Not enough legs These are photos (18 thru 22)of my son warming up before an inning in a tournament this weekend. One of the things I noticed from video my wife took was that he tends to stay tall throughout his motion and doesn't get into a "squatted" position as the stride foot lands.
Any ideas or drills to help him get into a stronger position and use his legs more. I've got to believe it would add a couple mph to his fastball.
Thanks, CADad
Posts: 4703 | Location: Southern CA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003
Is he rotating off of the rubber, or is he pushing?
I agree with Texan on the importance of the hips. The rotation of the hips helps to keep the energy going "up". A linear push drives too much energy into the ground(to much weight over the front foot at landing).
Just my opinion!
Have a great day.
Posts: 237 | Location: USA | Registered: August 17, 2003
Rocket ..we have been playing with an Epstein -like drill for pitchers I like it. Many have probably done it.
back foot parallel to the rubber. Front foot open to rh batters box. Take pitching stride and hold it over bent knee. Now stay there and place the arm in a high cocked position behind the 180 line to the plate( scap load). Feel the torque of separation. Without moving the feet , rotate the torso and throw. Set the forward axis over the knee and continue to do this torque pitching drill . You find the true component of speed and isolate it with this drill
Sorry, don't have a way to get the video uploaded. I don't care if he tries to drop and drive or tall and fall. I'd just like to see a bit longer stride with his bottom a bit closer to the ground in #21. I was quite happy with #19. He uses his hips but I don't think you get as much effect out of the hips when standing tall.
Posts: 4703 | Location: Southern CA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003
Texan is pretty correct. I don't agree with the inversion, but he did say slight. He lands with a flexed front leg, which is good, then it straightens(which is fine). I would need to see number 22? to see if he is getting hip rotation. If he is I would not worry about landing in the squatted fielding position. That is over rated.
quote:Originally posted by CADad: He uses his hips but I don't think you get as much effect out of the hips when standing tall.
Actually, it is easier to get good hip rotation with the "tall & fall" than with driving out. Driving tends to really emphasize the linear aspect & makes it more difficult to get the hip coming around. Driving out often results in overrunning the front leg & going straight out.
I would have to disagree with Bighit on one thing, though. The front leg should never straighten out completely. There should remain some flex in the knee. This will allow the hips to rotate after the front foot has landed.
Almost always (maybe even "always", but absolutes are tough...), when the front leg straightens out completely, the torso overruns the front leg, going straight out rather then obtaining good hip rotation. I believe clip 22 bears this out.
Having studied clip 19 more, I wouldn't be worried about it. Seeing video would help greatly in analyzing the shoulder tilt.
"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Sandy Koufax
Posts: 4133 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: June 02, 2003
quote: I would have to disagree with Bighit on one thing, though. The front leg should never straighten out completely. There should remain some flex in the knee. This will allow the hips to rotate after the front foot has landed.
I should have been clearer. You are correct. What I meant was to let it straighten partially.
Bighit, that is the challenge with these boards. So hard to be perfectly clear & so easy to be misinterpreted. There is always some idiot (like me) who can somehow always manage to derive a different meaning than what was intended.
"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Sandy Koufax
Posts: 4133 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: June 02, 2003
