Bottom up Approach to Mechanics

1. Bottom up Approach to Mechanics Quincy University Baseball 2014

2. Define Mechanics:

3. Keys to Success • Balance • Stability • Direction • Drive Line • Coordination • Synchronized Movements

4. Knee Lift • First movement from the stretch position. • Knee Lift through the COG (Center of Gravity) • Direction to dominate shoulder. • Foot stays beneath the knee.

6. Linear Shift • First movement – Knee inside dominant toe • Hip Tilt creates Linear Momentum • Lead with non-dominant butt cheek • Slight bend in back knee • Push from dominant toe

7. Linear Shift

8. Front Foot Contact • Closed front foot. Lead with side of foot. • Toe touch first contact, keeps fluidity. • Hips in line with target. • Shoulders, Hips, Knee Caps and Toes in the original direction at toe touch.

9. Front Foot Contact

10. Stride Length • After your knee is lifted to your chest, you will start to stride forward. The proper technique (for a right-handed pitcher) is with the side of your front foot facing the target and the toe pointing at 3rd base. This will enable you to keep your hips closed throughout the "expansion" of the lower body off the mound and to the target. A lefthander should stride with his tow pointing at 1st base. • It's also important to stride out with the front foot low to the ground. This keeps a pitcher's shoulders relatively level. • The pitcher should stride toward the plate leading the way with the side of his front foot -- NOT his toe, which opens the hips too early. • In general, your stride length should be at least 80 to 90 percent of your height. (It'll be shorter off of flat ground.) Some pitchers may find it beneficial to stride longer, up to 100% of their height.

11. Stride Length

12. Flex – T, Toe touch • Once toe touch occurs, the throwing arm should be at vertical. • Roger Clemens – Slide 45

13. Flex T • Flex – T position • Elbow angle equal, through out movement • Roger Clemens – Slide 38-44

14. Late Rotation • At foot contact, UB at 50% of Stride Line. • At 75% Late Rotation occurs. • Roger Clemens – Slide 44-47

15. Hip Velocity • The dominate hip must move prior to the dominate elbow. • If the elbow moves first, we loose the translation of power from the lower half. • Roger Clemens – Slides 45-48

19. Hands • Hands start just above COG • Initial break, thumbs down and out. • Break occurs at belt (COG). • Roger Clemens – Slide 30-34

21. Eyes Level • Eyes level to the Horizon. • Toe to Toe keeps the head stable.

22. Late to Release • Transition from Flex – T, to Release • Chest to Glove, creates 75% • Glove side shadows front foot. • Finishing point, 4 points of focus • Chest • Glove • Knee • Foot

27. Lower Half Progression • Knee lift to COG • Foot under knee • Stride length, leading with outside of foot. • Stride length at or near body height. • Straight line to target. • Front foot contact at toe. • Foot contact at 50% body length • Late Rotation at 75%

28. Upper Half Progression • Hands break, thumbs down and out • Glove shadow over front foot • Chest to glove finish • 4 points of focus on release.

29. Common Mistakes • Eyes come off target • Knee Lift does not break glass Heavy Ear – Low Glove – Early Rotation – Shoulders not level - (Correct) • Early rotation • Front heel touch

30. Common Mistakes • Heel Touch • Back Arm Flat • Health Risk (Correct)

31. Common Mistakes • Low Glove • High Release Point (Correct)

32. Common Mistakes • Pull Glove Side • Hyper Extension • No Control • No Front Side • Heel Touch • No Control

33. Common Mistakes • High Finish • Glove Height • Off Speed Location Issue (Correct)