Towel Drills?

A towel drill is not a replacement for throwing bullpens. They are used to help solidify mechanics. My son has had instructors use them in the past, usually for a short period of time to stress getting to a particular release point.

The father must be a very smart man and in the wrong business because a lot of well respected pitching coaches use them in their day to day work with pitchers.

The towel drill is just another tool in the coach's toolkit. Nothing magical about it but nothing detrimental either. With an informed coach, the drill can help you understand the consequences of various mechanical flaws.

I find the drill also useful in that it isolates a pitcher's focus to the mechanics being worked on. No focus is placed on where the ball goes because a ball isn't being thrown.

Just do your due homework on it.

It put a lot of stress on my sons shoulders when doing it over the winter when he was in HS. Could be attributed to his growth plates were also still closing...growing..etc...

Good luck.

Shipbuilder,

I know there are coaches that don't like the towel drill for whatever reason, but the drill has been around for quite some time.

Last spring my son was struggling on the mound. He was short arming his pitches and did not have much velocity either. He was pushing the ball rather than staying on top of it...

He began working with a respected pitching coach here in Arizona who was almost at his wits end trying to figure out how to break him of his short arming habit. He tried many different drills without success...he was still short arming the ball.

Finally, he went into his truck and pulled out a towel. He showed him the drill and as Sam did it over and over you could begin to see him get the idea of what the proper arm slot was for him. We used that towel drill many times before game and during practice to reinforce staying on top of the ball. This drill seemed to work for him.

Before 'discovering' the towel drill to establish proper (and I may add healthy) arm path Sam was maybe in the neighborhood of 65-70 mph on his pitches. Now, going on 7 to 8 months later, he is throwing much, much harder and much more accurately.

I'm not saying the towel drill is what did it, but I really believe it is what got him on the way to a better and healthier arm throwing technique where his natural ability and work could grow. Also we did focus a lot on his overall mechanics so in combination with the drill it has been a success. I would caution that as in any drill he warmup correctly and not jump into the drill full barrel to avoid either arm, shoulder or leg strains.

By the way, since Sam has improved so dramatically it has become increasingly dangerous to catch for him. I started wearing a catcher's mask, but after getting hit in the leg and foot numerous times because his pitches have increased in velocity as well in movement, I started putting on all the gear. I look kind of silly, but it's better than getting plinked at 80+ mph and rolling around on the ground trying to catch my breath while watching the knot grow on my knee...

I like the towel drill (for myself and as an instructor).

In my personal experience, it has helped me get extended more. I have a very short stride and have a hard time getting fully extended to a good release point. I like to use the towel drill as a repetitive tool to build muscle memory of a little bit bigger stride and really getting extended with my arm. I like to do 3x6 (in steps), 3x6 (together) 5 times a week when I feel like I'm too short with everything. What I mean by "in steps" is I like to start the towel drill from the power position, explode with the hips, and then smack the glove with the towel. By "together" I mean from the stretch just as I were pitching in a bullpen, fluid and all the way through the motion.

What's been around the longest is:

- Learning to pitch with a baseball
- Practice pitching with a baseball

I'm not nuts about the towel drill but I think in some specific situations the towel drill can be useful. I don't like seeing it done at full speed as that does stress the arm a bit.

John, do you think that the towel drill helps to manintain your perceived velocity at the plate? Does this aspect of it enter into your thought process at any time?

Coach O,

Don't know if you were talking to me or not, but to answer your question, I don't think that the towel drill has a direct relationship to velocity perceived or real.

It most certainly can help or harm your velocity depending on how you are performing the drill over an extended period of time, but I don't think that if you do the towel drill you will see velocity gains or on the other hand if you don't, you may lose some real or perceived velocity.

I just like them because they help me finish out in front with good extention. This may be a better question to ask someone (a hitter) who has faced a pitcher both when he is not practicing the towel drill and then when he is practicing the towel drill. Not sure if you'll be able to find that though.

I guess the short answer to your questions would be No and No.

However finishing out in front may be a factor in perceived velocity. Coach, now you've got me thinking!

ygpbb321,(John*, glad you guessed right. The question was directed to you. The reason I asked is I have always learned is that the pitching motion is linear with a rotational twist to it.

You described your own delivery as being a short stride, and that the towel drill helps you finish out in front with good extension. This description is what made me ask if you ever considered what I had asked previously.In more recent years I have been made aware that for every foot moved closer to the plate the perceived velocity increases by 3 mph.

I had wondered if your instruction included that information. I'm not trying to disect anyone so don't think that might be what is happeneing here. I am always looking for ways to improve my own abilities. I find your input of great value. Thanks for responding.

CoachO,

Sounds like you share the same definition of "perceived velocity" as Tom House and the NPA, Perry Husband, etc. Based on that definition (which takes into account distance from release point to target), the towel drill will serve as a vehicle to improve perceived velocity in as much as you use it to improve those mechanical elements that lead to a release point that is further out front.

Videos of the towel drill that I contributed to the original towel drill question by shipbuilder2 in the Northeast forum:

High Speed w/Towel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d16fg1JsUA

Comparison High Speed w/Ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32SFWCVu9k8

In certain instances I can see where this drill may have some merit (not many IMO).

But it seems to me that the player throwing the baseball in this video lacks a lot of the whip action the arm needs to throw in an efficient manner.

If this is the result of the towel drill being used in this instance (and in this manner)...I think I'll pass

It also looks to me that the ball would end up about 20' in front of him if he threw like this in a game situation.

This pitcher is the career wins leader at the University of Rhode Island and won a championship in the Cape league. He wasn't a hard thrower.

The various drills were filmed to show variation. Most would be done in a flat-ground setting at a distance much less than 60'6".

Well...then what is is the goal of this drill then? What good is ANY drill if it does not enable you to throw better (with more mechanical efficiency which leads to better game performance)?

Isn't that what the main goal of any throwing drill should be (also one that has a good "carry over" into a game situation)?

To me it is.

If this drill (being performed in the video in this manner) has the results I mentioned in the prior post...I don't see why you would want to do it like that.

So I guess it depends on what your goals are...

I posted some comments and touched upon the goal issue over in the Northeast forum.

I don't get this debate. All the MiLB and MLB pitchers that I have known, use the towel drill. Chris Carpenter to name just one uses it. David Davidson uses it and hundreds of others that I have personally watched .
It is a drill that helps keep your mechanics together. If that translates into better velocity then it helps. Its goal is to optimize efficient mechanics. It won't put hair on your chest.
I prefer doing the drill with another player to stretch your stride out as opposed to the fence.

quote:

Originally posted by Roger Tomas:
I posted some comments and touched upon the goal issue over in the Northeast forum.

Thanks for the reply Roger. That is probably the best explanation I've read about this drill.

quote:

Originally posted by RobV:

quote:

Originally posted by Roger Tomas:
I posted some comments and touched upon the goal issue over in the Northeast forum.

Thanks for the reply Roger. That is probably the best explanation I've read about this drill.

Agreed!

Different drills help different people in different ways. IMO, the most important part of a drill is what's going inside the players head anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by CoachO:
ygpbb321,(John*, glad you guessed right. The question was directed to you.

In more recent years I have been made aware that for every foot moved closer to the plate the perceived velocity increases by 3 mph.

I had wondered if your instruction included that information. I'm not trying to disect anyone so don't think that might be what is happeneing here. I am always looking for ways to improve my own abilities. I find your input of great value. Thanks for responding.

To tell you the truth, the more I learn about baseball instruction and teaching others, the more I think baseball is waaaaaaaaaaaayyy too over disected/analyzed.

There is no way to prove perceived velocity per foot, nor do I think it matters that much that pitchers should try to increase perceived velocity. The basics of pitching are disrupting timing and balance. I believe to become a good pitcher you need to focus on finding a set of mechanics that is comfortable to you, you are able to repeat, have success with, and keeps you free from injury. From there it is all about HARD WORK and developing pitches that fit into these mechanics that can disrupt batter's timing and balance.(IMO)

With that being said, everyone is different and will require different things to get them through the inning, game, season, career. For me, the towel drill helped (in my mind) to get better extention out front. To others it may be helping with perceived velocity (in their head). Whatever it may be to make them believe that they are improving because of it. My job as an instructor is describing what worked for me and translating into what may work for them. Most of the time, they will decide what fixes their problems themselves without me having to make something up, which I think a lot of parents and coaches do (unfortunately). Because they have made the decision themselves, they will have conviction in what they do as a pitcher.

To answer your question directly. No, I do not include information about perceived velocity per foot. I explain to the kids how to do the towel drill, how it has helped me, and other ways it may help them. Not that I don't believe in perceived velocity, I just don't believe in working on creating perceived velocity. I guess you can say it is very low on my priority list as you can see from this post http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...91034941/m/640105962 I put it as a 7 out of 8 and that would be natural perceived velocity. I wouldn't consider working on gaining PV.

But now if a player asks me about PV I will be a little more ready to answer (and put him on the towel drill) Thanks Coach O.

ygpbb321, nice response. I share a lot of your philosophy. I just don't believe that the game is over disected/analyzed especially from a coaching perspective. There is always something new or a different approach that may be more effective to be learned IMO.

I appreciate your stance and respect your approach. All the best in your current endeavor.

quote:

There is no way to prove perceived velocity per foot, nor do I think it matters that much that pitchers should try to increase perceived velocity. The basics of pitching are disrupting timing and balance.

Maybe no way to 'prove it' per foot, but PERCEIVED velocity down a common pitch-path is a major part of disrupting timing and balance. Some of the best money I've spent on instructional material for pitching is Perry Husband's guide, Downright Filthy Pitching.
Check it out

Unfortunately extension is quite misunderstood. Take a look at the "extension" Tim Lincecum gets. He has an extremely early release. Why? He gets out over his front knee very well and tilts his trunk forward. This helps him get velocity. However, since he is tilted forward he has to release early or he'd throw the ball into the ground halfway to the plate. So Lincecum doesn't get good extension the way most people define it. He does get good "extension" in the way that really matters though.

Does this invalidate the towel drill? Not really. One way to hit the target with the towel is to get the forward tilt and you don't release towel so it can help you get forward tilt during the towel drill. I have no idea if that helps get forward tilt when pitching or not.

I agree with you Krak on Perry Husband. His Filthy book 3 is a must read IMO for any pitcher.

I think it is quite a different matter between "perceived velocity" and using different sequence of pitches to disrupt a batters timing.

Two different things all together.

One is a theory..the other is just...well...pitching.

I HATE towel drills. They hurt my elbow and shoulder and I've stopped doing them altogether.

The towel drill is a timing drill. It doesn't increase velocity. 3D motion analysis can prove this as well. It does help you. As a matter a fact timing plus balance plus the kinematic chain sequence is what is necessary to throw your best.

Coach O or anyone else who has an idea,

I recently have two different kids that are throwing the baseball from their ear. They get good extention in the back (they don't go directly to the ear) but the first movement after that is to the ear, and then away from the body to throw.

I was thinking of making them hold a towel and getting them to touch the screen or fence behind them, then hit a string hanging from the ceiling, and then hitting the bucket or glove out in front. This way they would skip that middle step of bringing the ball to their ear.

The string hanging would be around head level (depending on their arm slot) and just in front of the head. Obviously it would be away from the head and body too (to make them get their arm out there)

Any opinions on this? Any other ideas? Thanks guys!

Here are my questions. Are they effective now? Have they had any arm issues that have led you to want to change their motion? I ask this because if that is what comes natural to them, it may be worse for them to try to fit into a mold that is more unnatural to them.

I will bring up Tommy Hanson with the Braves. He throws a lot like what you are describing and he is pretty effective. Saw an interview with him last night on MLB network and he said that no one ever tried to change his mechanics.

I would say that if these guys are effective and are not having arm issues, leave it alone. Tweak things within their natural deliveries, but work within the framework of what you have.

Others may have a different opinion, but that is what I would lean towards.

went to a clinic this weekend. fred corral was there from university of memphis. hes one of the top pitching coaches in the country. he really puts an emphasis on how dangerous for you towel drills are.

ygpbb321

Started a new thread to answer your question about "grabbing".