Hand on Top?

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Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Buttermaker pointed out in the Littlejohn thread that she appears to be trying to get on top of the ball just past 12 o'clock. Here's Littlejohn and others who appear to try to get the hand on top around 11 o'clock:

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313c5029263b323f657aa5d38a621488.300.jpg 2012-02-19-UT_vs_Tennessee_Zen_Ren5167.jpg
03b-ct-red-0823-jenniefinch-010.jpg
racers18cut-03.jpg

In fairness, some or all of these might be change ups, but I've observed many very good pitchers cock their arms as if trying to get over the ball around 11 o'clock.

Thoughts on why some seem to do this?
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Hoover....

hoover_back2_zpsbrsiyosv.gif
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
Ken,

"...I've observed many very good pitchers cock their arms as if trying to get over the ball around 11 o'clock."

Even though it appears that they are "trying" to get over the ball around 11 o'clock, to see if they are actually trying to do that, I think these still-shots of them at 11 should be compared to a later point, like 9 o'clock. At 9 o'clock I speculate that it won't look like they are "trying" to do that quite as much. Can you generate the 9 o'clock along side the 11 o'clock?
 

javasource

6-4-3 = 2
May 6, 2013
1,347
48
Western NY
Whether they are trying to get their hand on top of the ball or not... their movement intelligence takes over for them... and that hand "reloads".

Some of that 'turn-out' is the result of the shoulders momentum rearward... followed by the countered 'reload' as a result of the subsequent leverage the athlete experiences upon contact/anticipation in contacting the ground.

If a kid understands how to load the whip over top, and whip from 9 o'clock... I don't get too worried about turnout. I was just talking to Butter about this kind of stuff... relating to hip snap. Interestingly, the hip snap is loading at the same time the hand is reloading. I don't want to reboot that thread... but it's impressive to note what compensations the body will learn to create (in movement) when it has sound movement patterns in place. Adaptive responses. Many people swear it's a muscle... just one... but as I get older (hopefully wiser)... it is quite evident that muscle coordination/strength (for the purpose of sports performance) is a result of quality movement patterns... not isolation.
 

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