Comments on: The Pitching Windup vs Stretch

By: Brent Pourciau

Brent Pourciau — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:31:13 +0000

I use a similar approach in my 3X Pitching Velocity program to teach triple extension and external rotation of the throwing arm but my pitchers throw 5-10 mph harder when they close the shoulders into front foot strike and focus on more back hip to back shoulder separation.

By: Ross

Ross — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:23:20 +0000

when working with my son and other pitchers, i noticed that the full windup did nothing for velocity. i use a radar gun to show pitchers how different phases of pitching add more velocity, and every time i get them to a full windup we not only don't see more velocity…sometimes they lose speed!

i say pitch from the stretch and get everything going towards the target and you will be more consistent and see good velocity.

By: Wendell

Wendell — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:11:20 +0000

Not in this instance. The linear nature of the pitching move removes almost any pivot, which places a great amount of stress on the joints of young arms. This movement is straight back and nearly straight forward, with the pitcher's chest facing the plate all the time, and the shoulders are almost square to the plate as well. Again,, I'm talking about a manner in which we teach little leaguers the fluidity of the windup–the athleticism of pitching, IMHO–while getting them to understand the concept of a)loading up and release, and b)the focus of driving "downhill" on the pitching motion. Hip shoulder separation is a component to velocity, it has to be, since it is the equivalent of loading up the right side (of a right handed pitcher),and release. However, I still maintain that the fluidity of the windup does load up the backstep as well as "prep" the joints of the body, sheds stress from the body therefore increasing flexibility. Translation, in my opinion, is in greater velocity. Thank you again.

By: Brent Pourciau

Brent Pourciau — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:56:48 +0000

I like what you are trying to do here but I don't see how this delivery transfers to the stretch or how this delivery creates more hip to shoulder separation at front foot strike. Do you believe that hip to shoulder separation is a major component to velocity?

By: Wendell

Wendell — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:04:28 +0000

Good Point, Brent. Newton's second law indicates that the force that is loaded up in the backwards movement of the windup is translated to the forward part of the pitching motion, an equal and opposite force. That force, when transferred properly to the pitching arm and hand, should equal the loaded force on the back step and transfer of weight to the back foot. I'm speaking here of a simple, linear backward step which is then pushed off, transferred to the rubber foot in a straight line to the plate, rather than a pivot, kick, etc. This is the way I teach throwing and pitching–back and forth, like the golf swing of Bobby Jones or Mike Austin. The weight is loaded up on the back foot and then transferred in a straight line to plate, the result is a highly consistent, higher velocity, fluid-motion pitch utilizing the entire body rather than just the arm. Better for kids, IMHO. Thanks for your comments.

By: Brent Pourciau USAW

Brent Pourciau USAW — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:39:41 +0000

The stretch is more a consistent delivery than the windup. Nolan Ryan, Dontrell Willis, all big leg lift guys who threw just as hard in the stretch. Power pitching has more to do with Newton's second and third laws of motion.

By: Wendell

Wendell — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:07:40 +0000

To avoid the windup is to entirely disregard Newton's First Law of Motion, where "motion" is crucial to a consistent delivery and to the development of velocity. Pitching is a fluid, athletic activity, and should be accomplished via a fluid, athletic motion. There are very few, if any, pitchers out there who can achieve windup velocity from the stretch. Let's ask Nolan Ryan about the importance of the windup.

By: Paul Stein

Paul Stein — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:08:17 +0000

Brent,

I think what we believe is basically the same thing. I misinterpreted what you were saying. I thought you were referring to the actual windup being destructive to velocity. Of course, the pitchers I used as examples were injury free and threw pretty hard. Most MLB pitchers for the last 110 years have used their whole bodies.

Sorry for my misinterpretation.

By: A-Ball Insider

A-Ball Insider — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:31:27 +0000

Brent,

I have teaching that for years. That I believe the wind up actually serves no purpose outside of what you have stated above. When I train new pitcher's I only use the stretch, which is where you end up out of the wind up if your doing it right. In spring training that is all I used when working on my mechanics.

By: Brent Pourciau

Brent Pourciau — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:46:28 +0000

I am talking about the old school approach of using the windup strictly to swing and wip the arm to generate velocity as opposed to the 3X approach of relaxing the arm and using the stride phase to generate power and then converting that power through torque into the velocity of the ball.