Body/hip rotation

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jan 6, 2009
6,626
113
Chehalis, Wa
What powers the motion? Does rotation matter?

I have a little secret from the greatest pitcher of all time.

I know I don't ever post over here, so I'll fill you in on who taught me. I first learned about pitching from John Gay. I coached my niece as she grew up. She was a pitcher. Set her HS era record at 0.06 for her senior year. Her HS team won state and placed second 2 years in a roll. So they made it to the championship game 3 years in a roll. Her select ball included 18u A ASA champs, 14u B ASA 2nd place. Numerous tournament champs throughout her playing days.

So here's the thing, do you believe in rotation and if so what and how? Do believe in closing up the hips or closing rotation?
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,768
113
Pac NW
I got to spend some time with John in the couple years before he passed. It was not near enough time and I regret not spending more time with him. One of the discussions we had was on hip/torso angle at release. For many, many years he'd advocated for staying pretty dang open. His rational was that it helped with pitches like the rise. (I completely agree with this in concept.) However, being the student he was, he said he'd reconsidered that closing to 45 +/- degrees was probably something he should have caught onto years ago. Miss that guy a ton...
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Excessive rotation is a poor transfer of energy. The 4 points of resistance found in elite pitching mechanics (per Coach Pauly's research), stopping the torso from over rotating is the 3rd point of resistance. This is a key step in the kinetic chain of fully transferring energy from the ground up, rather than trying to produce power in the shoulder and arm.
I've never met John Gay, but I'd read about him and his teachings. From what I've seen, He was one of the greatest teachers of elite pitching mechanics.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,626
113
Chehalis, Wa
The windmill is backwards, hence you start closed and rotate open. Eddie Feigner said in his book that opening was the power source for the motion.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,626
113
Chehalis, Wa
lw4_zps4bx6x0zf.gif


The hips do turn back after opening, but I wouldn't call it rotation. John Gay was focused on opening, not so much after the opening. After opening rotation of the hip and shoulders the hips should turn back. This is a really good clip.
 
Apr 22, 2016
64
6
Texas
Not trying to derail the topic, but do you think she is missing brush contact? It looks like her hip is in position to get good brush, but it looks like she is missing it. Just asking because I have been working on the issue with my own dd.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,626
113
Chehalis, Wa
Not trying to derail the topic, but do you think she is missing brush contact? It looks like her hip is in position to get good brush, but it looks like she is missing it. Just asking because I have been working on the issue with my own dd.

It looks like a curveball, hence the stride across the drive line. I think the forearm is close, but the snap of the wrist is a little away.

Keep working a slight swoosh sound that comes with brushing.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,857
Messages
680,204
Members
21,509
Latest member
rathouse
Top