Follow Through

[Amy in AZ.]

FJRGerry, ding ding ding. You win.

I can't tell you the number of 8 YOs that come to their first lesson after watching the U of AZ. girls pitch. They really like to act like they are throwing a backhand flip change or whatever the flavor of the day is.

I just teach a very basic stride and windmill. And I really break it down. We work a lot on staying tall and ridding the little girl of the forward lean. Once they start practicing correctly, they start seeing some success, almost immediately.

 

[Ken B]

I was looking for some info on follow through and ran across this and a couple other threads with mixed opinions. I found several who teach a completely natural/unforced follow through where the hand ends up loosely in front of the boddy, often palm down. In another I saw that palm/fingertips to the opposite shoulder is also a common teaching.

 

[Rich Balswick]

Your premise is wrong, so your question doesn't make much sense.

The "wrist snap" doesn't have a natural upward motion. There are two bones in the forearm--the radius and the ulna. The radius is on the thumb side of the hand, while the ulna is on the little finger side of the hand. The radius rotates over the ulna at release.

The rotation of the radius relative to the ulna is also found in overhand throwing and tennis serves.

Ray

Ray
I really appreciate this post. Any time a pitcher releases a ball with the intent of forward spin on the ball, the wrist and hand and fingers behave the way you've described and illustrated. The most difficult thing I deal with as a coach every day is the student who has been taught to snap up with the palm up on the release of the ball- invariably it causes most of them (students) to twist inside of the ball (to keep it from going high) resulting in a spirally spin which makes the ball go flat and straight. This is a daily challenge even with some of my more advanced students. I might add in general that it's my understanding that I snap up with the palm up only when I'm intending to get underneath the ball to primarily spin it backwards for rise, and side spin to some degree for a curve, as I release the ball.

 

[coachdan]

Ray
I really appreciate this post. Any time a pitcher releases a ball with the intent of forward spin on the ball, the wrist and hand and fingers behave the way you've described and illustrated. The most difficult thing I deal with as a coach every day is the student who has been taught to snap up with the palm up on the release of the ball- invariably it causes most of them (students) to twist inside of the ball (to keep it from going high) resulting in a spirally spin which makes the ball go flat and straight. This is a daily challenge even with some of my more advanced students. I might add in general that it's my understanding that I snap up with the palm up only when I'm intending to get underneath the ball to primarily spin it backwards for rise, and side spin to some degree for a curve, as I release the ball.

Good post ! I agree...

 

[Ken B]

I think your follow-through is individual to you if left alone and allowed to go its full course (probably two-three categories if you wanted to make them(.

Sounds good--thanks