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Tips from Play Ball! Minnesota


GetGreat.com

 "Hitting Mechanics and Philosophies"





PITCHING -- WHAT REALLY MATTERS AND WHAT TO TRACK
 
 
 
  • Absolutes of Pitching Mechanics -- based on books by Tom House, Ph.D., Former MLB Pitcher & Coach 
    • Dynamic Balance -- "Nose over Toes". Keep the head over the center of gravity and centered between feet through whole motion. Avoid leaning backward with head. Head moves forward and down as center of gravity moves toward target.
    • Postural Stabilization -- "TV Face". Keep the eyes and shoulders level with the ground through whole motion, the same way your face would be if you were watching TV while sitting upright. Avoid head and torso tilting to one side. Keep eyes fixed on target after release.
    • Elbow Alignment -- "Coat Hanger Man". Keep an equal amount of space in the angles of ball-side and glove-side shoulders (armpits) and elbows through throwing motion. Avoid droopy glove-side arm. Air-out the pits!
    • Late Torso Rotation -- "Hips before Shoulders". At foot strike, square hips to home plate while keeping shoulders closed. Belt buckle should face catcher while base coach can still read jersey. Straight line from home plate through shoulders to second base, while hips are aligned with first and third base. Avoid opening upper body until head movement toward target.
    • Blocking the Glove -- "Firm Front Side". Keep the glove stationary and inside the width of the body through release. Move the body to the glove. Avoid allowing glove to fall off to side or to end up behind body. Glove should stay out in front of torso from hand separation through release for greater accuracy and body efficiency, and stay near and dear to the chest after release for fielding purposes.
  •  DIPS (Defense Independent Pitching Stats) -- Walks, Strikeouts, Home Runs, Hit Batsmen, Intentional Walks