Shot video of some of my young pitchers tonite. One is classic "shortarm" the ball never gets lower than the top 1/3 of his ribcage.
How do you all like to handle this???
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Is this a classic short arm?
IP
I would say yes because right hand looks like he's throwing ball from behind his right ear like a catcher and does not pronate interior shoulder capsule outward enough but instead keeps it almost guarded from extension in arm-action/delivery slot.
He gets away with this because of great rotation and powerbase. peace Shep
I would say yes because right hand looks like he's throwing ball from behind his right ear like a catcher and does not pronate interior shoulder capsule outward enough but instead keeps it almost guarded from extension in arm-action/delivery slot.
He gets away with this because of great rotation and powerbase. peace Shep
How is short arming defined? I've heard several very different definitions over the years.
Does it mean failing to extend the arm almost fully backward before the throw begins, or does it have to do with an incomplete follow through?
This guy does neither. He does bring the ball briefly behind his head. His elbow stays rather low. He also drags his back foot oddly.
Does it mean failing to extend the arm almost fully backward before the throw begins, or does it have to do with an incomplete follow through?
This guy does neither. He does bring the ball briefly behind his head. His elbow stays rather low. He also drags his back foot oddly.
What I'm talking about is the ball never gets more than 3 inches away from the kids rib cage... he brings a very short arc, then extends the ball back... (sort of like a catcher making a very short arc with the ball, except the ball is lower than a catcher would have it)...
I was referring to the clip in the 2nd message posted by Infopimp. (is that short arming?)
Have you posted a clip of your pitcher, Trojan Skipper? I'm confused.
Have you posted a clip of your pitcher, Trojan Skipper? I'm confused.
I have always considered short arming as an infielders throw where the throwing arm comes straight up after hand break to a throwing position near the ear instead of reaching way back and loading up.
Bobblehead: that's what I'm talking about. I don't have a program to post my clip micd... my bad (as the kids like to say)... I did view it with the player here a few minutes ago and he was surprised to see it. We found a few other clips of big leaguers and so I do think we at least got some good feedback as far as the video work.... thanks guys, I'll let you know if we see a difference in a day or two.
There are actually some college coaches who teach short arm mechanics to pitchers.
They believe that the stuff prior to coming forward is wasted motion.
They believe that the stuff prior to coming forward is wasted motion.
quote:I have always considered short arming as an infielders throw where the throwing arm comes straight up after hand break to a throwing position near the ear instead of reaching way back and loading up.
Me too. But I've seen others define it solely in terms of an incomplete follow through. I'm going to poke around in Google to find some definitions of that term.
Many coaches nowadays don't care whether the ball is brought 100% back if that's unnatural for the pitcher. Last few inches add nothing to the speed and can be stressful to the pitching shoulder and maybe even the arm and wrist.quote:They believe that the stuff prior to coming forward is wasted motion.
But throwing from the ear is a no-no to just about any coach.
Short arming is defined by most as follows:
1. [adj] (of a throw) made with the arm close to the body or with the arm not fully behind the shoulder.
1. [adj] (of a throw) made with the arm close to the body or with the arm not fully behind the shoulder.
I have heard it said that some coaches prefer shorter arm action as they feel it's easier to repeat. Is this true?
This is one of the most recent short armers.
It doesn't have the stigma it once did.
It doesn't have the stigma it once did.
Info,
I wouldn't consider either of the pitchers shown to be short armers. They both scapular load, but the ball seems to get outside of the elbow when behind them. The 1st video of the Sox pitcher is harder to tell from the angle the shot was taken. He almost looks as if he comes back inside his elbow once loaded, but I would definitely say that the latter pic is not short-armed. He has great flexion in the arm and gets out in front real well.
Usually IMO, short armers are more rigid in their arm action, their hand and ball stay inside their elbow for the majority of the delivery, and the throw is cut off in front.
Again, the sox guy...possible candidate, but not the second guy. At least not from the angle shown.
I wouldn't consider either of the pitchers shown to be short armers. They both scapular load, but the ball seems to get outside of the elbow when behind them. The 1st video of the Sox pitcher is harder to tell from the angle the shot was taken. He almost looks as if he comes back inside his elbow once loaded, but I would definitely say that the latter pic is not short-armed. He has great flexion in the arm and gets out in front real well.
Usually IMO, short armers are more rigid in their arm action, their hand and ball stay inside their elbow for the majority of the delivery, and the throw is cut off in front.
Again, the sox guy...possible candidate, but not the second guy. At least not from the angle shown.
I think Russ Ortiz' delivery would be considered 'short-arm'. Watching him drives me nuts, I don't see how anybody can pitch like that. But he does, and does it pretty well. Seems like in a few cases, depending on the individual, this is a problem that doesn't need fixing.
I've always thought of "short arming" as meaning that the elbow is bent more acutely than the optimum "L" position, more of a "V", often with the elbow (and thus the ball) too low. Because the arm is too close to the body, you often see a clipped follow through as well. Generally short-arming deprives the pitcher of the whip action that you want. It also makes throwing a breaking pitch very difficult and tends to overstress the elbow on breaking pitches. I can't imagine anyone teaching this as if it were a good thing.
Lots of young kids start out short-arming because they are afraid to throw the ball hard for fear it will go wild. It's a habit that has to be broken if you want the kid to progress at all.
Lots of young kids start out short-arming because they are afraid to throw the ball hard for fear it will go wild. It's a habit that has to be broken if you want the kid to progress at all.
The second video is of Ken Hill.
i was taught there is no "short arming" in pitching.... as long as he is equal and opposite, meaning what one arm is doing the other is mirroring, then there is no problem. Do not try to change a ptchers throwing arm motion though. His delivery is genetic and the throwing arm should not be toyed with. The lead arm however can be manipulated to give the pitcher balance. One thing i learned from my coaches mistake is if a kid throws sidearm or 3/4 do not change it to straight over the top... your risking the kids health by putting more strain on tendons and liagments that werent previously used. If you want to change it do it gradually.
trojan-skipper-
What you’re describing is not typically associated with short arming. Not taking the ball down and back is more of a preferred load sequence. Short arming is more associated with the hand/ball being very close to the ear (very tight elbow bend) during the shoulder rotation acceleration phase of the throw which is more like some catchers throws. Here’s a clip of a 100+mph pro that loads the upper torso like you’re describing.
DallasCF-
What you’re describing is not typically associated with short arming. Not taking the ball down and back is more of a preferred load sequence. Short arming is more associated with the hand/ball being very close to the ear (very tight elbow bend) during the shoulder rotation acceleration phase of the throw which is more like some catchers throws. Here’s a clip of a 100+mph pro that loads the upper torso like you’re describing.
DallasCF-
Arm motion is a teach/developmental skill element. Genetics is probably the least influential element in arm action mechanics. Maybe it’s gender specific…….. “you throw like a girl!”quote:Do not try to change a ptchers throwing arm motion though. His delivery is genetic and the throwing arm should not be toyed with.
Cap'n,
I know a 20-yr-old college pitcher who is proof of your statement that you can teach improved arm motion - even starting at the ripe old age of 17. In some cases, can even modify the arm slot with very good results, too. Oh, I just remembered, you know this pitcher very, very well, too! 
I know a 20-yr-old college pitcher who is proof of your statement that you can teach improved arm motion - even starting at the ripe old age of 17. In some cases, can even modify the arm slot with very good results, too. Oh, I just remembered, you know this pitcher very, very well, too!
i never said you couldn't change the motion... i just said dont tell a kid to come straight over the top and expect him to do it... im sure the 20 yr old pitcher was practicing constantly with his motion
