Toe the Rubber: Player Development for All Ages Hip Mobility and it's importance The seven primal movements are foundational movement patterns that are essential for human physical function and fitness. These movements form the basis of many exercises and activities in strength training and functional fitness. They are: Comparing and Contrasting the Seven Primal Movement Patterns and Their Importance in Baseball Pitching Delivery
1. Squat Importance in Pitching: The squat is crucial for building leg strength, which contributes to the power and stability needed during the pitching motion. A pitcher must generate force from the lower body to drive off the mound and deliver the ball with velocity and accuracy.
2. Lunge Importance in Pitching: Lunges enhance balance, coordination, and strength in the lower body, which are essential for the pitcher's stride towards the plate. This movement mimics the forward motion of the pitching delivery.
3. Push Importance in Pitching: While the push movement is not directly involved in the pitching delivery, it is vital for developing upper body strength, particularly in the shoulders and chest. This strength supports the pitching arm and contributes to overall arm stability.
4. Pull Importance in Pitching: Pull movements are crucial for developing the back and shoulder muscles, which play a significant role in the deceleration phase of the pitching motion. Strong pulling muscles help prevent injuries and enhance arm stability.
5. Hinge Importance in Pitching: The hinge movement is crucial for developing posterior chain strength, particularly in the hamstrings and glutes. These muscles are vital for generating power from the lower body during the pitching motion.
6. Rotate Importance in Pitching: Rotation is a core component of the pitching delivery. Effective pitching requires strong and coordinated rotational movements of the torso to generate velocity and control.
7. Gait Importance in Pitching: A pitcher's gait, particularly during the stride towards the plate, is crucial for maintaining balance and generating momentum. Proper gait mechanics ensure a smooth and efficient delivery.
Return from injury: Enhancing Focus on Repeatable Delivery through Verbal Cues In the context of a major injury, it is common for the focus to shift towards how the arm or shoulder feels. This change in focus can occur before, during, and after the injury, as well as throughout the rehabilitation process. It is important to note that once an individual is cleared to resume activities like throwing bullpens, the emphasis should shift towards achieving a repeatable delivery. This entails redirecting attention away from the arm and towards implementing verbal cues that highlight proper body mechanics and movement patterns during the delivery. To enhance clarity and optimize performance, it is beneficial to establish verbal triggers that draw attention to key aspects of the delivery process. Examples of such cues could include directives like "center of gravity past the front hip," "upper body parallel to the ground," "knee up, ball out," or other personalized prompts tailored to the individual's needs. By emphasizing the importance of repeatable delivery through targeted verbal cues, athletes can cultivate a focused mindset that prioritizes proper movement patterns and overall body mechanics. This shift in attention can lead to improved performance outcomes and reduced reliance on monitoring the sensations in the arm or shoulder. I had the pleasure of spending one afternoon with this young man. He drove in from out of town. He competed this year for a major D1 program. After spending some time with him talking about feel and being part of the process, performing drills specifically designed for him, he threw a bullpen and upon completion stated, “That is the best I have felt in three years.” From my vantage point the ball was exploding out of his hand with a nice free rhythmic repeatable delivery. Now the goal is to transfer this positive feeling of effortlessly repeating the delivery in game situations. Breaking through the “try harder mentality”