How to sync leg drive?

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Nov 25, 2012
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When I think of core torque and how it applies to pitching, I think of offset timing. Making sure the FSR is what's actually creating a hip snap. It's that hip snap that creates a torque within the torso that now must be resisted after approximately 1/4 turn. This is a specific sequence that'll aid in the whip of the arm.
All of this is a NO TEACH!! If she has a correct sequence, good drive mechanics, achieves brush, and has good resistance (all 4 points). The core torque will be a result of these key indicators.

Agree on most of this and made a small edit to my earlier post. I think saying focus on core torque can be confusing versus focus on the core to create core torque is better served.

This is very much a sequence that needs to be taught and mastered. I will quote Rick and then add to another post below. "Every key movement in pitching begins in the midsection/core and either works its way down or up."
 
Dec 5, 2012
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Agree on most of this and made a small edit to my earlier post. I think saying focus on core torque can be confusing versus focus on the core to create core torque is better served.

This is very much a sequence that needs to be taught and mastered. I will quote Rick and then add to another post below. "Every key movement in pitching begins in the midsection/core and either works its way down or up."

agreed... I was simply saying that the hip rotation is involuntary. If the FSR is in sync and strong, the core torque will handle its self
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
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USA
Without trying to rephrase everything [MENTION=768]RICK[/MENTION]Pauly has already stated, I will simply cut and paste and then provide the link with a few highlights. I have said this many times before but after almost decade of visiting this site I think this (along with BM's IR thread) is the most valuable information one can find for pitching.

Here is the link:

https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/16719-creating-correct-core-torque.html
Read POSTS 1, 8, 18, 22

Default Creating Correct Core Torque
Fastpitch Softball Pitching Slingshot TTL Drill - YouTube

I've created a separate post for this because it seems to be one of the most needed drills for the many posters on this site. Use of the core to create torque is one of the very first things a young pitcher should master. Every key movement in pitching begins in the midsection/core and either works its way down or up.
It seems that many pitchers are trying to learn how to pitch by going back to the mound and throwing full distance/full energy......most will fail at this. As several on this site have suggested it is best to backward chain.
This drill throws from the "K"/Slingshot position and allows the pitcher to have a chance at controlling her mechanics. In this drill note Sarah's back foot/leg action: "Turn the shoelaces/lift the heel/knee to knee". Make sure you understand that this movement is created with the core......it is not a pushing action by the leg!!!!! Also, note how this movement puts her hips at 45 degrees to the powerline at time of release.
Here is an interesting tidbit for everyone......a pitcher that has reasonably mastered this drill can throw 90% of her top mound speed from this "K/Slingshot" position. I have my students perform from this position more than any other.....why not, it is 90% of what counts in pitching mechanics.


As in most athletic endeavors there are varying opinions and there could be more than one right answer. I am going to convey some rational as to why use of the core to create torque is my preferred method. This may turn into the old hitting discussion of linear vs rotational but there are a lot of similarities in the discussion.
So that I don't use just my daughter as a sample size of one, I am posting a pic of one of the very best pitchers in the world.....she definitely has created some torque not to mention brush interference:
Name: Monica Abbott Curveball.jpg
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Consider that she is one of the tallest most levered pitchers in the world so you would think she might just rely on leverage and yet she uses core torquing.....might be why she is also one of the fastest pitchers in the world also.

To expand on why torquing; for all those reading this in front of their computer right now I suggest you stand up and watch what your hips/shoulders do when you simulate hitting a ball out of Yankee Stadium, or rocketing a tennis ball across court past Jimmy Connors, or launching a 300 yard drive off the tee, or throwing a 95 MPH fastball past Hank Aaron, or tossing a 50 yard TD bomb to Jerry Rice. Most of you will use your core torquing to achieve these feats. Very few elite athletes are able to excel without performing these type of core rotational movements.
The core torquing creates a muscle stretch/shortening action/reaction that moves not only the hips but also the shoulders.Marc Dagenais says it better in an excerpt from his dissertation on the role of the core in athletics:

"Low tension is require to develop core stability but core strength need greater tension. Strength is developed when the muscle is placed under great tension".

The shoulders must rotate to allow the upper arm ball and shoulder socket to function efficiently. Additionally, the shoulder rotation is one of the prime movers/accelerators of the throwing arm on its downward path to release.

One of the very top hitting instructors in baseball is adamant that you should focus your training on proximal functions (spine/core) of the body in training not distal functions (toe drag/arm follow through)

Just about any young person with a minimum of natural athleticism uses core torquing if we don't get in the way and alter it.



Going to copy some quotes from SS's post and give my rationale. In a "left handed way" I think his suggestion works.....but mostly because of the athletes natural instincts to use their core to create torque.

"I prefer the pitcher to understand the pendulum and use physics instead of brute strength."

Just as a whipping arm creates more speed/energy than a straight arm, a torquing movement creates more energy than a linear move.
I love physics and the law of the lever and there is definitely physics involved in pitching.....careful though 'cause most levers are straight. The pitching arm is definitely a lever....but an efficient pitching arm is really four levers: Upper arm/lower arm/wrist/fingers.....aka arm whip. So why not use the biomechanical movement that transfers more energy into the arm....torque.

"The rear leg either drags toe down or calf-to-calf (figure 4) depending on how the pitcher was taught and pitches the ball with good arm whip".

What causes the rear leg to drag???? Core torque! (again, same as in hitting)

"The trick to pitching is learning how to transfer forward momentum into ball speed."

Aha....the old linear to rotational discussion. The forward drive of a pitcher is a linear move. When the landing foot plants it (the landing leg) is one of four key body areas that provide front side resistance which in turn assists the core in rotating. Note that lots of pitchers landing foot is actually rotated close to 60--90 degrees as it strides forward, but it begins rotation even before toe/heel plant.....we note that it is at 45 degrees at foot plant but where was it as it approached foot plant? They are not turning their foot some may think of it....their core is torquing the hips which subsequently turns the leg/foot from 60--90 degrees to 45 degrees. This movement is very very similar to elite hitters with their stride/toe touch/heel plant. (stride=linear/rotation=core torque)

"you can see this clearly as she does not transfer weight to the front foot and resist forward momentum to create a pendulum,"

So what percent of her weight is on the front leg vs the back leg???? I am guessing it's nearly 95+% front leg or else how would she so freely drag the back toe? Again, same as hitting. Curious, what pendulum are you referring to?

"If the pitcher can throw 90% speed from a stationary position like Sarah, she isn't utilizing physics to her advantage"

Are you suggesting that the wind up/premotion/linear drive should account for more than 10% of the speed factor? I could be off a percent or two either way and there could be an exception to the rule, but I've seen it in live action to many times to alter my thinking on this. If a pitcher is not achieving 90% then they are leaving something on the table.
I think the key to note is that from the "K" position you can generate 90% of your top speed.....I'd say that this core torquing movement is a huge part of that 90%. As you get better at this drill your speeds from this position will increase.....your mound speeds increase almost in lock step.
Also, this drill isn't primarily intended as a speed drill....it is intended to encourage the body to work the way it really wants to work.
A later post accurately points out that this drill is a great method of correcting pitchers who have been taught some inefficient movement..exactly!.....look at the posters asking for help with their daughters......almost all of them display the need for this drill
 
Wow that was great we are doing this. I teach DD to tuck her glove back to her chest for adduction and her shoulder still flies out creating torque. I teach this because she seems to have more control. Would a swimming glove create more torque for possibly more speed. Let me rephrase that I teach adduction her shoulder naturally flies open. By doing this she seems to lose speed but has more control. I’ve noticed she seems to pitch faster from K than full pitch even though torque and upper form looks the same.
 
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