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The useful length of an arm swing behind the body is depends two key factors:
•Pace of the body down the slope
•Position of the arm and ball at FFS
This leaves room for individual athleticism to flow through the delivery. P1
@FlatgroundApp
The useful length of an arm swing behind the body is depends two key factors:
•Pace of the body down the slope
•Position of the arm and ball at FFS
This leaves room for individual athleticism to flow through the delivery. P1
@FlatgroundApp
I see a lot of people away back and forth between deciding to teach longer or shorter arm actions because it’s the current hot topic.
Let’s be clear, you don’t “teach” arm action, you influence an individual’s movements. The wrong “teach” can be harmful. P2
Let’s be clear, you don’t “teach” arm action, you influence an individual’s movements. The wrong “teach” can be harmful. P2
Why did I call it “useful” arm length?
As I alluded to
, the arm’s path behind the body serves as a timing mechanism. The body will subconsciously adjust its pace, stride, and direction down the slope according the path the arm takes in the back. P3
@ftrstarsseries
As I alluded to
, the arm’s path behind the body serves as a timing mechanism. The body will subconsciously adjust its pace, stride, and direction down the slope according the path the arm takes in the back. P3 @ftrstarsseries
A quicker tempo down the mound and later hand separation lends to the compression of the arm swing and quicker loading phase. Very similar results, just a different way of getting there. P4
So does arm path length have a correlation to velocity? We are seeing a lot of shortened arm paths throughout the game, and velocities are rising, but why? Arm path in the backside isn’t impacting ball position during rotatiproximal
distal property, or is it? P5
distal property, or is it? P5
The concept of elbow spiraling, as seen diagramed in the image below is the model that helps us understand the manner that we maintain energy closest to our CoM during rotation and carry that with maximal force through the desired vector for ball acceleration. P6
However the model doesn’t accurately describe the actual acceleration phase, it only demonstrates the loading phase, and we have seen many arms that can reach upper 90s and 100 with long actions that defy the model. P7
If we were really focused on optimization of proximal properties in movement before distal functions, we would ignore the elbow for the time being and look at the loading of the scapula. P8
Scap loading, or better yet, scap retraction, is possibly the most important aspect of rotational throwing as it serves multiple purposes, including stabilizing and protecting the shoulder as well as providing a cleaner linear path for the elbow to travel. P9
The elbow spiral model also makes it appear that the ball travels around the elbow, when in fact, the elbow orbits around the ball until the the trunk gets perpendicular to the target and it is the upper torso rotation and elbow extension that gets the ball moving. P10
The position of the ball while the arm is loaded for rotation is observed by the flexion of the elbow, aiming to be within 90* as a general principle. One of the biggest issues in velocity and command with younger athletes is the arm is outside of 90* and stays there. 
P11
P11
Knowing how the degree to which the elbow flexion and trunk tilt associate with an individual’s rotation and yield their desired arm slot and release window, this is why creating the most repeatable path to that desired point is essential. P12
@JTaillon19
@JTaillon19
The other issue regarding velo/command, and arm health is the casting of the ball around & away from the body during rotation. The father the ball is away from body, imagine a sail on a boat catching wind. You get unneeded stress, and that’s not good. P13
The more synchronized the rotation of the elbow around the ball via elbow flexion &the shoulders around the spine are to reach the point of linear accelerated movement for the ball = cleaner the path for the elbow to extend into release in a geodesic manner. P14
@DBo_Jackets
@DBo_Jackets
So, back to “useful” arm length in the back side.
So long as the timing and ideal ball position are known, the path of the arm beforehand is a matter of comfort and potential deception.
The combination of natural pathways and individualism cannot be discounted or discouraged. P15
So long as the timing and ideal ball position are known, the path of the arm beforehand is a matter of comfort and potential deception.
The combination of natural pathways and individualism cannot be discounted or discouraged. P15
I try to make a point of not rushing to “change” an arm action with an athlete, whereas encouraging the athletes to find their ideal position and encourage timing cues. The movements and timing of the body will impact the arm immensely, no need to throw more wrenches in. P16
A few keys to remember:
•Don’t fight individual characteristicsmodify to optimize.
•Movement is more important than mechanics.
•Understand the full function before you change for perception.
•Try to address root causes, not current hot topics.
P17
•Don’t fight individual characteristics
modify to optimize.•Movement is more important than mechanics.
•Understand the full function before you change for perception.
•Try to address root causes, not current hot topics.
P17
