quote:DOn't all pitchers push off of the mound? I have never seen a pitcher just stand on it and throw. They all push to some degree and that is why they spend so much time developing their lower half.
Contrary to popular belief, "pushing off" the mound is mechanically incorrect and is a fallacy that can, and often times will, lead to injury.
Pushing off the mound causes several things to occur. The back leg will collapse, creating a lack of power distribution throughout the hips. The distribution will instantly become emphasized onto the front hip, which will cause an imbalance. An imbalance will cause the lower body to lead out in front of the upper body as a pace much too quickly for the arm action to be consistent. Once the lower body is out in front, the arm will drag and have to "catch up".
At the same time, a lack of even distribution throughout the hips will not allow for maximum torque throughout the throwing motion. By eliminating some of the power in the hips, it eliminates the opportunity for a pitcher to use all of their power.
Arm drag and minimized hip torque are miserably bad on the arm. The valgus stress levels on the shoulder joint and elbow ligament increase exponentially, and the inconsistencies that are created expound upon this reality further.
The advice to "push off" the rubber is often times a prerequisite cause for arm injury due to the reasons listed above.
Coaches, please don't tell your pitchers to "push off" the rubber. It's bad advice kinetically, mechanically, efficiently and in terms of the long term health of the pitcher.