Scap Loading and the Back Side to Pitching
December 31, 2008
If you haven’t learned about “Scap Loading” then you are not tapping into your velocity potential. If you are not pinching your Scapular before committing your shoulders to the target, then you are losing a lot of velocity. If you have read some of my articles on this site you have heard this before. Greg Maddux in this picture is a perfect example of tightening the rubber band. He is building torque in his core by driving his hips open to the target, while he is pinching his shoulder blades together. This is the Ace Pitcher 3rd Component of Pitching. Here are some more photos of Pitchers performing this component. To put this into more detail we must look closer at the mechanics of Greg Maddux.
Greg Maddux is a Pitcher who is 40+ years of age, who is not a hard thrower anymore but he can still hit 90 if he desires. Most people would credit his name in the game of baseball to one of the craftiest pitchers ever. I would credit his name to one of the most efficient mechanics to play the game. This is why he is pitching into his 40’s. What has saved his arm, is the fact that he puts less abuse on it than the average pitcher. How he does this is by building momentum and using that momentum to build maximum torque in all his rotational pivots . He also keeps his arm in the safe zone his entire delivery. It sounds simple, be it takes incredible muscle coordination. To understand this coordination, look at the picture above. Notice he is pinching his blades but even more important notice where his back shoulder is opposed to his front shoulder and head. His blades are pinch and his head and glove arm are in line with the target. This puts his throwing shoulder father back because of the shoulder rotation being more towards his back side than front side. This understanding of his mechanics here is a lot more effective than the conventional wisdom of putting your arms in the “T Position.”
If you want to save your arm while building more velocity like Greg Maddux, try implemeting these details into your mechanincs. Remember to focus on “Scap Loading” first, then work on rotating more towards your back side. To do this you must pinch your throwing shoulder blade hard. DO NOT adjust your glove hand to correct this rotation 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 example.
I only recommend these adjustments if you have developed “Separation” in your shoulders to hips. If you haven’t, then you must work to achieve hip to shoulder separation. The best way to learn “Separation” is making this your main focus everytime you throw or pitch.
Popularity: 33%
Related articles:
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles
Tagged: ace pitcher, baseball, conventional wisdom, greg madux, hips, important notice, incredible muscle, learning, load, maximum, mechanics, momentum, muscle coordination, muscles, performance, photos, pitch, pitcher, pitchers, pitches, pitching, pivot, rubber band, safe zone, scapular, shoulder blades, shoulder rotation, shoulders, target, throwing, torque, Velocity
Comments
One Response to “Scap Loading and the Back Side to Pitching”
Got something to say?
FREE Velocity Starter Kit
Learn what it takes to gain 10 mph
with the FREE Velocity Starter Kit!
Download Your FREE Copy Now!
Links
Translation
as u get older, after a lifetime of throwing as hard as u can, its likely your arm
will hurt with Every Throw, if you dont scap load. in fact, i cant throw at all
if i dont!