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Anyone come across kids with issues bracing their stride leg.  Have a kid with huge upside who already throws well. He finishes on a collapsed front leg and never gets his leg braced fully. Just looking for any tips as far as how to get him braced and not bent.

I know strength and conditioning has a lot to do with it so we are working on that aspect. Mechanics look decent outside of cuffing the ball and collapsing stride leg on stride.
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JC

 

welcome!

 

What you are describing is one, if not the biggest issues facing most youth pitchers.  And as you might suspect, strength is the main culprit.  What age is your prospect?  While there are some drills specifically for this, it would be hard to recommend without knowing the age of the pitcher, general physical shape, and height / weight.  Drills would do no good if the strength, coordination, and physical maturity were not already in place.

 

One exercise that helps with this is one legged body weight squats.  Pitching entails being on one leg at a time, and very common for individual legs to lack strength needed to support the speed, and torque that pitching entails.

 

Additionally, while I am a proponent of a long stride, many times the body lacks the strength to support a long stride, resulting in the lead leg buckling or drifting forwards.  We'd all love to have the stride of a Verlander, and be able to virtually hyper extend the lead leg into ball release, however few, if any possess the athletic ability to do so.  In that case, shortening the stride, while developing the strength is recommended.

 

edit to add:  a bent front leg is not bad, provided it does not drift forward.  If you stopped video at the point of front foot strike, you should not see the leg (knee) drift forwards or sideway, it should stay firm. Some can land flexed, and straighten into ball release, but not all.  Many elite pitchers finish on a bent front leg, however they can hold that bent position into ball release.  Again the Verlander analogy is exceptional, however for most common folk, it's not possible.

Last edited by Back foot slider

Thanks for the reply...

 

To answer your questions the player is 16 years old and a Junior in HS.  He is about 6'4" and weighs approx. 160-170lbs.  Very well put together kid, with a frame that could support some additional muscle.

 

We have video footage of him throwing flat grounds indoors, but I have yet to get the camera on him outside.  Have had a scout watch him pitch and the cuffing of the ball and collapsing on front leg were two of the mechanical issues that were pointed out.  

 

I do think weakness could be partly to blame for this collapsing issue.  His stride length is below average IMO for someone his size when compared to smaller guys on our staff who are out striding him.

 

I would greatly appreciate any drills or tips as this kid has some predictability at the next level.

 

I also have video I could email to you so you can get a better idea of the issue at hand if that would help!

Video would be very helpful.  

 

Fixing ng the cupping relates to how / when he comes out of glove break...normally an easy fix, I've rarely had a problem fixing that, and can give you advice there. 

 

As for the front leg, if his stride is "under" optimum, then it could be a function of a learned (unconscious) behavior, and harder to fix, however drills could help tremendously.  

 

I am sending you a personal message with an email address to send me a video.  Please check your dialog box.

 

Sounds like his physical measureables are there, and getting him some looks.  Let's try to get the two issues you pointed out worked out.

Last edited by Back foot slider

Relax he is young and needs to start working out in the gym building up leg strength, as it happens he will be able to support his weight. This process takes YEARS, not weeks or months. Don't be trying to get him to stride out when he can't support it, the body adapts to what it is capable of doing on it's own.

 

He needs to get with a trainer who can teach him proper form on dead lifts, front squats and other leg core work. The rest will come over time.

 

Good Luck.

Totally understand about not pushing the issue...I really think the majority of his problems are strength related, as most of his mechanics are up to standard.  He has poise on the mound and he gets the job done "as-is".  Im looking at starting the process for getting him some extra attention, as well as a little extra gitty up on the FB.  For someone his size he has more in the tank, and I am of the belief that his stride/collapsing issue is holding him back.

 

Ive yet to explain to him the problem because I do not want to lead him in the wrong direction.  That is why I turned to you guys

I agree with BFS, and like the Verlander analogy. If you google on youtube "Verlander workout" there is some nice video of specific training and drills Verlander uses to work on leg, knee and hip strength and stability. He uses a lot of medicine ball work and one legged squats to build strength and stability. 

 

As a pitching coach I struggle with kids and this issue all the time. 

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