I am a RHP and am about 6'3". I have a rather short stride and tend to throw across my body. Are there some drills that could work on both of the things and what could making my stride longer do for me?
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could the towel drill help this?
The Towel Drill helped me with my stride. As long as you finish with your chest low and your right leg off the ground, then your stride is just fine.
Most coaches say your stride should be as long as you are tall, give or take a few inches.
Towel grill is excellent as long as you do it right.
Max is right you finish with your chest reasonably flat over your glove side leg. Hard to do when you are not stretched out properly.
Towel grill is excellent as long as you do it right.
Max is right you finish with your chest reasonably flat over your glove side leg. Hard to do when you are not stretched out properly.
Could this help increase my velocity?
The secret to velocity is to hold onto the ball longer so more distance is created along with more time. That allows more energy to end up on the ball. Remember you are trying to build as much elastic energy as possible...thus the reason for a long stride.
The longer you hold onto the ball - the harder you will throw.
The longer you hold onto the ball - the harder you will throw.
My son gets the "stride" lecture every lesson. Last week we saw a picture of Roy Oswalt in SI, I think it was SI, his stride is extremely long.
I think the key to stride is, can you get out over your front foot on the release.
I think the key to stride is, can you get out over your front foot on the release.
Good Morning O'Brady,
Where's the beef?-LOL Just Kidding
Any good players your way other than JH at Henry CO?
Heard of a couple. Glad I don't have to fight that Atlanta traffic anymore
That perimeter all the way up to Roswell on I-285/I-85 is difficult to say the least. Guess it was worth it though with Jimmy Barthmaier, Jeremy Hermida, and Jeff Francouer and a few others a few years back.
Almost forgot about QuigleyLHP. How is he doing? Heard anything?
Shep
Where's the beef?-LOL Just Kidding
Any good players your way other than JH at Henry CO?
Heard of a couple. Glad I don't have to fight that Atlanta traffic anymore
That perimeter all the way up to Roswell on I-285/I-85 is difficult to say the least. Guess it was worth it though with Jimmy Barthmaier, Jeremy Hermida, and Jeff Francouer and a few others a few years back.
Almost forgot about QuigleyLHP. How is he doing? Heard anything?
Shep
I've heard of the towel drill, can anybody refresh my memory about how it is done. Thanks.
PP10
PP10
"Where's the beef?-LOL Just Kidding
Any good players your way other than JH at Henry CO?"
I just love their rolls, yummmm
I'm just getting into varsity ball in this area so other than a couple, like Brent Brewer, that's all I know.
Yesterday, game 1, I heard that the Pirates came to the school to see him hit and then several others were at the game to see what he can do. He did have a good game.
Any good players your way other than JH at Henry CO?"
I just love their rolls, yummmm
I'm just getting into varsity ball in this area so other than a couple, like Brent Brewer, that's all I know.
Yesterday, game 1, I heard that the Pirates came to the school to see him hit and then several others were at the game to see what he can do. He did have a good game.
Too short a stride can take away some velocity. We had a few guys pick up 2-4 mph just becuase their stride was not long enough. I have seen where some pitching coaches tell their pitchers to shorten their stride when thowing a change-up to lower their velocity even more.
One of my former coaches had us do this:
Pretend that you were going to have to throw someone out at the plate and you were in the OF. Now pretend to catch that ball and throw. We'd do that. Then, he'd say freeze after our crowhop. That length was our "maximum" stride length. Well take that for what it is worth but it is somewhat close to where you should be.
Pretend that you were going to have to throw someone out at the plate and you were in the OF. Now pretend to catch that ball and throw. We'd do that. Then, he'd say freeze after our crowhop. That length was our "maximum" stride length. Well take that for what it is worth but it is somewhat close to where you should be.
It also has to do with your style. If you're a Seaver-type, "drop & drive" pitcher (Oswalt being one), you're going to have a longer stride than those who emphasize the "stay tall, then fall" approach. My personal experience has been that the "tall/fall" approach is easier in that it emphasizes hip turn/trunk rotation as the source of power and velocity. Also, it's easier to stay of top of breaking pitches. Using a longer stride with the "tall/fall" approach will lock up the hips and prevent good trunk rotation.
I've never heard of a rule of thumb for stride length. Most pitchers experiment and stick with what works best for them.
The Prior/Maddux comparison is off base, as you're talking about two very different approaches to pitching. Maddux de-emphasizes velocity and hardly ever even uses a breaking pitch. He relies on movement, placement, and his change-up, plus he rarely goes over 100 pitches per outing. Prior is a classic power pitcher, using greater velocity and frequently using a hard breaking pitch. You can blame the power delivery's stress on the arm, or the curves and sliders if you want, but I doubt that stride length has anything to do with it.
I've never heard of a rule of thumb for stride length. Most pitchers experiment and stick with what works best for them.
The Prior/Maddux comparison is off base, as you're talking about two very different approaches to pitching. Maddux de-emphasizes velocity and hardly ever even uses a breaking pitch. He relies on movement, placement, and his change-up, plus he rarely goes over 100 pitches per outing. Prior is a classic power pitcher, using greater velocity and frequently using a hard breaking pitch. You can blame the power delivery's stress on the arm, or the curves and sliders if you want, but I doubt that stride length has anything to do with it.
IMO that the stride length is determined by the overall mechanics. You can start out with 90% of your height. As your mechanics become efficient, experiment with the length.
Landing on the heel first does not define a stride as being too long. Landing on the heel first can be an integral part of specific mechanics. A thrower may be using the heel first approach to set up hip opening into solid foot plant.
Landing flat footed is not an absolute to throwing at very high velocities at the pro level.
Landing on the heel first does not define a stride as being too long. Landing on the heel first can be an integral part of specific mechanics. A thrower may be using the heel first approach to set up hip opening into solid foot plant.
Landing flat footed is not an absolute to throwing at very high velocities at the pro level.
Do you teach landing on the heel?
quote:Do you teach landing on the heel?
No........but I don't disregard it in an established thrower.
I don't teach heel-to-toe either but attempt to unteach it before it is internalized to the point of no return in the pitcher's natural habitat on mound.
As far as disregard heel-to-toe; don't think we have a choice in some cases to at least acknowledge it even though we may not agree with flaw of established pitcher.
Just my opinion now and not trying to stir the bee hive
RHP I saw tonight didn't have that problem of heel to toe.
LOW, one of your guys did show up after we spoke
Shep
As far as disregard heel-to-toe; don't think we have a choice in some cases to at least acknowledge it even though we may not agree with flaw of established pitcher.
Just my opinion now and not trying to stir the bee hive
RHP I saw tonight didn't have that problem of heel to toe.
LOW, one of your guys did show up after we spoke
Shep
I'm not trying to speak for cap'n, but from first-hand experience I know that he is not saying he teaches pitchers to land on their heel - because he taught my son to stop landing on his heel. But everything cap'n taught my son has been custom fit to this particular pitcher, not based on a cookie cutter or set of absolutes. So I'm not surprised to read that he might recommend leaving this aspect of the mechanics alone if it was working for that specific pitcher who was already successful at a high level of competition. Just my interpretation of that quote.
Maddogmt32-
Throwing across the body is not a function of stride length, it’s a function of where your stride foot lands. Landing to the throwing arm side of the body requires throwing across the body.
As a general rule, if the stride length is suited for your over all mechanics, lengthening the stride will make opening the hips into foot plant more difficult.
bbscout-
I disagree with your response in reference to my post…you make an assumption that landing on the heel equates to landing hard on the heel which leads to injury.
You wrote this statement which is inaccurate for the highest level of pro baseball’s high velocity pitchers. Landing on the heel first does not define bad, undesirable or harmful mechanics, or, the stride being too long. It does not mean the pitcher is landing hard, or, crashing into foot plant on the heel either.
As for stride length, there’s not a thing wrong with starting out with 90% of your height.
As the pitchers mechanics evolve, experiment by changing the length to see how the overall mechanics are affected.
You must learn to be a thrower before you learn to be a pitcher. High velocity throwers have value to me.
quote:I am a RHP and am about 6'3". I have a rather short stride and tend to throw across my body. Are there some drills that could work on both of the things and what could making my stride longer do for me?
Throwing across the body is not a function of stride length, it’s a function of where your stride foot lands. Landing to the throwing arm side of the body requires throwing across the body.
As a general rule, if the stride length is suited for your over all mechanics, lengthening the stride will make opening the hips into foot plant more difficult.
bbscout-
I disagree with your response in reference to my post…you make an assumption that landing on the heel equates to landing hard on the heel which leads to injury.
You wrote this statement which is inaccurate for the highest level of pro baseball’s high velocity pitchers. Landing on the heel first does not define bad, undesirable or harmful mechanics, or, the stride being too long. It does not mean the pitcher is landing hard, or, crashing into foot plant on the heel either.
As for stride length, there’s not a thing wrong with starting out with 90% of your height.
As the pitchers mechanics evolve, experiment by changing the length to see how the overall mechanics are affected.
You must learn to be a thrower before you learn to be a pitcher. High velocity throwers have value to me.
I'm with BBS.
Many can throw, few can truly pitch.
Many can throw, few can truly pitch.
Semantics, all pitchers are throwers, but not all throwers become pitchers. As an example of why your statement is inaccurate about defining a stride length being too long, and the ill affects of landing on the heel first……
Occasionally semantics are important.
bbscout-
"skewer things"......hahahaha, you're too funny, and back to your old bait-n-switch tactics.
Landing on the heel is landing on the heel no matter how much you try to mask your satement.
I responded by saying this is not an absolute as you espouse, and by posting a 97mph clip that proves otherwise. Then you bring up N.y.m.a.n as a diversion....ROFLMAO
"skewer things"......hahahaha, you're too funny, and back to your old bait-n-switch tactics.
Landing on the heel is landing on the heel no matter how much you try to mask your satement.
I responded by saying this is not an absolute as you espouse, and by posting a 97mph clip that proves otherwise. Then you bring up N.y.m.a.n as a diversion....ROFLMAO
Maddogmn32-
I replied to your concern about throwing across your body, and answered you with my understanding of what could happen if you lengthened your stride. In response to bbscouts statements about landing on the heel first, I hope I made it clear in previous posts that I wouldn’t teach landing on the heel first….but conversely, landing on the heel first is neither a bad thing nor is it an indicator that your stride is too long. The 97mph video clip I posted is proof of that.
bbscout-
I’m glad you feel safe at this web site and the fact that I can’t ban you, although, I haven’t a clue why you would want to, or feel the need to, post that here…it’s inappropriate. As well, bring up N.y.m.a.n. is totally inappropriate and has nothing to do with this posters questions…..you are back to your old tactics. If you want to debate, then let’s stay on track and debate item for item.
My clip did not require a “rebuttal” clip from you. I’m well aware of the advantages of landing flat footed. I even stated that I wouldn’t teach that mechanic. My clip was posted to illustrate that even with a short stride and small flex, a relatively average sized pitcher can land on the heel first and throw with high velocity. Who’s to say he’ll last 10-20 years, it’s a **** shoot at that velocity day in and day out.
In the future, refrain from comparing me to anyone.
I replied to your concern about throwing across your body, and answered you with my understanding of what could happen if you lengthened your stride. In response to bbscouts statements about landing on the heel first, I hope I made it clear in previous posts that I wouldn’t teach landing on the heel first….but conversely, landing on the heel first is neither a bad thing nor is it an indicator that your stride is too long. The 97mph video clip I posted is proof of that.
bbscout-
I’m glad you feel safe at this web site and the fact that I can’t ban you, although, I haven’t a clue why you would want to, or feel the need to, post that here…it’s inappropriate. As well, bring up N.y.m.a.n. is totally inappropriate and has nothing to do with this posters questions…..you are back to your old tactics. If you want to debate, then let’s stay on track and debate item for item.
My clip did not require a “rebuttal” clip from you. I’m well aware of the advantages of landing flat footed. I even stated that I wouldn’t teach that mechanic. My clip was posted to illustrate that even with a short stride and small flex, a relatively average sized pitcher can land on the heel first and throw with high velocity. Who’s to say he’ll last 10-20 years, it’s a **** shoot at that velocity day in and day out.
How you land plays a major role in velocity. There are many different ways to enter into and then land the foot to solid foot plant. The mechanics leading up to and into solid foot plant landing define the load and unload sequences of the body. The load and unload sequences used in those mechanics are defined by how well the pelvis can be controlled. So, “how you land has nothing to do with velocity” is IMO, a very inaccurate and misleading statement.quote:how you land has nothing to do with velocity
In the future, refrain from comparing me to anyone.
bbscout,
While I don't post much I have been a long time moderator on the Florida Forum and I would consider editing your responses to cap_n. Your attempt to discredit him by trying to associate him with N.Y.M.A.N is inappropierate, a low blow to say the least.
You have been a valuable contributor for a long time and I personally enjoy your insight into the scouting process but don't stoop to low blow tactics for the sake of argument. As the father of a college pitcher I would welcome a "healthy" debate by you with cap_n.
While I don't post much I have been a long time moderator on the Florida Forum and I would consider editing your responses to cap_n. Your attempt to discredit him by trying to associate him with N.Y.M.A.N is inappropierate, a low blow to say the least.
You have been a valuable contributor for a long time and I personally enjoy your insight into the scouting process but don't stoop to low blow tactics for the sake of argument. As the father of a college pitcher I would welcome a "healthy" debate by you with cap_n.
quote:Originally posted by FLADAD:
bbscout,
While I don't post much I have been a long time moderator on the Florida Forum and I would consider editing your responses to cap_n. Your attempt to discredit him by trying to associate him with N.Y.M.A.N is inappropierate, a low blow to say the least.
You have been a valuable contributor for a long time and I personally enjoy your insight into the scouting process but don't stoop to low blow tactics for the sake of argument. As the father of a college pitcher I would welcome a "healthy" debate by you with cap_n. experiencewith points of merit.
My goodness..we are getting thin skinned around here. This wouldn't even merit a blink over in the hitting forum
I'm enjoying the spirited debate. It's kind of like the difference between style and technique. We should all learn to disregard style and look at the technique. (of debate in this case).That's absolutely correct....but it's a direct address to your statementquote:Your clip shows a young guy (Peavy) throwing hard, which had nothing to do with my answer to Maddogmt32's,
quote:........If you are landing on your heel, your are going too far.
BTW....that's not Peavy.
quote:My goodness..we are getting thin skinned around here.
More like no skin around here> everybody seems to be striking direct synapsis nerves to brain latley.
BB you have educated me sir on that clip of Maddox. He is definitely "not" toe-to-heel.
Gotta go really now. Will talk later brothers.
Shep
What the heck? 
bbscout,
I have always appreciated and respected your input, but I cannot figure out why you started getting personal against Cap'n with the ny-man reference in this thread. I have not met very many of the members of this site personally yet, but I have known Cap'n for several years, have been to his home, met his family, and can tell you he is the kindest, nicest, most generous man I have met through any baseball activities in my life. I sincerely don't know why you would want to become his opponent.
Julie
bbscout,
I have always appreciated and respected your input, but I cannot figure out why you started getting personal against Cap'n with the ny-man reference in this thread. I have not met very many of the members of this site personally yet, but I have known Cap'n for several years, have been to his home, met his family, and can tell you he is the kindest, nicest, most generous man I have met through any baseball activities in my life. I sincerely don't know why you would want to become his opponent.
Julie
That's correct, it's Meche. But I thought his injuries were to his shoulder and right knee.
bbscout/cap_n,
You guys need to kiss and make up!
You're both very well respected (as well you should be) by most everyone here.
Seems like this has turned into debate about landing on the heel.
IMO The clip "cap_n" posted is not a drastic example (IMO) of “jamming” the heel first.
One of the very first things I notice in any pitcher is his landing. One note that is never missed is if he lands on his heel. Because of potential injury and possible control problems in the future.
Certain players have gotten by doing things differently than the “establishment” standards. Being a proud member of the “establishment” this sometimes bothers me. However, having a fairly open mind it must be realized… Some have become very successful doing things the “wrong” way.
My take is that no one would ever “teach” landing on the heel, but there are pitchers who land on their heel.
The question is should “ALL” of those who land on their heel be changed? Despite the pitcher having success landing on the heel, I think that adjustment should at least be attempted. If it don’t work… Go back to landing on the heel! Bottom line… It has to work!
Major disadvantage of landing on heel being… It’s a jarring action!… That can’t possibly be good for the arm and makes controlling the ball harder.
Then again, what the hell do I know? I’ll answer that!... Not nearly as much as I want to!
That’s why I read all these posts by both bbscout and cap_n and others.
As Shep would say it… You guys are great!
You guys need to kiss and make up!
You're both very well respected (as well you should be) by most everyone here.
Seems like this has turned into debate about landing on the heel.
IMO The clip "cap_n" posted is not a drastic example (IMO) of “jamming” the heel first.
One of the very first things I notice in any pitcher is his landing. One note that is never missed is if he lands on his heel. Because of potential injury and possible control problems in the future.
Certain players have gotten by doing things differently than the “establishment” standards. Being a proud member of the “establishment” this sometimes bothers me. However, having a fairly open mind it must be realized… Some have become very successful doing things the “wrong” way.
My take is that no one would ever “teach” landing on the heel, but there are pitchers who land on their heel.
The question is should “ALL” of those who land on their heel be changed? Despite the pitcher having success landing on the heel, I think that adjustment should at least be attempted. If it don’t work… Go back to landing on the heel! Bottom line… It has to work!
Major disadvantage of landing on heel being… It’s a jarring action!… That can’t possibly be good for the arm and makes controlling the ball harder.
Then again, what the hell do I know? I’ll answer that!... Not nearly as much as I want to!
That’s why I read all these posts by both bbscout and cap_n and others.
As Shep would say it… You guys are great!
PGStaff-
Great way to close out this thread, I appreciate you stepping forward.
Great way to close out this thread, I appreciate you stepping forward.
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
bbscout/cap_n,
You guys need to kiss and make up!
As Shep would say it… You guys are great!
I'm not trying to stir the pot but .. I've been checking in here for 7 years but I must have missed a day! What did Nyma* do that has comparing someone to him the equal to being called a horse thief?
Not to ostrasize (sp?) myself but I find the guy (Nyma*) interesting. Some others I find interesting... BBS, PG , SB, Linear (et al), Coachb25, and I'm adding Cap'n. (not a complete list of course). If I wanted to hear only what I agreed with I'd only listen to my wife.
Please keep it coming...a few hurt feelings now and then are worth it (especially when they are someone else's
)Seriously though, someone PM me with the low-down on N****.
quote:I agreed with I'd only listen to my wife.
Now that wouldn't be a bad idea.
IF you were on Deal or No Deal you might could sell that case to the banker
You guys need to kiss and make up!
...........why, you want this place to get boring?!?
...........why, you want this place to get boring?!?
I'm against bbscout & cap_n kissing and making up. Unless of course they do it behind closed doors. 
Jason
Jason
What happened to BBS as all of his posts are gone including all those great clips that he had posted?
He is also gone from the Bobblehead Thrower thread as well. Not a trace.
This is very sad news.
Certainly hope BBS didn't pack his bags and leave. He is one of a handful of posters this site can ill-afford to lose in my book. 
