Dear Pitcher,
To get your hips to drive your throwing arm, you need to focus on using your glove hand to generate power, rather than relying on your legs alone. This is key for both increasing velocity and reducing the stress on your arm.
Here are the critical steps you learn to make your lower body lead the way:
- Load and Push: You start by "loading" your hips and back leg. As you begin your motion, you should feel a slight bend and tension in your back leg, similar to a squat. This is your power source. Your glove hand is not just a step; it's a powerful explosion that starts your forward momentum.
- Rotate the Hips: As you move forward, the first part of your body to rotate is your hips. Think of your hips as the engine and your arm as the whip. The hips turn and open toward the target, creating torque. This rotational force is what transfers power up your kinetic chain, through your core and shoulders, and finally to your arm.
- Plant and Stabilize: Your front foot plants on the ground and becomes the anchor. It stops your forward momentum, allowing all the energy to transfer into a powerful conclusion to your pitch. Without a firm front-foot landing, you'll "leak" energy and lose velocity.
By focusing on these steps, you'll shift the burden of power generation from your back leg and arm to your glove arm. This not only makes you a more powerful thrower but also helps prevent injuries by taking the strain off your arm and elbow.
Coach Skip Fast
contact@propitchinginstitute.com
"Get Your Lower Body Involved"
