When NOT to do what the Pros do..

[TimothyJ]

Shockcoach said this in another thread, and it made me laugh out loud.

Well of course you had to pick videos of Arod from Seattle and Texas. He also throws side-arm. Good thing he had Olerud at first to make him look good.

Was watching a game last spring with my son when Arod fielded a ground ball. I paused the DVR and said "See? Even millionaire players like Arod use two hands"...

Then I unpause, and he goes and fires the thing sidearm to first. I felt like banging my head on the wall

 

[Chris O'Leary]

Then I unpause, and he goes and fires the thing sidearm to first. I felt like banging my head on the wall

Sometimes you have to if you're crashing the ball and the runner's fast.

 

[TimothyJ]

Sometimes you have to if you're crashing the ball and the runner's fast.

True enough ( but wasn't the case in this situation)

 

[RookKev]

I loved the ball game the other night with all the errors. It made me not feel so bad about my fielding performance some times in my softball games.

 

[MTR]

There is nothing wrong with throwing side arm. For that matter, prefer infielders throw in that manner; or even underhand, if they can be accurate and make the distance.

 

[Lozza]

There is nothing wrong with throwing side arm. For that matter, prefer infielders throw in that manner; or even underhand, if they can be accurate and make the distance.

I know too many girls and women who have thrown their arm out over time throwing side arm to agree with that. Myself included.

 

[MTR]

I know too many girls and women who have thrown their arm out over time throwing side arm to agree with that. Myself included.

If that's the case, you never bothered learning how to throw sidearm. I know plenty of people who have thrown out there arm overhand and 3/4, even one who popped his shoulder, but from over-exertion, not from the mechanical standpoint.

You cannot throw 3/4 or overhand from a fielding position without losing .5-1 second which is a long time on a short field.

 

[Chris O'Leary]

Throwing sidearm can be a problem, but generally only baseball pitchers throw hard enough for it to be an issue.

Infield throws usually aren't long enough, or frequent enough, to be an issue. Outfield throws are longer and harder, but are even less frequent.

 

[MTR]

Throwing sidearm can be a problem, but generally only baseball pitchers throw hard enough for it to be an issue.

True, but you don't see that many pitchers which throw sidearm as the norm. It is usually just to change up a delivery to keep the batter off balance.

Infield throws usually aren't long enough, or frequent enough, to be an issue.

The problem with the IF is that some don't have the strength to get it there without a hump on it and that is something that does require a little practice.

Outfield throws are longer and harder, but are even less frequent.

Never on a play. If just lobbing the ball in, even underhand is better. But if you have a play, sidearm or underhand just means you have to lift the ball that much farther to make the distance and that can put a strain on the arm. Always 3/4 or over to top from the OF

 

[Mike]

Look at ffs's model fielding thread, watch a college game, they almost all throw side arm from the infield. I dont see it being any more destructive than throwing 3/4, just a different angle. lead with the elbow and create whip. there is just more room for error throwing side arm, if you dont practice.