Mostly from your legs, huh?

quote:

Originally posted by baseballpapa:
Go to MLB.com and watch Rodriquez throw out Ichiro from his rear end. Watch the flight of the ball. Still think most velocity is from your legs? Can he throw it harder if he stood up, sure, but most velocity is not from the lower body. There is upper body rotation in his throw. His shoulders are pointed at first then open.

I have never said or believed that the legs are the primary source of power.

Instead, I believe that the muscles of the hips and lower torso are the primary source of power (sometimes referred to as the Serape muscles). They pull the torso around which then pulls the shoulders around.

I'm not sure why my observation would matter much. The successful pitchers certainly do what you teach and as long as there has been pitching instruction the legs and torso have been emphasized -- as they should be.

I just think physically, it is not possible for the velocity to be primarily controlled by the lower and middle sections. Furthermore, I think it is an easy thing to determine.

Measure the following with a radar gun...
1. Seated, don't allow a shoulder turn. Throw
2. Seated, allow a shoulder turn (from the waist obviously). Throw
3. Stand, no leg action throw.
4. Turn, some and throw.
5. Throw with full motion.

I see catchers throw from their knees at pretty good velocities, then you see this play (by the way, great play to watch). There is no possible way the player used the lower body. His velocity to first was not less than 1/2 full velocity. Therefore, it is not possible that most velocity in the system is from the legs and core.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballpapa:
There is no possible way the player used the lower body. His velocity to first was not less than 1/2 full velocity. Therefore, it is not possible that most velocity in the system is from the legs and core.

Watch how he rolls to his glove side, with his legs rolling over before his torso. This puts him in the classic hip/shoulder stretch position where his hips pull his shoulders around.

I will grant you that it is harder for catchers to do this, especially on snap throws from the knees. However, remember that catchers experience a decent number of arm and shoulder problems. I would argue that this is due to throws like these where they have to throw with their arms and not their bodies.

People can throw with their arms and not their bodies. It's just not the most efficient way to do so.

quote:

People can throw with their arms and not their bodies. It's just not the most efficient way to do so.

Ding ding, ding ding ding ding, (if I had red flashy lights I'd use them)

Good post