mechanics help...drills

[Gooseblitz]

He guys my 10 year son pitched a little last year and had success with accuracy but as he gets older he is trying to throw harder and I notice some real flaws cropping up. He takes ball behind centerline when he breaks his hands and elbow is low and he comes around himself kind of side arm kind of short arm. He is struggling to get his arm up and I don't want to cloud his head with too many ideas but was wondering if there is a drill to help him feel correct arm slot. He as compounded this by landing open with his foot...I am right now just trying to get him to focus and striding inline.

VIDEO ADDED BELOW

http://youtu.be/t9yzb4fEOLs

[bbrages]

What is the correct arm slot?



If you post a video, you will get lots of advice and responses. Without one... not so much.

[songtitle]

He is struggling to get his arm up

In order to correct this, I told my son to throw his hand down hard as you come out of the glove.

Also have him 'think about' trying to touch the back of his neck with his hand.

He as compounded this by landing open with his foot...I am right now just trying to get him to focus and striding inline.

His foot must 'land open'.

I would just have him mark his landing spot, and try to hit it each time.

FYI, 2 'giant steps' equals his height.

[Gooseblitz]

Thanks guys...I have some video of him I'll get online.
You guys have helped in the past with his hitting videos. Singtitle his foot is way right of centerline/target line....ie hips too open. I have been working on getting him to line on centerline foot at correct angle.

[Gooseblitz]

Here you go fellas.
Here is about 18 pitches of him warming up.

http://youtu.be/t9yzb4fEOLs

[johnlanza]

Here you go fellas.
Here is about 18 pitches of him warming up.

http://youtu.be/t9yzb4fEOLs

I am by no means a pitching expert, but one thing that stands out to me is that his landing foot is landing to far to his right.

[Chris O'Leary]

I am by no means a pitching expert, but one thing that stands out to me is that his landing foot is landing to far to his right.

Correct.

He has to throw back across his body.

I would have him go from the set to try to tone down the lateral movement.

[Chris O'Leary]

Duplicate....

[jbolt_2000]

His elbow does look low, but it may be a symptom of other things going on.
I too see that there is alot of lateral movement as Chris mentions. I would go from the stretch or work on less movement during his step back. Additionally, his throwing side foot, or landing foot, is opening up alot and landing off to the right instead of closer to center (as john states).

I would probably work on three things here.
1) less movement on the step back
2) stride be more in center with the catcher.
3) to work on elbow - try changing the arm angle a bit to 3 quarters. This could help elevate the elbow a bit. Or at least help him feel it more. And when he can feel what you are seeing it will help him make adjustments.

[jbolt_2000]

duplicate x's 2.

[LAball]

Are you getting lessons? He needs to work on fundamentals
FIRST and foremost. Start from the stretch. He does not need a full wind up. Things are much simpler from the stretch.
(2) There is no glove turn. This is very basic
Once you get one and two down, then you can work on the glide. Its not a stride, its called a glide on purpose.

[LAball]

Correct.

He has to throw back across his body.

He is throwing open and not across his body AKA crossfire. If he stepped to the left of the target then he would be throwing across his boy.

[Onebigwhitevan]

Alright I see a couple things. First his glove is big and heavy. As he takes this glove away from his body it upsets his balance. Second his leg lift should be just that a leg lift, not a curling up. The foot should come up back a little and around and then down the mound. I think he lands off to right of square but that maybe because he does not point his toe forward to start hip movement. Third the throwing hand should come more down and back as glove goes down and forward. Always equal movements for balance. Third I would make him pull his glove elbow in down and back close to body after he extends. This makes a should turn more powerful. If you can delay this till foot plant it adds speed without effort. Last I would tell him to lead the throw with his elbow, this is not technically the effect but more gets the effect of whip into the pitch without any "work". My two Lincoln's.

[songtitle]

Have him mark his (correct) stride spot, and work on that for a couple of days, then video again to see where you are.

My son marks his spot on the mound during a game.

[bbrages]

Second his leg lift should be just that a leg lift, not a curling up. The foot should come up back a little and around and then down the mound.

I like the idea that Chris O Leary gives in calling the leg lift a shift of weight onto the rear foot. ("Sideways, Shift, Swing, Step, & Throw" http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/...Mechanics.html Note that this article is about "throwing" a much as pitching.) IMO, a new pitcher should be taught to shift backwards; after the shift is occurring naturally, then work on a consistent leg raise. Otherwise, you are teaching a "checkpoint" instead of the natural motion needed to hit that point. (Just my noob opinion). (Also, I totally agree with the "curling up" comment, and I see this a lot.)

What does he look like when he's just throwing the ball?