Fixing a pitching mechanical fault

Can't see a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by John L:
I have a lefty pitcher (14yo)who throws off one foot.
During the arm cocking phase into the arm accelerating phase instead of dragging the posting leg in extension he flexes the knee and lifts the foot off the ground.
This is done before the ball is released and so affects his control. I need some suggestions on how to approach the correction. Do I put weights on the trailing leg to make him more aware of the position of the foot? Any suggestions?

There's nothing wrong with this.

In fact, I think it's good.

I'll play devil's advocate here.

The back foot lifting off the ground instead of dragging can be a indicator that the head and shoulders are getting out front too soon. And that can waste energy transferring up the chain and cause the pitcher to throw with mostly the arm.

I prefer my pitchers to lead with their front hip and to keep the head and shoulders slightly behind the front hip into foot plant.

He's probably rotating too early (as the support foot can lose contact with the ground, thus affecting velocity and control)

Get him to move explosively leading with the front hip.

Sounds like he needs some serious work. This is not a good timing thing. Don't listen to people who say that there is nothing wrong with this. Remember, you said that it is affecting his controll....so something needs to adjust
www.fletchspen.net

In that video every pitcher lifts his back leg except the side arm guy. As you come forward your back leg leaves the ground. I like a high leg kick before coming around and squaring up. If you are going to get your body behind the pitch your back leg will kick up.
I would add don't listen to people who know very little about pitching.

So you're saying before releasing the ball you'd like to have your back foot lose contact with the ground?

Usually you will see the back foot on the ground or just an inch or 2 off the ground. Either way, we should explore video and evaluate ball flight and communicate with the pitchers to see how things feel.
www.fletchspen.net

Back foot is typically off the rubber by the time the ball is released. Whether it's up the air and if so, by how much, differs from pitcher to pitcher. I would not usually attribute control problems to this as a root cause, but we'd have to see video or a bullpen to give an opinion worth a darn with respect to this particular pitcher.

Usually when the support foot loses contact with the ground, it's because of early hip rotation.
If the hips rotate too early, it'll reduce the transfer of forces so that upon landing there will be less energy to transfer to the next segments.

When the support-leg leavese the ground too early, stability that is needed to position the body correctly is reduced. It'd be like throwing to a moving target.

Edited: And I'm talking about before releasing the ball, and I'm not talking about the support foot leaving the rubber, I'm talking about the support foot leaving the ground before ball release

Everytime i throw my elbow area starts hurting, even when im just playing catch to warm up,and i am a pitcher, usually elbow area will hurt everyday and sometimes my tricep will cramp up, anything i should do? or any of it have to do with my mechanics/ arm action?

What's your warm up before you start throwing?

Do you have video?

Are you doing any heavy lifting?

Do you have any video?

Yeah it could be something to do with your mechanics, or it might be something else

I stretch for about 5- 10 minutes and then long toss. I know that doesnt really say anything, but ill try to get a video this weekend. Definetaly could use a pitching coach for our team tho.

Just static stretching?

Try a dynamic warm up, get a light sweat going

Stretching has been proven to reduce velocity. Why? Because it hinders the amount of elastic energy produced. That and it causes some micro tears and can actually cause injury

Just a heads up