In the next couple of weeks another youth baseball season will
be put to bed, and with the exception of All-Stars, families can
begin to wind down from another grueling six months of practices,
games and untold amount of trips to the field.
In the next couple of weeks another youth baseball season will be put to bed, and with the exception of All-Stars, families can begin to wind down from another grueling six months of practices, games and untold amount of trips to the field.
It’s also time to put to bed a myth about pitching, namely, that your legs provide all the power in generating velocity to the plate. It just isn’t true.
Now don’t get me wrong. The legs provide power for initial balance, streamlining your body toward the plate and finishing square.
But they only provide a minimal amount of energy to generate velocity. And velocity is the key word here, not power.
Recent studies on high school, college, minor and major leaguers revealed that only 20 percent came from directional momentum (legs) in generating velocity toward the plate.
The other 80 percent came from a pitcher’s rotational momentum (hips and shoulders) and the transfer of weight.
Modern technology has allowed us to measure these maneuvers and mechanics and has given us the data in proving what a lot of pitching coaches already knew.
It now supports the correct theory in teaching pitching mechanics and the evolvement of those mechanics as one of the major components for improving velocity.
Fifteen to 20 years ago, and years before that, everyone was led to believe that the legs were the most important asset in pitching.
And at the time, they were, because no one emerged to refute that claim. All that’s changed. The legs are still important, just not as focused as they used to be.
Teachings at the youth level of push off, go fast and use your legs should be replaced by using mechanics to generate more velocity, being in control of your body and correct arm angle.
None of the teachings taught previously were wrong, they’ve just become outdated. The winds of change have taken place and coaches and parents need to recognize those changes as next season rolls around.
We always expect our schools, teachers and educators to provide our children with the most modern curriculum to enhance their education. Youth baseball is no different. If we continue to live by old- time myths, progress won’t be made.
In emphasizing the legs so much, most kids are leaving their arms behind, dropping their arms and putting undo stress on their elbows. And being so far out in front has essentially decreased velocity rather than improve it.
Now that we have sufficient data to support our mechanical teachings each player has the genetic potential to throw the ball harder. If we look to the future and leave the past behind, we can make that happen and our kids will benefit from it.
Rich Taylor is the owner, head instructor and CEO of Taylor Made Baseball. He can be reached at rj********@***oo.com.
