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NHFundamentalsDad, People use the towel drill for either allignment or added extension. I don't like the towel drill because the pitcher is thinking about flexion forward. But he misses getting his trunk squared to the plate first. I think people use the towel drill for extension and the only way you can get extension is by lengthening the stride.
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NHFundamentalsDad, with the towel drill you release the ball way too far out thinking about this extension thing. The problem with that is pitchers don't release the ball out there, they release it just over there front foot. So IMO you would rather work on you're delevery at game speed to get better.
Bustamove,
Why would a pitcher miss getting his trunk square on this drill ?
Even if you do, the towel will provide feedback that you were not in the proper position. If this is so, its time to go back to other drills to correct that problem.
I have seen this drill used in a one knee position, standing...etc...it can be used in any postion you would throw a ball. It depends on wether the instructor understands what the student is doing wrong. The towel drill can provide a kid with good feedback. It is not the only thing, but it certainly should be tossed away out of hand.
Also it is a drill a kid can do inside on a bad weather day, or for kids in the North in the winter when they can not get access to an indoor facility.
I have a very simple belief in all drills.
They are like tools, used properly they help you accomplish a task. Used incorrectly, they will create even more problems.
I have watched many pitchers simply go throw the ball. If they do not understand what it is they are doing wrong, or an instructor is having a hard time making them understand the issue, drills like the towel drill become critical to helping the player grasp the concept.
I have also seen situations where a kid is overworking one issue. As an example, his release point. Being preoccupied with that, he he rushes to get there, opening up his lead side and now he begins to compound his problems.