This is an excellent explanation of how stride length and glove-hand action influence shoulder alignment, ultimately affecting pitching accuracy.
Stride Length and Shoulder Alignment
Optimal stride length: Allows the shoulders to be aligned at foot strike, creating a direct line toward the target for efficient energy transfer.
Too long a stride: Leads to an “open” shoulder position (front shoulder pulled away from the target), often due to the body over-rotating to compensate for the excessive forward momentum.
Too short a stride: Leads to a “closed” shoulder position (front shoulder still pointing towards the catcher), often because the lower body hasn’t fully engaged and rotated.
Proprioception’s Role
Proprioception, the pitcher’s sense of their body’s position and movement, is crucial for developing and maintaining the correct stride length. Through practice and feedback, the pitcher learns the “feel” of a stride that allows for optimal shoulder alignment, their weight is distributed correctly, and their body is in a balanced position to rotate effectively.
Misaligned shoulders at foot strike disrupt the kinetic chain. The energy generated by the lower body cannot be efficiently transferred through a misaligned torso, leading to decreased power and inaccurate throws as the arm tries to compensate.
Pitch Smart
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Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Beyond Arm Strength: Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
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