Open vs Closed

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obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I'm going to be working with young kids, ages 6-9

I want to teach them some non-softball things that are used in softball- like teaching them how to get into a "Good Athletic Position" and what a "45 deg. Angle" means.

Another thing I wanted to teach them is what it means to be "open", "Closed"

I was never sure as to whether I understood the open/closed thing correctly, so I'm asking here.
Is the terminology the same as if a doorway was on the pitchers plate so that from home plate "open" is showing a side view of the pitcher as if she was a door and open, and "closed" is showing a frontal view as if the door was closed?

Thank you.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
Fully open would be the pitcher facing toward third (or first if a lefty) and fully closed would be the pitcher facing homeplate, just like prior to the pitch.
 
Oct 16, 2014
46
8
I'm going to be working with young kids, ages 6-9

I want to teach them some non-softball things that are used in softball- like teaching them how to get into a "Good Athletic Position" and what a "45 deg. Angle" means.

Another thing I wanted to teach them is what it means to be "open", "Closed"

I was never sure as to whether I understood the open/closed thing correctly, so I'm asking here.
Is the terminology the same as if a doorway was on the pitchers plate so that from home plate "open" is showing a side view of the pitcher as if she was a door and open, and "closed" is showing a frontal view as if the door was closed?

Thank you.


This is from the sticky thread "Basic arm-body synchronization."

View attachment 12850

The first pitcher is Sarah Pauly. The key points to observe are (1) the torso, (2) the arm, and (3) feet position. the position of the torso, arms and feet are remarkable similar for all "good" pitchers.

Although the sequence is four pictures, the two key pictures are at 12 (ball at highest point) and 6 (ball at release).

At 12, you see that Sarah's torso is positioned between her legs, Her front toe has just touched the ground, and her left arm is extended toward the target. Her right arm has a bend. This is the beginning of "the whip". It is imperative that the elbow lead the hand around the circle at least from 12 to 9.

At 9, her arm is almost straight. Notice that she is completely open at 9. For reference, the position at 9 is zero degrees (i.e, completely open). Completely closed (hips and shoulders facing home) is 90 degrees.

At 6, Sarha's torso is still centered between her legs. (It might be slightly forward). Sarah's hips have closed to about 20 degrees.
 
Last edited:
Can someone explain to me how to open the hips to third base and keep back knee and shoelaces toward home plate dragging toe. I’ve been telling my dd to open shoulders to 3rd keeping hips as closed as possible in order to keep knee and shoelaces towards home. Her hips do open because of the step about 45’ she is continuing straight towards home there is no around the hip motion in her pitching motion. I would have to explain it as torso twist. I’m seriously trying to teach this right. But if I open my hips to 3rd my back foot opens to 3rd and drags side of foot like an anchor every time. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
Can someone explain to me how to open the hips to third base and keep back knee and shoelaces toward home plate dragging toe. I’ve been telling my dd to open shoulders to 3rd keeping hips as closed as possible in order to keep knee and shoelaces towards home. Her hips do open because of the step about 45’ she is continuing straight towards home there is no around the hip motion in her pitching motion. I would have to explain it as torso twist. I’m seriously trying to teach this right. But if I open my hips to 3rd my back foot opens to 3rd and drags side of foot like an anchor every time. Any advice would be appreciated.

Don't over think it too much. There will be some turning of the drive foot, but it is turned back to a laces forward position as the leg adducts into the body along with the throwing arm.

As for opening, again, don't think about it too much. A good drive will force the body to open naturally without any conscious thought. The angle the stride foot lands will set the angle the hips close to, on average about 45 degrees. Or halfway open, halfway closed.

Check out this series of stills of Abbott than Ken B has posted. They show the action of the drive leg and the turning of the laces well.

https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/5208-model-pitchers-26.html#post381904
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Generally, open/closed is not taught. It is a product of a good drive where the body must open during extension and closes during adduction. No two kids are alike and may need different cues to find their sweet spot.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I have begun working with the kids and this is way more involved than I thought! I haven't begun showing them how to pitch as they still need to learn to throw! I think I may have started at too young of an age for my knowledge to be useful. I keep explaining too much, even though I know better....
 

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