Weight for it!

October 20, 2008

Momentum transfer is a key component of velocity. There are many different ways to transfer momentum. You could transfer the momentum slowly over a certain period of time, randomly over a certain period of time or in the case of generating efficient and explosive velocity, you must transfer momentum as quickly as possible during your pitching delivery.

Notice pitcher’s like John Smoltz here, he has a delivery that looks effortless. This is because the explosiveness of his delivery comes at a point in time that is so fast it fools the human eye. Think of a golfer like Tiger Woods. When he swings the club back, if you blink your eyes he has already hit the ball and is following through. The same is with pitchers like John Smoltz. He throws in the upper 90’s but it sure doesn’t look like he does.

The question is, “How does this happen?” What these pitchers are doing, as they start to build momentum, is hold all of their weight back waiting for the last possible second to transfer the momentum as quick as they can. The best way for you to get a good understanding of this is with video. I hope this helps.

I hate to use a legend like Satchel Paige as a bad example but in this case he is a bad example of something he really didn’t care about. He was a magician with the ball, not a flame thrower. Notice how slowly Paige transfers his momentum all at once.

Now notice Felix Hernandez holding his weight back to the last second before letting his momentum explode to the target.

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The key to performing this explosive mometum tranfer is in the lift leg and the head. When you lift your leg kick your butt towards the target, then lower the leg away from the body moving the hips back in the opposite direction.Ã‚Â Your weight is balanced over the “Power Pad” of your back foot. The “Power Pad” is the part of the bottom of your foot, just under the balls of your foot. As your lift leg travels down the hill and you squat on your back leg, keep your head over your back leg until your lift leg can not go any farther. Then triple extend your back leg, fire hips then shoulders.

The main focus here is transfering momentum at the last second by holding your weight back until you can’t anymore. If the mechanical directions I described here are confusing, then just use the focus of this topic and add it to your delivery as you see fit. I would take this advice with any correction to your delivery.

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