Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Screaming(grunting) pitchers

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when my dd pitched.... she would throw and I would scream from the bucket

 

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My dd grunts here and there, but definitely isn't loud enough to be a distraction. I have seen pitchers who only grunt when throwing a change up. Talk about a dead give away.

 

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There is some science behind the grunting (exhaling) during explosion. I am a certified USA Track & Field coach and this was discussed during my coaches' training, because it also very common during field events like the shot put. There was a researcher at my training clinic from USA Track & Field who had mounds of research on the topic.

Also, related to an earlier comment, I believe there is an assistant track coach at Notre Dame College (not the University where Touchdown Jesus lives) who is one of the top sports/performance science guys around.

 

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when my dd pitched.... She would throw and i would scream from the bucket

lol

 

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I asked my oldest daughter to grunt when she was playing 14U ball. We found that her pitching speed increased as she began exhaling while pitching. However, her grunting was quiet.

My youngest daughter also grunts quietly when she pitches--sometimes. She has a habit of holding her breath when she pitches, and grunting has helped her to remember to exhale. You would not be able to determine what pitch she is throwing though because she doesn't always grunt, and when she does, sometimes it is a little louder and sometimes not--does not matter what the pitch is.

I also remember a discussion recently where it was stated that a pitcher that relaxes when she pitches is able to pitch faster than one who is tense. I am thinking that exhaling/grunting (not screaming) would help with relaxing during the pitching motion.

 

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I asked my oldest daughter to grunt when she was playing 14U ball. We found that her pitching speed increased as she began exhaling while pitching. However, her grunting was quiet.

My youngest daughter also grunts quietly when she pitches--sometimes. She has a habit of holding her breath when she pitches, and grunting has helped her to remember to exhale. You would not be able to determine what pitch she is throwing though because she doesn't always grunt, and when she does, sometimes it is a little louder and sometimes not--does not matter what the pitch is.

I also remember a discussion recently where it was stated that a pitcher that relaxes when she pitches is able to pitch faster than one who is tense. I am thinking that exhaling/grunting (not screaming) would help with relaxing during the pitching motion.

Excellent post.

It's difficult for younger kids to understand how to be relaxed, but at the same time have explosive intensity. That's part of becoming an effective pitcher, along with hitting spots, learning spins, reading batters - a LOT of stuff!! IMO, that's why many kids give up pitching after a while.

As young pitchers mature, they begin to understand how to put more energy into their pitching without "muscling it", or tensing up. Tense muscles are slow muscles - hence the "inhale - exhale" that is taught to most pitchers just after bringing the hands together.

A young girl mindlessly yelling while pitching is probably missing the point, and just hasn't grasped the principle of controlled breathing - or forceful exhaling.

 

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i grunt before every swig of a corona at the hotels

 

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i grunt before every swig of a corona at the hotels

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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covers up flatulance..

 

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About only grunting on change-ups: throwing a change-up actually takes much more energy than throwing other pitches. At least the style I throw does...that's really the only pitch I ever make a sound on...just occasionally a meh...no grunt. Or if I'm trying to put extra effort into a pitch.
I don't understand grunting/yelling every pitch though...I feel like there's a big difference between exhaling with the pitch and grunting. You can tell by listening to a girl if she's doing it to be distracting/annoying or if it's just a natural part of her pitch. I can see how trying to not make a sound can hurt a pitch, but I can't see how grunting on purpose can be beneficial. The way I feel...if you happen to naturally grunt when you expend that energy to throw a pitch, then so be it, but if you don't, then don't! :S
This discussion is interesting. I've never been told to think about my breathing or exhale when I pitch, so I'll think about that the next time I throw!

On a slightly less related note: CoachTom: Touchdown Jesus burned down last week!!!

 

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I have no problem with a normal,consistent grunt but when the pitcher screams at deafening levels during different parts of her delivery this is clearly an attempt to be a distraction. Under NFHS rules it can be considered an obstruction or unsportsmanlike conduct but it falls under umpire discretion. Any umpire opinions on this?

 

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In martial arts it is called a ki-hap<sp?> or at least that is what it is called in Tae-kwan-do. My DD's were taught to rapidly exhale when expending energy (punching, kicking, etc) for more power. I try to get the DD pitcher to do it when she pitches but she says she won't because it sounds silly on the field....

From the net... The noise from a kiai is said to arise from the hara or dantien: it involves the abdominal muscles and diaphragm and should not be sounded merely from the throat.[2]
As well as the above, the kiai can be used to:

• prime oneself for combat, by "amping up."
• protect the upper body from a strike by providing an escape route for exhaled air.
• protect the lower body by rapidly contracting the transverse abdominals and other core muscles, shielding the internal organs.
• provide solid abdominal support for striking techniques.
• startle and demoralize actual or potential adversaries ? especially at close quarters, or if previously unobserved.

[FONT=&quot]The proper use of kiaijutsu involves concentrating on the use of one's ki more than it does shouting. A sound is just an audible indication of good kiai (aligned body structure, focused intent, and good breathing). Kiai can be a silent;[1] coordination of breath with activity. A relaxed and powerful exhalation can add power to movement. [/FONT]

 

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:lmao:

 

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From the net... The noise from a kiai is said to arise from the hara or dantien: it involves the abdominal muscles and diaphragm and should not be sounded merely from the throat.[2]
As well as the above, the kiai can be used to:

• prime oneself for combat, by "amping up."
• protect the upper body from a strike by providing an escape route for exhaled air.
• protect the lower body by rapidly contracting the transverse abdominals and other core muscles, shielding the internal organs.
• provide solid abdominal support for striking techniques.
• startle and demoralize actual or potential adversaries ? especially at close quarters, or if previously unobserved.

[FONT=&quot]The proper use of kiaijutsu involves concentrating on the use of one's ki more than it does shouting. A sound is just an audible indication of good kiai (aligned body structure, focused intent, and good breathing). Kiai can be a silent;[1] coordination of breath with activity. A relaxed and powerful exhalation can add power to movement. [/FONT]

Kat must be the queen of this breathing because she ninja's me everytime I write something!! :yahoo: :lmao: :yahoo:

 

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my dd also goes to John Behling, not for pitching but hitting. He has also said he wants to hear the grunt when she hits because there is power in there. I do notice a difference in her power when she does or does not grunt.

 

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When you grunt you breathe out and I believe its almost impossibe to have a tense muscle while grunting. Thats why I try and have my dd do it when she throws or swings a bat.

 

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I have seen it more and it is ridiculous. I really have no idea what they hope to achieve by doing it. None of the ones I have seen are doing it from sheer exertion either. If anything it I think it strengthens the hitters resolve to hit. And always annoys EVERYONE that has to sit there and watch the game. Using it as a timing mechanism is very unwise and I dont believe any hitter truly would do so. If you look for things like that to time off of you should probably consider taking some lessons because you need it. I think that is just talk. I think a good idea would be for these pitchers to be recorded so they can see how silly they look.

 

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No offense irish, but it looks like you don't believe one of the posters here about the increased performance attributed to the grunt or exhale. I will put it this way, My dd is a 10U pitcher, and I have spent 3 years on the bucket. This year we changed pitching coaches, and our coach told her she would have more velocity if she grunted rather than holding her air in. She (the coach) surely knows more about pitching than my daughter or I, so my daughter grunts. I am on the coaching staff for her team and I have yet to hear an inapropriately timed grunt, but they are young girls. I highly doubt that they are doing this all on their own. They grunt because it's natural or someone told them to do it.

On a side note. I do notice a difference in velocity when she does or does not.

 

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I mean, really? Just what's with these noisy pitchers? It's getting so you can't even focus on your newspaper! And all these catchers yelling things to the other infielders is irritating too - I almost dropped my walking taco the other day after getting startled by a yelling catcher! The next thing you know is the WHOLE team will be making a ruckus in the dugout! Can't these kids just be quiet and play the game without disturbing everyone else??

 

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I guess I would prefer the discussed explosion of air over the alternative.