javasource
6-4-3 = 2
Yeah... remember how I called M by the wrong name... this is that girl. Amazing similarities, huh?!
I've had a few PM's on this...
First off... each pitcher is definitely unique. This gif was to illustrate release mechanics from behind... as that's what D was looking for.
This pitcher maintains a slight amount of flexion on the backside (further up the circle)... something I'm not losing sleep over, as there is no magic angle.
Keep in mind - this gif starts at 8 o'clock. From this point on... I want the pitcher working the bend OUT OF their elbow... which is not the same thing as 'elbow snapping'... or hyper-extension.
Note that on release, the ELBOW regains flexion... and that she releases off the back leg. Couple these attributes with physical wellness and a stellar work ethic... and you end up with a 15 year-old throwing 60+ mph... just like she throws. This is a good example of 'catching the whip'.
Where I find that many on here 'go wrong' is that they believe that the degree of flexion on the backside should persist into release. It should NOT. This is the reason that I TEACH a "frenchman's kiss" follow-through... meaning the arm straightens, palm down, towards the target.
IMPORTANT: It's a result of energy getting chained through the elbow... as opposed to just using I/R of the shoulder. Take a look at D's original gif on page 1... and note the follow-through. You'll see that she never finishes that pitch in the frenchman's kiss position... maintaining bend throughout. This tells me that the pronation (elbow articulation) of the pitch... and the PULL-DOWN of the pinky INTO release was not completed correctly. Just my opinion... It's not to say D's daughter isn't improving... and that there is no pronation... just something she still needs to work on. IMO... this is why her shoulder continues through to the target... as opposed to her elbow/forearm/hand.
A really handy tell as to whether a girl is catching the whip, per se... is with video review. Girls that do NOT work most of the flexion out at the bottom of the circle will not be able to follow-through straight to the target, naturally. Don't read this wrong... at release the elbow SHOULD regain flexion... but then this leads to extension. If they hold the angle into release, you'll see a follow-through that maintains bend in the elbow.
This is why BM wrote that you work (pull) the pinky down into release AND pronate the forearm.
Take a look at the 'straightening':
Which leads to a follow-through like this:
As a side note... I find the fingers flying up and to the right at the top of the follow-through (see the original gif on page 2 of this thread)... has more to do with the degree to which they are closed (more closed = more flying fingers). I'd be curious if others have noted this, as well...
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