Dear Pitcher,
To get your lower body to drive your entire motion, you need to focus on using your legs and hips to generate power, rather than relying on your arm 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: 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. The push off the rubber is not just a step; it's a powerful explosion that starts your forward momentum.
- Lead with 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 you've built up to transfer into a powerful rotation. Without a firm front-foot landing, you'll "leak" energy and lose velocity, and the foot lands just slightly open toward the target.
By focusing on these steps, you'll shift the burden of power generation from your arm to your much stronger legs and hips. 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
https://propitchinginstitute.com
