Snapping the Wrist?

[justin97]

Is snapping your wrist something you should do while pitching?
I read on "The Complete Pitcher," that you should snap the wrist but I wanted to make sure if it is correct?

[songtitle]

Everything lags, then 'snaps' while pitching. The wrist is last.

'Lagging and snapping' is faster than trying to snap.

[justin97]

So I don't snap the wrist?

[LAball]

do not snap on purpose. The pitch should be smooth, rhythmic and Natural.

[pstein]

So I don't snap the wrist?

Not actively, the wrist snaps due to the movement of force.

[Dirtberry]

Justin97,

Did they define what snapping is? Or are they making the classic “yardspeak” mistake of using this term and hoping everybody knows what this means. Ask them?

There are 4 movements of the wrist:

Extension, flexion, Ulnar deviation and Radial deviation.
Every different pitch type has one or more of these actions involved and sometimes none.
What pitch are you referring to?

[songtitle]

Extension, flexion, Ulnar deviation and Radial deviation.

Make sure that you tell your 8yo to maximize his radial deviation.

[mudvnine]

Make sure that you tell your 8yo to maximize his radial deviation.

I think that "Justin97" is a little bit older than 8, so Dirtberry's information may be appropriate for his level of instruction.

[Dirtberry]

Songtitle,

“Make sure that you tell your 8yo to maximize his radial deviation.”

This is exactly what I do with starting pitchers at any age.

Their first lesson is to learn minimal Ulnar deviation that teaches them how to pronate run towards the ball arm side of the plate with their fast ball (-2), this also sets them up for later pitches that are nominally or maximally Ulnar deviated like the Sinker and screwball (-10, -20).
They are then taught minimal Radial deviation that teaches them to attain pronated run (cutter) towards the glove arm side of home plate with their second fastball (-2) That later sets them up to learn the nominal or maximally deviated P.Slider and P.Curveball (-10, -20).

What is strange when I teach them the names of these movements they actually understand them and learn them unlike most adults who are unwilling to learn.
This approach later allows them to discuss pitching with their team coaches who have no clue what they are talking about and it placates them to the point where the coaches decide this kid knows more than me about pitching (sequencing) and the body and then allows him to call his own pitches.

Information evolvement happens, evolve or stagnate, it’s your choice.

[johnlanza]

Okay, I know I'm not exactly addressing the op's question, but when the discussion goes into "pronate" and "ulnar deviate" my head starts spinning. If I am a right-handed pitcher, which way should the palm of my hand be facing after throwing a fastball? Towards the first-base line, towards the third-base line or towards the ground in front of me? BTW, I would probably have trouble breaking 55 on the radar gun, but I am 47. --I know, I know. I shouldn't be bringing out the gun...I might try to overthrow

As long as Jamie Moyer was in the league, I figured I still had a chance...but I think that dream is fading now...

[songtitle]

RHP- Palm to 3B side on a FB (called pronating) - you also pronate when you throw a football

[Roothog66]

Okay, I know I'm not exactly addressing the op's question, but when the discussion goes into "pronate" and "ulnar deviate" my head starts spinning. If I am a right-handed pitcher, which way should the palm of my hand be facing after throwing a fastball? Towards the first-base line, towards the third-base line or towards the ground in front of me? BTW, I would probably have trouble breaking 55 on the radar gun, but I am 47. --I know, I know. I shouldn't be bringing out the gun...I might try to overthrow

As long as Jamie Moyer was in the league, I figured I still had a chance...but I think that dream is fading now...

Tell me about it. I embarrassed myself last week at Six Flags over Texas. My top two pitchers hit 70 and 74 on the radar gun at the park. I, who used to throw in the upper eighties in HS, couldn't break 70 in three tries. Getting...very...old. Not to mention I badly tore a calf muscle last month coaching third base.

[Dirtberry]

JohnLanza,

“Okay, I know I'm not exactly addressing the op's question”

This means you are completely normal in that everybody deviates these threads also.

“but when the discussion goes into "pronate" and "ulnar deviate" my head starts spinning”

This means you are completely normal in that most baseball oriented people rely on anecdotal observance and yard myth to proceed with the teaching of their boys.

“If I am a right-handed pitcher, which way should the palm of my hand be facing after throwing a fastball?”

It should have run it’s course of full range of motion forearm pronation where the thumb travels forwards and downwards with the palm ending facing up towards the sky if performed maximally. Just like Lincecum here in this photo.

”As long as Jamie Moyer was in the league, I figured I still had a chance...but I think that dream is fading now...”

As long as you don’t tell the baseball how old you are, you’ll be OK.

[justin97]

4-seam Fastball.

Justin97,

Did they define what snapping is? Or are they making the classic “yardspeak” mistake of using this term and hoping everybody knows what this means. Ask them?

There are 4 movements of the wrist:

Extension, flexion, Ulnar deviation and Radial deviation.
Every different pitch type has one or more of these actions involved and sometimes none.
What pitch are you referring to?

[Dirtberry]

Justin97,

“4-seam Fastball.”

The classic 4 seam release is normally considered a direct backspin pitch where the axis presentation is neutral (horizontal) at –0, meaning it is the fastest pitch that can be attained. This produces a straight pitch with the most lift.

I tell my pitchers to throw this pitch when they are directing it up above the elbow of the batter and only after 2 consecutive lower –10 or –20 pitches like a Sinker then curve.

This pitch starts with the wrist in extension and best performed with the thumb up at the back and the fingers together making one finger. From this point you can fully flex your wrist during your forwards arm drive.

If you want movement (run) with your 4 seam forearm pronated releases to either side at -2 you minimally Ulnar flex the wrist so the inside axis (circle of friction) is forwards making the ball run towards the ball arm side of home.plate

If you want movement with your 4 seam release to the glove arm side of home plate at -2 minimally Radial flex the wrist so the outside axis (circle of friction) is forwards also pronated by the forearm.

You can see that by just using the term “snapping” explains little and it is best described using kinesiological terms for clarification and understanding of all the possibilities.