Common Thowing Mechanical Problems

I see a lot of pie throwers in the less athletic kids. I also see a lot of slingers who use no lower half.

Most "Kid Cutters" are due to small hands and improper finger positioning.

What is a "pie thrower?'

The most common issue is no one to throw with during the week.

A good drill is to use a pair of socks wadded up baseball size and throw against the wall in your house in order to develop proper mechanics. 100 proper throws a night is a good start..

Of course you must teach them good mechanics...

quote:

Originally posted by Corky9999:
What is a "pie thrower?'

I think it means that the hand is palm-up when the ball is released - similar to how one would hold the bottom of a pie?

I use hockey pucks, the NHL wasn't using them so I figure I will , to help young players to feel the release point and understand rotation. Once they feel their fingers on top I switch them to a ball with, Dah Duh Dah Hockey tape, again a very little used resource , for a stripe. I alternate two colors to help the kid throwing the ball see the rotation. They also get the visual aid of having the stripe to line up their fingers for a proper four seam fastball.

CSUF, I like CSUF and the way they do things so I copy their program allot, uses the term 'cobra' to help young players understand the fingers need to be on top of the ball, this would be the opposite of what i think 'pie thrower' means fingers under the ball. So what do you guys use as coaching aids to help a young player learn proper mechanics?

quote:

Originally posted by Sandman:

quote:

Originally posted by Corky9999:
What is a "pie thrower?'

I think it means that the hand is palm-up when the ball is released - similar to how one would hold the bottom of a pie?

A pie thrower is someone who circles up with his arm after handbreak.

As if he was holding the pie in his glove, palm up, and then attempted to throw it.

What should happen is thumbs down, both hands, and elbows lift.

I use the hockey puck as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Teacherman:
A pie thrower is someone who circles up with his arm after handbreak.

As if he was holding the pie in his glove, palm up, and then attempted to throw it.

What should happen is thumbs down, both hands, and elbows lift.

So what are your methods of teaching this to young players? The hands break thumbs going down and out that is.

A problem that is pretty common is "rushing" or opening the hips too soon.

Another is "short-arming", not extending the throwing arm or throwing with the throwing elbow too low.

Both create arm stress and loss of velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by Callaway:
A problem that is pretty common is "rushing" or opening the hips too soon.

Another is "short-arming", not extending the throwing arm or throwing with the throwing elbow too low.

Both create arm stress and loss of velocity.

And what method do you use to teach that corrects this? I know what I do I am wondering if there is maybe a better way that makes it easy for a young player to understand.

Mechanics go bad at hand break. Need to pronate( turn both thumbs downward and point both elbows toward up) . This forces the humeral head into the socket. When the lead foot turns over the throwing hand will come into the window naturally.

Try this ...Keep the lead thumb (in glove) pointing toward down and try to open the front shoulder. Now get in the same psoition and rotate the glove up and feel the shoulder release.

Now you know what causes the lead shoulder to fly.

Teacherman is correct in his statement IMO

I agree swingbuster.
I have my young kids work on their break by getting in the "hands praying" position (palms together hands in front of chest). Next, we break without using a ball. I tell them to let the middle fingers touch last when breaking back of hands facing each other; while lifting the elbows.
Then we go to the "Beach ball” drill from the break position I just mentioned, pretend you're holding a beach ball in your arms. Throw the ball:get good scapula load, your lead arm will be in the proper position along with the throwing arm. This will give them that whip effect we are looking for.

quote:

Originally posted by HotCornerDad:

quote:

Originally posted by Teacherman:
A pie thrower is someone who circles up with his arm after handbreak.

As if he was holding the pie in his glove, palm up, and then attempted to throw it.

What should happen is thumbs down, both hands, and elbows lift.

So what are your methods of teaching this to young players? The hands break thumbs going down and out that is.

I tell them......thumbs down, lift the elbows.

LOL nothin' like keeping it simple.

A couple of years ago, a kid commented that this position looked, "like a swan landing." We call it the "swan position" for fun when teaching little kids. Otherwise, we count these off using mirrors etc. so that they can see their position.

I'd like to just mention for the kid that throws the "kid slider," have the kid lay on his back on the ground. Have him put his throwing arm out and at a 90 degree angle. Have him holding a baseball with the fingers under the ball. We tell the player check (look at the throwing arm elbow) to make sure that the elbow is higher than the shoulder. (We also say that the elbow has to be as high as parallel to the mouth.) After the "check" they look back at the ceiling. Next, we tell the player, "look" and the lift their head and look at the person they are going to throw to. (about 10-12 feet away.) Then we say throw and they raise up in a sort of situp and throw with their hand finishing between their legs (which are spread by the way) but closer to the leg opposite the throwing arm. The goal of the player is to make the ball spin backwards. Note, they can't lift their arm or elbow before they lift their body. Give this a try. We use this at every level when we begin each year.

I use the old rhyme with the young kids:

Thumb to the thigh, elbow up high, knucles to the sky, let it fly!

I find that lots of kids that even break thumb down are not in that relationship in the high **** position..The ball should be pointed back towards the SS if a kid were on the mound right handed. Dads not throwing with there kids seem to be the biggest problems.