Three Absolutes Of Pitching Success ...that youth baseball coaches could emphasize more
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When coaching pitchers, youth baseball coaches focus much of their instruction on the throwing action. The actions that prepare for, and support, the throwing action get little attention; or are left out of instruction altogether.
Three Absolutes
1. Control In The Stride. Relative to the throwing aspect of the delivery, the stride is a Slower action.
Acceleration of the body actions begin when a pitcher gets to a Power Position (both elbows up to shoulder level) just prior to the landing of the stride foot). Many kids get moving too fast, too soon, in their delivery ...during their stride.
2. Glove Elbow up to shoulder level by the end of the stride, then pull the glove elbow straight back.
We teach ‘Pull’ the glove elbow back (like elbowing a person standing behind you). - The contribution of the glove arm, in the delivery, is stabilization of the front/glove side of the body (this is subject for another post). Most kids are unaware of the need for using their glove arm. They make little or no use of their glove arm. It just drops to their side during the stride.
Teaching kids to use their Glove arm in their delivery adds power and increases accuracy. Also, they will experience less arm soreness, and significantly reduce the chance of injury.
3. Head Still, Straight and locked on the target, throughout the stride and delivery.
Many kids are not aware of head movement, and do not recognize the importance of minimizing head movement during the stride and delivery.
Coaching suggestion: tell a young pitcher to pretend there is a rope pulled tight from their nose to the catcher's glove. The rope keeps their head from moving up and down or side to side. The nose remains pointing straight ahead… Before, During and After the delivery.
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IMPORTANT: Before a pitcher kicks in full effort with their throwing arm, they First ‘pull’ the glove elbow back. The action of the glove arm pulling back, in conjunction with their legs turning, moves the throwing hand past the head/ear.
Full effort with the throwing arm does not take place until After the ‘Leg Turn’ and ‘Glove Elbow Pull’ actions move the throwing hand past the head/ear. We use the teaching phrase, ‘Fast-Faster’. First, the elbow pulls ‘Fast’. Then the throwing arm moves (accelerates) ‘Faster’ ...as the Final action in the delivery. (‘Fast-Faster’ is subject matter for another post.)
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Video Proof
Below are video clips of three Major League pitchers; watch:
slower pace of their Stride (relative to the faster, accelerated effort of the throwing action)
use of their Glove Arm
control their Head
Zack Greinke watch pitches at 0:38 & 0:48
German Marquez watch pitches at 0:40 & 0:53