Basic pitching checkpoints

[cuzmail]

Look! Cat's a righty now!

 

[Doug Romrell]

"6.4 the hips driving out and opening early"

Early? Seems there are pitchers who actually open too early, which results in a weaker drive.

It seems to me that Abbot and most of the other high-level pitchers we show pictures and clips of stay more square to the target with hips and shoulders before they pop open. So, "early" in terms of what? Coach White's analysis clip of Finch is somewhat helpful in this regard, as is Javasource's drive mechanics thread.

 

[knightsb]

"6.4 the hips driving out and opening early"

Early? Seems there are pitchers who actually open too early, which results in a weaker drive.

It seems to me that Abbot and most of the other high-level pitchers we show pictures and clips of stay more square to the target with hips and shoulders before they pop open. So, "early" in terms of what? Coach White's analysis clip of Finch is somewhat helpful in this regard, as is Javasource's drive mechanics thread.

Perhaps some rewording is required there. early, as in the hips open prior to the shoulders.

 

[javasource]

It's worded fine!

Here's the deal...

The hips don't swivel open. That's the wrong approach. During the drive, the stride leg strides, right? Aggressively, too.

Doing so... WHILE COMING UP OVER THE BIG TOE... NATURALLY opens the hips. As such, the hips should be opened at 3... as a result of a powerful drive and stride outward. A poor neuromuscular strategy that many young non-trained athletes use is a compensatory push with the smaller toes. This is sub-optimal, and will cause the hips to open later. Another sub-optimal technique... is to turn the foot out beyond 45-degrees... this can artificially open the hips... because of the resulting twist of the drive foot. Natural toe-out is good, and not the same thing.

Make sense?

 

[Doug Romrell]

It's worded fine!

Here's the deal...

The hips don't swivel open. That's the wrong approach. During the drive, the stride leg strides, right? Aggressively, too.

Doing so... WHILE COMING UP OVER THE BIG TOE... NATURALLY opens the hips. As such, the hips should be opened at 3... as a result of a powerful drive and stride outward. A poor neuromuscular strategy that many young non-trained athletes use is a compensatory push with the smaller toes. This is sub-optimal, and will cause the hips to open later. Another sub-optimal technique... is to turn the foot out beyond 45-degrees... this can artificially open the hips... because of the resulting twist of the drive foot. Natural toe-out is good, and not the same thing.

Make sense?

So, when you say "early", you mean early in the arm circle (3:00)? I was thinking more "early" in the actual drive out, which it doesn't seem to be.

So, if you mean "early" in the pitching motion, as in the stage/position of the pitching arm, then I understand the use of "early."

 

[javasource]

Let's keep it simple... as it is.

Do this:

1. Stand with both feet slightly apart, side-by-side, and with the feet pointed straight ahead.
2. Step straight forward (no Gillis crossovers) with your left foot WHILE applying pressure over the right foot little toes (more than your big toe).
3. Upon completing the step, make sure your weight is over your left foot.
4. Hold that position... and look at your hip line.
5. Note how 'open/closed' it is.

Then... Do this:

1. Stand with both feet slightly apart, side-by-side, and with the feet pointed straight ahead.
2. SLIGHTLY turn your right foot out... maybe 10-20 degrees.
3. Step straight forward with your left foot... while applying pressure to your big toe (over it) of your slightly turned-out right foot.
4. Upon completing the step, make sure your weight is over your left foot.
5. Hold that position... and look at your hip line.
6. Note how 'open/closed' it is.

What you should see IF you did this correctly - and took the same length step each time - is:

1) A simple strategy... allowed your hips to open MORE on the second step than the first.

That strategy... of allowing 'toe-out' to happen is what allows you to apply pressure over your big toe more efficiently.

What you learned: By utilizing a better and more natural strategy... your hips open naturally through extension (stepping forward) in the hips.

 

[Ken B]

As such, the hips should be opened at 3... as a result of a powerful drive and stride outward.

What you learned: By utilizing a better and more natural strategy... your hips open naturally through extension (stepping forward) in the hips.

Thanks
Like
+1

 

[Ken B]

(When a simple "Thanks" just doesn't cut it...)

 

[Rocketech1]

Great thread knightsb!

Cat is a tremendous pitcher but she does at least two unorthodox things in real time that should be noted if you are going to use her as the poster child for pitching checkpoints.

- her pivot foot leaps (gets off the ground) from the pitching plate, to about 1.5 feet in front of the plate, and then she drags the pivot foot the rest of the way. Not ideal and illegal.
- she looks down twice during her pitch. Once when she does her windup and again during her stride. I have never seen another pitcher do this. Works for her but not recommended for most pitchers.

 

[Easton33]

Great thread knightsb!

Cat is a tremendous pitcher but she does at least two unorthodox things in real time that should be noted if you are going to use her as the poster child for pitching checkpoints.

- her pivot foot leaps (gets off the ground) from the pitching plate, to about 1.5 feet in front of the plate, and then she drags the pivot foot the rest of the way. Not ideal and illegal.
- she looks down twice during her pitch. Once when she does her windup and again during her stride. I have never seen another pitcher do this. Works for her but not recommended for most pitchers.

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