Howard -
Would you provide a description of the proper throwing technique (form)? I've always thought you do a great job of providing a step by step description of the batter's swing, but I've never seen you do the same for throwing.
When I first work with a hitter if I see no evidence of a weight shift and flexed front leg I ask them to throw and what we see is the back foot does not release from the ground as their front leg is not flexed allowing the weight to shift forward. I have never seen a girl look ugly in her swing and throw correctly.....I have had boys however that have an ugly swing and are pitchers and throw well however never with a girl.
We relate to throwing in our hitting analogy to they can feel the momentum building as they throw or hit (our floor is marked for the pattern to follow so they can see how much further they are moving forward by flexing the knee and driving off the back leg)....the hand going back to throw and the hands separating slightly to hit. Usually they comment something feels different in their hip or legs and they feel stronger! They most likely used their legs for the first time. When ask if their arm hurt anymore they say no! Using a radar gun we have seen typical increases of 5 to 8 MPH minimum when they flex the knee and release verses not coming through.
Have them get into their position to get ready to release the ball i.e. they have stepped and are bringing the arm over and hold just the index and social finger and gently pull them forward and
IF the knee is flexed you will feel little resistance and if the knee is stiff you will pull the fingers out of their hand (
just kidding) however they will feel a tug and feel the difference. Getting the girls to feel the difference is huge in their learning anything new.
Watch the girls during warm ups and it looks like the back foot is nailed to the ground and typically you will see the boys release a little if not completely.
The above has been in the throwing section for a while....the main issue we see is the female does not fire the knees like the male and it is in the glutes. When a male jumps up the glutes fire the knees and the knees bend slightly and this does not happen automatically in the female however it can be taught. If you have a son and a daughter which one makes the most noise coming down the stairs? You do not need video for that. Have a girl bend at the waist and soften the knees next and ask her to land on the balls of her feet and she will not land as hard or as loud. It is termed sequential core loading and without getting too scientific, the girls spine is mounted almost horizontal and the male is tilted forward and it is due to pregnancy so the girl can adjust for the 15 to 35 pounds extra.
Dan this does not pertain to your beer gut as you will just have to live with it and the back pain!
Think of Chipper Jones hitting and standing taller in the box and then think of Manny and Manny sets up like a girl and sits lower like a girl and that is his style. We tell our girls no butt sticking out no balance and can prove it.
The huge thing we teach the girls is a basic karate move....when we punch in karate we punch so the shoulder does not come forward and the energy is from the thrust of the turning fist and the tucking in or pulling back when we punch with the other hand. We have the hitter stand at an angle with me and we lock finger tips and as I begin to throw keeping my elbow above my shoulder height I pull using my glove hand so the back of my hand is visible to me and take my elbow rearward tucking the glove under my shoulder and allowing the elbow to clear my body completely and pull the hitter towards me. Then I have them do it to me and say tuck me in and pull me in and through and they will feel the throwing arm shoulder have more force and power. What we usually see when the girls throw is they will allow the glove to just rest against the chest area and never move rearward or clear the body. The biggest issue is the back leg never releases from the ground as the front leg never bends and stays stiff not allowing for a weight transfer to happen. When they land on the ball of their foot the transfer happens almost automatically. For the hard sell cases we have them get into a boys pitching position with the legs separated and as they move the front leg towards the back leg, they bring the hands together chest high or what we term as the gathered position I then stand in front of them and ask them to raise their leg and then I put my arm under their knee and stabilize them by pointing their toe down and sitting on their back foot leg a little. Be careful as they may start to loose their balance and if so have them grab your shoulder. Get them to feel balanced and hold their position then back away and tell them to drive off the back leg and forward and throw the ball....usually this will get them to release and transfer the weight forward and most for the first time. When I ask the fathers to show me how they throw in most cases they only allow the back leg to slightly come forward and when we point it out they come farther forward....yes even they forget.
There is another drill were we lay on the back in the throwing section also and when we tape the ball so we can see the spin of the ball when someone throws the ball to us.
Hope this helps Howard
