Pushing, Pulling and Posture - a better explanation

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Jan 7, 2014
972
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Western New York
I got a few emails and messages regarding the video I posted yesterday asking for some clarification...

I'm keeping this explanation extremely simple and encourage you to try this with a rolled up pair of socks.

Preface:
In my world, posture is my #1 absolute. Without strong throwing posture, speed, spin and accuracy are a crap shoot. Poor throwing posture can cause all sorts of problems but the short list for me is: cause you to prematurely unload your forearm which ruins your speed and spin. It can cause your arm to move away from your body\prematurely straighten your arm and internally rotate and pronate out of sequence (you'll see the tape on the ball from RHP moving from 11-5 with an outward axis instead of 1-7 with an inward axis).

Good posture to me is the chin even or slightly behind the midline. It's as simple as that...and really more complicated than that but let's keep it simple. Short and sweet: FRONT SIDE RESISTANCE DOESN'T START ON THE FRONT SIDE. In my world, FRONT SIDE RESISTANCE IS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENS ON THE BACKSIDE.

Tonight, I had the student who I made the video for. This girl is tremendously athletic but was a Hello Elbow learner for the past few years. We've been in "conversion mode" since November. This conversion has been a struggle because of her front side "lean."

Rich Balswick talks about this here:

Try this:

In hello elbow, we are pushing the ball down the backside of the arc with the palm facing downward. For demonstration purposes, stand upright with both palms facing outward with your arms at about 10am and 2pm.

Like this:
HE.jpg

Keep your palm facing downward and push the sock down the backside with one intent: Keep your chin even with or behind your midline.

Simple enough huh?

Where is your weight located at the time of release? Let me guess: on your back foot (right foot for RHP). You would NEVER pitch a ball overhand with your weight ending up on your back foot.

Now try to do the same motion with getting your weight to the front side with keeping your chin AT or BEHIND your midline.

Can you get your bicep to your lats WITH good posture, brush interference AND leading with your thumb all while maintaining great throwing posture and demonstrating rock solid front side resistance. When you come to front side heel plant, can you prevent your throwing should from moving "forward and down" as you PUSH into the throw?

In my vide, watch how Amanda PULLS INTO her midline and try and duplicate the same thing with the same pair of socks...goals are the same: get your weight to the front side with keeping your chin AT or BEHIND your midline. You should feel your weight move into your front side as your drive knee medially rotates INWARD.

Get your bicep to your lats WITH good posture, brush interference AND leading with your thumb all while maintaining great throwing posture and demonstrating rock solid front side resistance. When you come to front side heel plant, do you feel you should moving "back and under" as you PULL into the throw?

Think PULLING = INWARD PUSHING =OUTWARD

What is the stronger position? Which movement is more conducive to GREAT POSTURE? Which movement is more mechanically efficient?

CP
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
I understand what you are trying to do with the video. Your first video was great. I'm an IR proponent.

I believe your premise is flawed. It is absolutely possible to pitch with HE and have good posture. There are lots of videos of Jenny Finch doing HE with good posture. (Yes, I know she doesn't pitch HE in a game.)

My DD had excellent posture, and she was taught HE. Again, she didn't pitch that way. But, she was taught HE and she was taught good posture.

Leaning forward issue is not an HE/IR issue. The problem is kids confusing the overhand motion with the underhand motion.

Kids are taught to throw overhand before they are taught to throw underhand. In the overhand throwing motion, the shoulders are well in front of the waist.

When the kids start throwing underhand, they try to move the shoulders forward like they were taught for underhand throwing.
 
Last edited:

shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket
I got a few emails and messages regarding the video I posted yesterday asking for some clarification...

I'm keeping this explanation extremely simple and encourage you to try this with a rolled up pair of socks.

Preface:
In my world, posture is my #1 absolute. Without strong throwing posture, speed, spin and accuracy are a crap shoot. Poor throwing posture can cause all sorts of problems but the short list for me is: cause you to prematurely unload your forearm which ruins your speed and spin. It can cause your arm to move away from your body\prematurely straighten your arm and internally rotate and pronate out of sequence (you'll see the tape on the ball from RHP moving from 11-5 with an outward axis instead of 1-7 with an inward axis).

Good posture to me is the chin even or slightly behind the midline. It's as simple as that...and really more complicated than that but let's keep it simple. Short and sweet: FRONT SIDE RESISTANCE DOESN'T START ON THE FRONT SIDE. In my world, FRONT SIDE RESISTANCE IS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENS ON THE BACKSIDE.

Tonight, I had the student who I made the video for. This girl is tremendously athletic but was a Hello Elbow learner for the past few years. We've been in "conversion mode" since November. This conversion has been a struggle because of her front side "lean."

Rich Balswick talks about this here:

Try this:

In hello elbow, we are pushing the ball down the backside of the arc with the palm facing downward. For demonstration purposes, stand upright with both palms facing outward with your arms at about 10am and 2pm.

Like this:
View attachment 12606

Keep your palm facing downward and push the sock down the backside with one intent: Keep your chin even with or behind your midline.

Simple enough huh?

Where is your weight located at the time of release? Let me guess: on your back foot (right foot for RHP). You would NEVER pitch a ball overhand with your weight ending up on your back foot.

Now try to do the same motion with getting your weight to the front side with keeping your chin AT or BEHIND your midline.

Can you get your bicep to your lats WITH good posture, brush interference AND leading with your thumb all while maintaining great throwing posture and demonstrating rock solid front side resistance. When you come to front side heel plant, can you prevent your throwing should from moving "forward and down" as you PUSH into the throw?

In my vide, watch how Amanda PULLS INTO her midline and try and duplicate the same thing with the same pair of socks...goals are the same: get your weight to the front side with keeping your chin AT or BEHIND your midline. You should feel your weight move into your front side as your drive knee medially rotates INWARD.

Get your bicep to your lats WITH good posture, brush interference AND leading with your thumb all while maintaining great throwing posture and demonstrating rock solid front side resistance. When you come to front side heel plant, do you feel you should moving "back and under" as you PULL into the throw?

Think PULLING = INWARD PUSHING =OUTWARD

What is the stronger position? Which movement is more conducive to GREAT POSTURE? Which movement is more mechanically efficient?

CP


Good stuff Chris. Spread the word! One suggestion I have to reach more people with your videos would be to title them accordingly. Find a combo of terms that most people key in when looking for proper pitching mechanics. That way your videos will likely be some of the 1st to come up.
 

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