Where Does Power Come From: A Follow-Up
In my last post I answered a reader’s question about where power comes from in windmill pitching. As you can see, the answer is not a matter of opinion; there is a right and a wrong answer based on the laws of physics. If that’s the case, why are there so many varying pitching styles out there? I think I can answer that one for you as well.
“Evidence” for incorrect methods
Most pitching coaches, regardless of what style they teach, are basing their teaching on some success that they’ve seen—at least, I hope they’re not making something up randomly and continuing to teach it even if they see it’s not working!
Herein lies the problem: with popular techniques such as “slamming the door” with the hips, or finishing with your elbow to the catcher, pitchers often see a moderate level of success quickly.
On the other hand, methods that conform to the laws of physics as I’ve outlined can be extremely difficult. Pitchers who try these methods for the first time often don’t see any success for a long time.
Getting the maximum amount of power out of your body isn’t simply a matter of understanding how it works; your body must be physically strong enough to handle the method. Many bodies are not, until they’ve undergone extensive strength training.
So, let’s look at a hypothetical beginner-intermediate pitcher of low to average natural strength. If she can’t stride and drive properly with good front-side resistance and drive leg action, slamming the door will feel more powerful. If she can’t whip her arm and perform forearm fire correctly, elbow finish will feel more powerful. This is where you get coaches pointing at the “evidence,” saying, “See? This way works better!”
The problem is you’re comparing apples to oranges. If you take one pitcher doing “hello elbow” finish very well, and another doing forearm fire very poorly, the former will look more successful. THAT DOESN’T MATTER. You need to compare two pitchers doing both methods correctly to see which is more effective. If a pitcher isn’t strong or practiced enough to pitch properly according to the laws of physics, THAT is the problem; it’s not that the method itself isn’t sound.
You may see quicker success with other methods, but in the end, the ones I outlined in my last post set the ultimate bar for success much higher. It may be a difficult journey and it may require a lot of work, but the reward is real!