Backswing or No Backswing?

It’s a question that has been debated over and over again…well at least it has been between Coach Phil and myself! The pitching pre-motion…is it better to have a backswing, or is it better to have no backswing?

Coach Phil and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum on this topic. I am a fan of backswings and used one for my entire pitching career. He dislikes them. That being said, I want to make clear what I consider to be a good backswing. I don’t like seeing insane motions where, for example, the pitcher bends her upper body all the way over so it looks like her face is about to hit the ground, and the arm goes back so high it looks like it might dislocate from her body entirely. With such a huge motion, I see injury potential, and it just makes a pitchers job more difficult. She now has to work twice as hard to get tall again to deliver the pitch. What I consider a good backswing is a relaxed swing that slightly passes the hip.

Now, let’s discuss pros and cons of each!

Backswing Pros

• It is my personal opinion that a backswing can help a pitcher’s arm stay relaxed. All too often I see girls with stiff pre-motions, and that often affects the rest of the pitch. The goal is to have a completely relaxed arm throughout the entire motion. If you start stiff, your whole motion is going to be stiff. A loose backswing can help a pitcher stay relaxed throughout the whole pitch.

• Second, I feel that a controlled backswing can help create a sense of rhythm and momentum. When you have a backswing, it can create momentum for building arm speed, which is super important for pitchers!

Backswing Cons

• There are two big problems that can arise with an uncontrolled backswing. The first is what we call “pre-tracking.” This is when the backswing causes the pitchers shoulders/chest to turn to the side instead of staying square to the catcher. When the shoulders turn to the side, the backswing goes behind the body, which forces us to have to slow down the arm, come around the body and lose the “reach” part of the pitch. This is a serious problem because the “reach” part of the pitch is what establishes our throw zone. When we see pre-tracking, we more often than not see girls with an incomplete arm circle, and a delivery that comes from behind the body. If you have a backswing, it is CRUCIAL that you keep the hips and shoulders facing the catcher as you do it, so the arm can stay on the power line and the “reach” part of the pitch can be achieved.

• The other issue with a backswing is that coaches/batters claim that they can see the ball for a longer amount of time, which means the batter can time you better. This may be true, however I believe that if you are spinning the ball really well and changing speeds, it doesn’t matter. The batter may be able to time your motion but they’re still going to have no clue as to what pitch you’re throwing or where it’s going to go.

No Backswing Pros

• I think the biggest pro for not having a backswing is that it is much less likely that the pitcher will pre-track, (however it is absolutely possible for a pitcher to pre-track even if they are not using a backswing). As a result, the “reach” part of the pitch can be achieved and the arm circle will be more complete. It is much harder to turn that shoulder out when you don’t have a backswing, and the hips and shoulders are much more likely to stay facing the catcher as well.

• Also, as discussed above, not having a backswing means that the batter and coaches will have less time to see the ball during the pitch. If you start with the ball in your glove, and keep it in there for the whole pre-motion, there is really no point where the batters or coaches are seeing the ball until you get to the actual arm circle itself. Again, some will argue that this gives the pitcher the advantage, but I still believe that if you are moving the ball around and changing speeds it really doesn’t matter.

No Backswing Cons

• The first con I see with girls who have tried to pitch with no backswing is stiffness. For example, I’ve had several students who have problems with pre-tracking with a backswing. When trying to limit their backswings, they complained that their arm felt very stiff and awkward, and they couldn’t build enough momentum.

• The biggest problem I see with the no-backswing technique is a collapsed arm circle. When you do not have a backswing, you might not get that nice extension in your arm during you pre-motion. Your elbows have to be bent when you bring your arms into your body. Often when I see girls using this technique, they KEEP their arm bent during the entire arm circle. This can cause a lot of problems, as the arm circle should utilize a more extended relaxed arm. When you bend your arm too much during the arm circle, you lose a lot of the loose whip that is needed to create speed and spin on the ball, and you are also much more likely to have the arm go behind the head/body during the arm circle. For those who prefer to have no backswing, it is CRUCIAL that you extend your arm out once you get to the “reach” part of the pitch in order to have the correct arm path and gain the momentum that you need.

Obviously, there is no right or wrong answer here. One technique might work for one pitcher, while another may be better for someone else. I strongly believe a controlled backswing can be very effective, yet there are many effective pitchers with no backswing. Choose which works for you as long as it doesn’t break down your pitching mechanics!

So you decide! Are you a fan of the backswing like me, or are you with Coach Phil on this one? I would love to know you think! Leave us a comment or send us a message and tell us your experiences with backswings vs. no backswings.