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Load
Coil
Stride
Hip
Develop
Release
Follow
Finish
Step
Analysis
Pitching

This is one model among many. Follow the thinking, internalize what  makes sense. The issues stem from a martial-arts analysis and training, rather than higher-level baseball experience.

Load in line with the delivery - that is to say, straight back and very small. A slight rock toward second base, nothing more. Like the early British sports cars’ first gear - just to get it rolling a little. Coil by lifting the stride leg to parallel with the ground, pointed to the base on the meat-hand side. Eyes stay on the target, everything pivoting around the torso’s axis. Stride directly toward the target, hands up & out, also in line with the direction of the target. Palms down, eyes on the target, torso aligned, hips and shoulders closed. The pivot hip initiates the development of the upper body toward the plate; fully commited, fully energized hip. Progressively develop; energize the torso up through the shoulder and out through the arm to the wrist and fingers. The image here is a whip, starting in the knees and proceeding up through the body. Follow-through toward the target, pronating through the ball and allowing the hand to pass just outside the stride ankle. Finish with the eyes still on the target, pivot leg following the energy of the hips, stepping to the target. A second step puts you in a defensive posture.

If you can find a way to involve your hips in EVERYTHING you do, you’ve got the bigger half of the job done..

Issue:

Image:

Discussion:

load straight back

 

load

coil, aligned over pivot hip

 

coil

stride directly toward target, hands up & out with palms down

 

stride

hip commited to target initiating delivery

 

hip

develop stride leg & torso toward target, hips over ball of the stride foot

 

develop

follow-through toward target, pronating through the ball

 

follow

finish with eyes on the target, meat-hand near stride-knee

 

finish

step to the target, continuing to a defensive posture

 

step

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