Tim Lincecum teaches Top Velocity
May 5, 2009
There are two forces that add velocity to a pitch:
Momentum
Rotational Torque.
For momentum to effectively transfer to the ball, the pitcher must use all rotational pivots in order from the bottom up. The hips must rotate before the shoulders and the shoulders before the arm internally rotates. For this to happen effectively these pivots must be free to rotate completely. Notice the picture of Tim Lincecum (Tim Lincecum is a phenom because of his size and ability to reach his top velocity continuously.) Notice in the picture his weight is slightly leaning to his left. This would be like tilting an open door backwards so the open door slams closed due to the gravitational pull. The gravitational pull is also aiding the rotation of Tim Lincecum’s hips and shoulders. If he or the door was tilted the opposite way then this would change the gravitational pull. Gravity would now fight against the hips and door when rotating. Using the force of gravity to aid the generation of velocity can have a significant effect on velocity. This is a big reason why Tim Lincecum can throw so hard for his size.
If you study the animated gif here of Tim pitching you can see clearly the effective transfer of momentum through his rotational pivots. Watch his front leg land and his back hip rotate all the way around as his back leg triple extends. From here the momentum moves into the core because his front leg stabilizes and his weight is being held back with his back shoulder. This forces the core to tighten because the hips are rotating before the shoulders. His core looks like a rag being rung out or a rubber band being twisted. After this tightening of the core the momentum travels up into the shoulders. This torque pulls the back shoulder around and he sets the fulcrum, for the rotating shoulders, with his glove hand over his hip. The front leg continues to stabilize as his weight begins to shift over his front leg allowing the momentum to jump into the ball, like a passenger riding in a car and hitting a brick wall at 100 mph.
What Tim Lincecum continues to teach us is how to pitch with the entire body and that the arm is only along for the ride. This is exactly why little guys can throw so hard and old pitchers can still compete. Tim Lincecum uses gravity to aid momentum and his momentum to build torque in all of his rotational pivots. He also fires those pivots in the perfect order for effective momentum transfer. Everytime Tim Lincecum pitches you should be watching because it is a lesson in Top Velocity.
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Loading ...Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles
Tagged: animated gif, animation, balls, brick wall, force of gravity, fulcrum, generations, glove hand, gravitational pull, gravity, harding, hips, learning, leg land, legs, little guys, momentum, phenome, pitch, pitcher, pitchers, pitches, pitching, pivot, pivots, rubber band, shoulders, slams, throwing, tim Lincecum, torque, transfer, Velocity, weight
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Recent Comments:
- Brent Pourciau: I answered this question in comment 38. I said 1-2 mph but it would take a dynamic before... Read more
- mariners: yes.. but i’m asking if an increase in flexibility can add velocity to your ball. Also..... Read more
- Brent Pourciau: You should perform a good Dynamic and Static stretching routine before any event. Practice... Read more
- mariners: are you talking about stretching before a game?? Or gaining flexibility over time a long period... Read more
- Brent Pourciau: No not 8-10mph. 1-2 mph maybe but this is a sensitive issue. Cold static stretching has... Read more
Translation
[...] the product of momentum and torque. You can read countless articles on this site about Momentum and Torque. Pulling the ball down during release prevents early internal rotation which is a key component to [...]
When you look at Tim Lincecum’s front foot, I know it flexes to absorb the landing but why does it straighten out right as the ball is released?
That is because his weight in his upper body, mainly his core and chest, is moving over his front leg and his front leg is staying strong and stable. It is more the hips driving forward and his weight shifting over his front leg than just the straightening of his front leg. This is a good point. It is a part of my 6 components of pitching in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.