about the above clip with Monica? Watch her plant foot, not only does she explode off the rubber but once she plants you can see the shock wave travel up her leg and into her body. It's amazing, I've never seen another video that captures that energy wave traveling up the body. When you learn to harness that energy and put it into the pitch...you are an elite pitcher. Your brake needs to be as good as your accelerator. Explode, stop on a dime, collect that energy in the whip and put it into the ball...that is how you pitch.
 

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