College Pitchers using Step Style

[EP Dad]

Is anyone aware of any college pitchers using step style?

 

[CoachFP]

Paige Arnold, Coppin State
Coppin State Commercial - YouTube
Coppin State softball against Norfolk State 1 - YouTube

 

[undergroundga]

This style of pitching is more predominant in our area than the hello elbow. Not how my dd pitches though.

 

[howellhandmade]

I have seen Paige in person and she is athletic, has excellent form, pitches that come in and break hard, and a very good leap and drag. How is that a step style?

Thanks, Screwball, I was trying to figure that out myself -- looks like her stride is right about at her height. Would you say she's an example of a rather closed style?

 

[EP Dad]

So, none.............hmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[sluggers]

Calling Paige a leap and drag pitcher is a little bit of a stretch. Her footwork is more leap and drag, but there isn't much leap or drag. I've seen step pitchers do more leaping and dragging than her.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XGqGgL7dYLs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[tojo]

I would call her motion "leap and drag/step style lite". She is more of a closed style pitcher.

 

[CoachFP]

She gets a strong push/step but I don't consider it a leap. And after a strong push you must drag your foot to stop.

 

[howellhandmade]

She lands with her stride knee flexed and pushes back at plant. This would generate extra energy for the arm and reduce the amount of drag necessary to balance forward momentum. She releases with her head well behind her plant, which also minimizes drag. I don't know from step style, I just think her legwork is deceptive -- if you look at where her plant winds up and how long it takes to get there, there's more energy than there might seem.

 

[Jojo]

Step style is very common around where I am as well.
The way it is taught here is that your stride foot has to stay near your push foot and land right in front of the rubber. It's basically kick up the stride foot, pivot open and come right back down closing the hips.
My DD was first taught this style, any pushing from the rubber was frowned upon, she was taught the further your stride foot is away from the rubber the weaker you will be.