Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__QU20csLN8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__QU20csLN8
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Really solid through the point when his left foot lands. I was able to get a freeze frame at that instant and his position there is excellent.
From there, however, he seems intent on extending his arm completely straight and high overhead. This is causing him to lose flexibility and whip (arm speed). He is compensating also by pulling his head off to the left (hard!) and tilting his shoulders that direction, too.
I would like to see him keep his shoulders more level, keep his arm in the flexing "L" position (ball over shoulder, not overhead), head straight on, then get the hand more out front through release and follow-through.
Right now he's turning the ball over fairly substantially. This isn't all bad as it can create some nasty movement, but while you might like having that in the arsenal I don't recommend it all the time, esp. at age 12. You need to be able to get a good old 4-seamer in the zone consistently first. Get his arm, shoulder and head positions corrected and make sure he keeps his fingers straight on to the target (release causing vertical backspin).
You'll see an immediate jump in velocity.
From there, however, he seems intent on extending his arm completely straight and high overhead. This is causing him to lose flexibility and whip (arm speed). He is compensating also by pulling his head off to the left (hard!) and tilting his shoulders that direction, too.
I would like to see him keep his shoulders more level, keep his arm in the flexing "L" position (ball over shoulder, not overhead), head straight on, then get the hand more out front through release and follow-through.
Right now he's turning the ball over fairly substantially. This isn't all bad as it can create some nasty movement, but while you might like having that in the arsenal I don't recommend it all the time, esp. at age 12. You need to be able to get a good old 4-seamer in the zone consistently first. Get his arm, shoulder and head positions corrected and make sure he keeps his fingers straight on to the target (release causing vertical backspin).
You'll see an immediate jump in velocity.
Thanks Midlo, I am trying to make sense of what all you have stated. I appreciate all of it!
I will tell you what i generally look for. The video on my computer runs choppy (old computer) so its kind of hard to tell.
The first thing I look at is how smooth the action looks. This looks fine to me.
The next thing I look at is the separation between the hips and shoulders at high **** (right before ball starts catapulting forward). The upper body should still be back while the lower body is already facing home plate before acceleration of the ball forward. this makes the ball catapult forward and is least stressful on the arm. This also looks good to me.
The next thing I note is the arm slot and making sure that the torso is bending correctly to compensate for proper arm angle and velocity. By this I look for the arm at release and making sure that I can draw a straight line from the fingers on the release of the ball down the arm and throught the shoulder then straight through to the other shoulder. This should be a straight line- from the glove side shoulder through the back and then straight out to the fingers. From what I can see it looks good.
Next I make sure that the arm at release is at a 90 degree angle with the torso (as seen from the backside or frontside). More over the top pitchers thus must have more tilt while lower 3/4 arm pitchers will have less tilt. The arm slot will also translate directly into what kind of arm follow through and post leg follow through. It looks like you are high 3/4 bordering on "over the top". As such your follow through looks good (good trunk tilt and high leg follow through. This all looks good.
Overall you look like you have good fundamentals. You may try experimenting a little bit on how much backside you show the batter while you first begin in your windup. Sometimes a little more backside will give you a little more velocity and added deception of hiding the ball better. It worked for my son to just have him start turned a few more degrees with his back more to home plate.
How hard are you throwing in the video?
The first thing I look at is how smooth the action looks. This looks fine to me.
The next thing I look at is the separation between the hips and shoulders at high **** (right before ball starts catapulting forward). The upper body should still be back while the lower body is already facing home plate before acceleration of the ball forward. this makes the ball catapult forward and is least stressful on the arm. This also looks good to me.
The next thing I note is the arm slot and making sure that the torso is bending correctly to compensate for proper arm angle and velocity. By this I look for the arm at release and making sure that I can draw a straight line from the fingers on the release of the ball down the arm and throught the shoulder then straight through to the other shoulder. This should be a straight line- from the glove side shoulder through the back and then straight out to the fingers. From what I can see it looks good.
Next I make sure that the arm at release is at a 90 degree angle with the torso (as seen from the backside or frontside). More over the top pitchers thus must have more tilt while lower 3/4 arm pitchers will have less tilt. The arm slot will also translate directly into what kind of arm follow through and post leg follow through. It looks like you are high 3/4 bordering on "over the top". As such your follow through looks good (good trunk tilt and high leg follow through. This all looks good.
Overall you look like you have good fundamentals. You may try experimenting a little bit on how much backside you show the batter while you first begin in your windup. Sometimes a little more backside will give you a little more velocity and added deception of hiding the ball better. It worked for my son to just have him start turned a few more degrees with his back more to home plate.
How hard are you throwing in the video?
Thanks for the additional insight Gingerbread. He is in the 58-61 mph range on his FB (at least at his tryouts last week he was).
He is a great control pitcher, hits spots consistently, has a CU, Knuckle, curve and FB but I was mainly seeking a few more MPH on the FB.
Have been tinkering with more rear leg push, he has been wanting to try Lincecum type moves and I say no!LOL
I have teetered on taking him for lessons, any thoughts?
He is a great control pitcher, hits spots consistently, has a CU, Knuckle, curve and FB but I was mainly seeking a few more MPH on the FB.
Have been tinkering with more rear leg push, he has been wanting to try Lincecum type moves and I say no!LOL
I have teetered on taking him for lessons, any thoughts?
I accidentaly put up the same view twice I have this down the line shot too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...mNB0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...mNB0&feature=related
Midlo, any pics or vids of what things you are referring to?
The rear shot is much more revealing.
I agree with most of what Midlo said.
Look at where your stride foot is pointing when you finish. It should be pointing straight at home plate and yours is pointing at 1st base.
To me the worst thing you can do is fall off to the left especially if your upper body pulls away from your arm slot. That can result in stress on the arm and poor control.
You also appear to be thinking about pushing off the rubber. That keeps you hips back and stabilizes you lower body too soon instead of out over your stride leg.
Take good look at Linscum he puts the crank into the ball when he is well clear of rubber and has toe drag stabilizing his lower body. His stride is extra long and he has the gift of a super quick arm and rhythm. Most young guys shouldn't try to duplicate what he does.
I like to refer to alignment. Take a line drawn from the rubber and the middle of your post instep to wards home plate. Use that as a guide for your stride foot to land on or close to on the left. Allow for some rotation as your foot rotates and ends up pointing directly at the plate. This is important because it allows you directing, control and takes away the awkward finish that you have. Your stride knee will bend as you stride as it is meant to do and your instep will bend properly. Release the ball out front a little more and I like a high post leg kick with the body bending at the waist to wards the plate and finish low. Hold the head steady and focused on the plate . Do not be in a hurry to pop up. Stay low for a couple seconds and lift as you react to the ball. It may save you runs and a serious injury like the guy who got nailed in the side of the head by a come backer.
I agree with most of what Midlo said.
Look at where your stride foot is pointing when you finish. It should be pointing straight at home plate and yours is pointing at 1st base.
To me the worst thing you can do is fall off to the left especially if your upper body pulls away from your arm slot. That can result in stress on the arm and poor control.
You also appear to be thinking about pushing off the rubber. That keeps you hips back and stabilizes you lower body too soon instead of out over your stride leg.
Take good look at Linscum he puts the crank into the ball when he is well clear of rubber and has toe drag stabilizing his lower body. His stride is extra long and he has the gift of a super quick arm and rhythm. Most young guys shouldn't try to duplicate what he does.
I like to refer to alignment. Take a line drawn from the rubber and the middle of your post instep to wards home plate. Use that as a guide for your stride foot to land on or close to on the left. Allow for some rotation as your foot rotates and ends up pointing directly at the plate. This is important because it allows you directing, control and takes away the awkward finish that you have. Your stride knee will bend as you stride as it is meant to do and your instep will bend properly. Release the ball out front a little more and I like a high post leg kick with the body bending at the waist to wards the plate and finish low. Hold the head steady and focused on the plate . Do not be in a hurry to pop up. Stay low for a couple seconds and lift as you react to the ball. It may save you runs and a serious injury like the guy who got nailed in the side of the head by a come backer.
Here is a shot of TPM's son which to me is great mechanics for a RHP.
http://www.pitchingclips.com/players/david_kopp.htm
http://www.pitchingclips.com/players/david_kopp.htm
Get a good pitching coach who can help you with age appropriate instruction. A 12YO can not do what a 16YO can do nor a 18YO, etc.
Don't be messing with arm slots and be careful on the advice you get from a message board. It is very difficult to see much unless you film at multiple angles and in slow motion.
Frankly your boy looks pretty athletic and balanced. Keep him this way. Limit his innings pitched at this tender age and get him some basic pitching instruction and he will be fine. Stick to FB and CU's, learn to spot pitches, throw to contact. Most importantly learn to have fun on the mound!
Don't be messing with arm slots and be careful on the advice you get from a message board. It is very difficult to see much unless you film at multiple angles and in slow motion.
Frankly your boy looks pretty athletic and balanced. Keep him this way. Limit his innings pitched at this tender age and get him some basic pitching instruction and he will be fine. Stick to FB and CU's, learn to spot pitches, throw to contact. Most importantly learn to have fun on the mound!
Yes you won't be able to duplicate what DK or Rivera does but those are what you should strive for.
make sure you work on conditioning before anything else. Also beware what you get from some pitching coaches as well. There are lots of bad ones. I would be inclined to follow NAPA coaching.
make sure you work on conditioning before anything else. Also beware what you get from some pitching coaches as well. There are lots of bad ones. I would be inclined to follow NAPA coaching.
quote:Thanks for the additional insight Gingerbread. He is in the 58-61 mph range on his FB (at least at his tryouts last week he was).
He is a great control pitcher, hits spots consistently, has a CU, Knuckle, curve and FB but I was mainly seeking a few more MPH on the FB.
Have been tinkering with more rear leg push, he has been wanting to try Lincecum type moves and I say no!LOL
I have teetered on taking him for lessons, any thoughts?
There is a debate over whether one really needs to push or if their weight actually pulss them off the rubber. Initially there may be some push from off the rubber but from what I have come to understand, no real velocity increase will come from intentionally trying to push off harder with the rear leg. It may even screw up some of his more natural mechanics- just my personal opinion though! The reason i say this is that if you slow down a professional pitchers motion you will note that once the foot plant happens, and before initial launch of the arm through the catapult phase, the ball and hand is almost at a complete dead stop. Pushing off from the rubber in reality only makes the foot plant happen quicker and not necessarily translates into added velocity.
Look at this video of Bob Feller. He has been clocked at the plate at like 98mph which translates into a 104-105 mph pitch out of the hand. Note in the video how little he actually pushes off. Also note how much backside he shows to the plate and how much flexation he gets because of this. ASMI did a research and found that pitchers with a greater hip to shoulder separation coupled with a greater arm flexation had greater velocity. Freeze frame the pitcher right before he starts bringing the arm forward. Note how his arm is back and shoulders are square to 3rd base and yet his hips are facing home plate at this point. Also note how his forearm is parallel to the ground (great flexation of the shoulder). These things can be taught through drills where they think about throwing harder- it happens naturally on its own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifb6dT-tso0
Here is a slow motion video of Dan Haren (a great fireball pitcher of modern day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...fzLY&feature=related
Note also how much backside is initially shown. Lincecum is another pitcher who uses alot of initial backside to generate velocity and deception.
61 mph for your son is not bad. Was this after he had fully warmed up (after 30-40 pitches)? Or was it while he was still cold?
Also I forgot to mention. Your posture starts out good and then it crashes as you go forward. Draw a line down your spine the Length of your body. That is wher you should keep your feet head and body during the whole motion. The head will go slightly to the left as it follows it natural course.
Your son looks like a fine 12 yo pitcher. If looking for an area to improve, I'd start with the bottom half. Compare the angle of his right knee once the body starts moving forward to the other videos in the thread. It is almost a "sit" he should feel on the way down the bump. Once he gets this down many of the other areas will likely improve. Best of luck.
An article in the NY Times highlights pitching injuries within the NY Yankee organization. It is about time EVERY serious pitcher gets their delivery scientifically tested for risk of injury. The biomechanical analysis gives you information you cannot get anywhere. It also shows how you can improve velocity and command. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09...ia%20brackman&st=cse
