Biomechanics
First off, it’s important to understand that in evaluating the many aspects of pitching, there’s much that the naked eye simple can’t see. So, using high-speed 3D motion analysis we can identify a Pitcher’s/Thrower’s bio-mechanical signature. Interestingly enough, all skilled pitchers/throwers have a bio-mechanically predictable signature even though they all look different doing it. It is also possible to quantify how feet deliver legs and how legs deliver hips, torso, shoulders, arms, and baseball softball toward a target to maximize the use of energy and movement while minimizing the risk of injury.
Here are a few of the many items we cover when discussing the aspects of an efficient delivery:
Pitching Signature Variables Defined – The Biomechanics of an Efficient Delivery
Balance and Posture – Posture is unique to the individual but must be maintained throughout the entire delivery. Posture and balance for throwing is similar to that of a hitter’s stance and swing.
Stack and Track – As the shoulders rotate around the spine, the torso should stay on-line and continue going forward towards home plate. Head should stay upright and over shoulders through release point. Keeping lower back in extension and the spine upright.
- Head and spine stay vertical with low back hyper extension as shoulders square up perpendicular to target.
- Throwing forearm lays back in external rotation, glove firms up over landing foot and torso tracks as far forward toward glove/front foot as momentum, strength and flexibility will allow.
- Throwing forearm internally rotates and snaps straight into release point.
Leg Lift/Body Thrust – This needs a description.
Stride and Momentum – Stride is the route the pitchers body and head take into foot strike. Momentum is getting into foot strike as far and as fast as possible and is effected by leg lift, stride direction, stride distance and time.
Opposite and Equal – Opposite and Equal is defined as the mirror imaging of the glove arm and the throwing arm, from the time the hands break until just prior to release point. Throwing arm action is unique to each pitcher, look at relative joint angles not overall throwing arm positioning, teach glove arm to mirror throwing arm. The fix is always in the glove arm – not the throwing arm.
Hip and Shoulder Separation/Delayed Shoulder Rotation
Hip and Shoulder Separation is the optimal angle difference between Front Hip and Back Shoulder. There are three types including: Big Hips/Small Shoulders, Big Shoulders/Small Hips, and Equal Hips/Equal Shoulders. All three can be achieved by pitchers of all ages with the goal being to maximize the angle
Delayed Shoulder Rotation Sequencing: Delayed shoulder rotation is not allowing the back shoulder to start forward until pitcher is as close to home plate as momentum, strength, and flexibility will allow.
Swivel and Stabilize Glove Arm – As the shoulders begin to rotate, the glove needs to stabilize over the landing foot somewhere in front of the torso between shoulders and COG (belly button).
Pitch Grip and Wrist/Forearm Angle – Thumb and middle finger dissect middle of baseball on all pitches except split finger fastball where thumb and split dissect middle of ball.
- Palm Straight = Fastball
- Full Karate Chop = Curveball
- 1/4 Karate Chop = Cutter
- 1/2 Karate Chop = Slider
- 3/4 Karate Chop = Slurve
- Full Palm Out = Circle or C Change
- Up, Screw Ball
- 1/4 Palm Out = Running FB
- 1/2 Palm Out = Sinker
Release Point and Follow Through – Here’s a check list for the release point:
- Front Knee – Firm and Flexed
- Glove firm over front foot and knee – in front of chest – chest moving to glove
- Shoulders perpendicular to target line
- Head upright over front knee/landing foot moving through the imaginary wall
Follow Through is a bio-mechanical inevitability. Back leg will come through at same angle as arm slot.
When the previous 7 Phases of the delivery take place in their proper sequential order it is a non-teach.
