Lift for Show, Load for Doe!
November 22, 2008
Ok, the leg lift isn’t only for “Show.” There is a lot of momentum that can be generated by the leg lift which transfers into velocity. The question is, “How come pitchers who have big leg lift’s in the wind up, when pitching in the stretch, have a lower leg lift but still throw the same velocity?” The answer is called the “Load.”
“Loading” is when the pitcher holds his weight back over his back leg, while his front side continues building momentum towards the target. This is why strong legs and core, produce powerful pitching. Look at Eric Gagne in this picture. He is squatting on his back leg, waiting for the perfect time to fire his hips and then his shoulders.
A component of velocity is produced when torque is generated in the two rotational pivots. The rotation of the hips, to the rotation of the shoulders. Tim Lincecum calls this the “Rubber Band.” Think of your core as the “Rubber Band.” Rotating the shoulder and hip pivot separate from each other would tighten the “Rubber Band.” This sounds a lot easier than it actually is to perform. This is why a small amount of athletes can throw a baseball over 90 mph.
The importance of the “Load” is that it holds the weight back until the first pivot, the hips, are ready to build maximum torque. Triple extension in the back leg drives the momentum into front foot strike, forcing the hips to pivot. Then “Separation,” or “Scap Loading” must occur to build torque in the core. There is that word again “Loading”. Notice the pitcher here in this position. His hip rotation is now complete. It has built maximum torque. You can see this in the tightening of his “Rubber Band.” Notice his shirt is stretching like a rubber band would. Now, all that is left to do, is to fire the last pivot, the shoulders forward and then stabilize. Stabilization allows the momentum generated from the body to transfer to the ball.
If the pitcher didn’t “Load” his weight back, as his front side continued to build momentum and set the first pivot of the hips, then top velocity could never be achieved. It would also put more stress on the rotator cuff, because the torque would build more in the shoulders than the core.
The “Load” is also just as important for hitters to develop power. Notice this picture of A-Rod in the “Load” position. The difference is hitters are more compact because they have to defend the strike zone. Therefore, a hitter cannot have a long stride like a pitcher. This brings up another good point. A good stride is considered to be the length of your body height. The “Load” position also increases your stride. So when you here a Coach yell out that you need to stride out more, then you will understand that this means you are not “Loading.” The importance of the “Stride” is that it moves you closer to the plate, shortening the distance the ball must travel, which increases velocity and a good “Stride” gives you more time to build momentum.
In conclusion, a good “Load” position is more valuable for a pitcher than a high lift leg. It generates as much or more momentum but is critical in generating optimal hip to shoulder separation. Here is a gallery of more pitchers in the “Load” position. View gallery here.
Related Articles:
The “Load” Position
All the photos here are of professionals performing the "Load" position, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook. Read the article "Lift for Show, Load for Doe" to learn more about the importance of "Loading." ...
Pitching Velocity Quick Tip #3
This Velocity Quick Tip focuses on the lift leg and how it can work against you when trying to build core torque. Core Torque is critical to reaching your top velocity. This video will show you how to use the lift leg to help you generate more core torque or hip to shoulder separation. To learn more about the problems and benefits of the lift leg read the article Lift for Show Load for Doe. These...
Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles
Tagged: athlete, baseball, coach, er, eric gagne, es, foot strike, hip rotation, hips, legs, load, maximum, momentum, perfect time, pitch, pitchers, pitching, pivot, rubber band, separation, shoulders, squats, stabilization, stride, target, throwing, tim Lincecum, timing, torque, transfer, Velocity, weight
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35 Responses to “Lift for Show, Load for Doe!”
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[...] the article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to learn more about the importance of [...]
[...] Once you learn these mechanics, then you must learn how to aim and shoot. Read my article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to understand “The Load” [...]
[...] or put your throwing arm in the red zone. If you focus on the back side it will make it easier to Load and build more momentum while you stay closed. Use Greg Maddux as a great [...]
[...] The Pros of Long Toss: It is a max effort exercise which is pushing the body to generate more force to the ball. If performed with total body mechanics, this can train and help develop the total body. Long toss mainly trains the “Load position.” [...]
[...] to make this adjustment. You will also need to understand how to finish your delivery from the “Load” position and most important you must work on this adjustment [...]
Hey coach, it's Joel Spansel I was just checking out your website and just wanted to let you know.
Hey coach, its Austin Tinney.
I was wonderin if you could send me some things on pitchin.
Thanks,,
Hey coach, I was just checking in so you could send the stuff you wanted to like you told us at St. Pauls 8th grade tryouts today.
Hey Coach Brent, I was just letting you know that i have checked out your website, and like the things you talk about.
Thanks,
Rick Ragan
Hey coach it's Christian Berry i was just checking in like you told us to.
Hey Coach, its Christian Breath from St. Paul's 8th grade and I was checking out this website.
hey coach, its Thomas Harrison just letting know i have checked out your website so you can send us some information.
hey coach its Tyler Schott just checking in so you can send me stuff
Hey Coach, its T.J. Jenkins i was just letting you know that I checked out the website and looked at some of the videos.
Hey coach, it's Collin D'Angelo and I was just checking out your website and putting my e-mail address out there so you can send me stuff and quiz me. This website is really cool and I tried to send you a comment 2 days ago but it told me I had an error. So I am sorry for this being so late.
Thanks,
Collin
Hey Coach, it is Ryan Martin from the 8th Grade Baseball Team. I just wanted to put info out there so you can send the information for the tests and quizzes. Thanks
Hey Coach, I just wanted to put my info out there so you can send me the information for the tests and quizzes.
[...] push to your slide which will build more momentum and increase your stride. Read my article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to learn more about the [...]
[...] position, you can build as much momentum as you do with a high leg lift. Read my article on “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to understand more about the [...]
[...] The purpose of this drill is to enforce the “Load” position. To perform this drill you need a step or box about a foot high or higher based on your leg strength. The higher the lift, the stronger your legs must be to “Hold the Load.” To learn more about the importance of the “Load” position read this article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe.” [...]
I agree with a lot of what you are saying but i think that you are not going into the bio mechanical aspect enough there is more to mechanics than what i am seeing maybe i missed a few things. Im seeing a lot about Scap loading and core and lower body which is only half of the mechanics that young pitchers need to learn especially when they are getting in to there pre-teen years and the high school careers not only do they need to learn the scap load but they need to know about how the chest and shoulders and the importance that they have on the torque to better protect there rotator-cuff's and there clavicular structure which can lead to tearing of the rotator-cuff and the tearing of the intraspinatus which is the main muscle in the rotator-cuff they need to be taught how to isolate the Latississimus muscles to re-leave unnecessary stress and strain on the rotator-cuff by teaching a move powerfull pronation they can achieve this and strengthen there understanding of there mechanics.
P.S. if you would like to talk to me you have my email and can contact me further through it
Joe, good point here! Most of the articles on this site only cover a short snippet of information on pitching mechanics. Here are some other articles that cover other aspects of pitching mechanics like you mentioned in your comment.
http://topvelocity.net/pitching-torque-and-the-3-…
http://topvelocity.net/the-pitching-key-to-torque…
http://topvelocity.net/pitch-velocity-elastic-ene…
http://topvelocity.net/bad-mechanics-is-a-sign-of…
http://topvelocity.net/poor-posture-causes-injury…
http://topvelocity.net/scap-loading-and-the-back-…
http://topvelocity.net/pitching-velocity-keys-fou…
http://topvelocity.net/10-legitimate-tips-to-pitc…
Happy new year Brent you helped me a lot
Thanks Brooks! Happy New Year!
eyyyy brent how areyou , i have a question when you bring your arm out of your glove and bring it down and around, do u want to accelerate through that entire process or do you wanna take that slow and then accelerate into release. thanks coach and are any new articles coming ?
Yes, keep your ARM relaxed as possible and do not swing or lead with your ARM. You want your ARM to accelerate after external rotation. Thanks for pushing me Brooks. I will try to get some new stuff soon.
hey Brent its Ron i have a question, does moving fast through your pitching delivery give you more velocity in the end or does it matter. If so how can i move faster through my delivery.
It is more important that your speed is accelerating than if you are just moving fast. This means timing is as important as speed. You can move fast just make sure you are not decelerating at any point in your delivery.
So would you say that i should start accelerate the most during triple extension until i can't triple extend anymore and then quickly throw the ball.
After Triple Extension you should NOT quickly throw the ball. You should allow your hips to completely open and your shoulders to remain closed so you can create optimal core torque. This will create a little delay after your front foot lands. Then you will continue to accelerate up the kinetic chain. You really need to purchase 3X Pitching to understand all of this.
http://topvelocity.net/3xpitching
Brent I am 14 years old and throwing in the 70s what do you think i would need to do to throw in the 80s because i don't know if i should fix my mechanics or do the workouts in the fusion system.
Ron, you need to continue with your education. Read 3X Pitching and ask questions until you truly understand it. You are old enough to start learning the lifts in the Fusion System. You can hold off on the weight until you get the mechanics of the lifts down. You are at a perfect age to start working at this. Just make sure you give it time and do not rush your results.
[...] leg they fall towards the target. This causes poor velocity and arm injury. Scan my article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to learn “The Load” [...]
[...] fall in the direction of target. This leads to poor velocity and arm injury. Scan my article “Lift for Show, Load for Doe” to understand “The Load” [...]
[...] If you are confused and you want to learn more about the “load”position then head on over to TopVelocity.net and read the article called, “Lift for Show, Load for Doe.” [...]