The Three Phases of the Throwing Motion
1 - Forward Drive
Using the legs to create momentum towards the target. Notice how the chest and hips stay "closed" - pointing towards 3B for a righty - until the front foot has landed.
2 - Rotational Acceleration
Using core rotation to accelerate the baseball. Notice arm stays bent until in front of head, which stays stable until the ball is out of the hand.
3 - Extension and Release
Rotating throwing shoulder towards target then down towards front foot to release ball into target
How to reinforce good fundamentals when playing catch
Warming up and playing catch are good times to reinforce good throwing fundamentals. You can warm up by breaking the mechanics down into the three phases, then put it all together with games and challenges that reinforce critical concepts. Try this warm-up routine. Keep track of where you got stuck or lost. Do 10-15 reps of each drill.
The following three-step routine of simple drills reinforces good fundamentals while you warm up:
A - Arm Extensions
Teach properly timed arm extension
Start with thrower standing 10-15 feet away from the catcher or target
Stand upright with feet close together, toes pointing approx. 45 degrees towards the glove-side shoulder, torso square to the target
Glove-side elbow firmly against the body and bent to keep glove above waist with palm facing up towards throwers face.
Throwing arm in “neutral” position – elbow level with shoulder in all directions and directly below the ball. Forms a right angle. My elbow looks above my shoulder because my shoulders/hips are not flat, but the elbow is in line with the shoulders.
The body will look like the number four (4)
Thrower should rotate their core so the throwing-side shoulder gets out in front of the body and extend arm to release the ball towards the target.
Follow through down towards the front foot. Throwing arm should end up hanging loosely down in front of the thrower, not pulled across the body.
B - One-Foot Rotations
Teach good rotation, balance, and properly timed arm extension
Start with thrower 20-25 feet from target.
Similar to the previous drill… The difference is in the lower half of the body because this drill is meant to teach the player to rotate once they have shifted weight onto their front leg…
Thrower balances with nearly all their weight on their front leg - aka the “landing leg”. Front knee should point towards the target.
Rest the big toe of the back foot lightly on the ground, behind the front foot and in line with the target.
Solid, upright posture with elbows hanging down to sides and hands meeting at the chest
Action/Movement All done maintaining sturdy balance on the front leg
Rotate chest so the shoulders are lined up to target (allow lower body and back foot to turn with torso), and raise the elbows until elbows and shoulders form a (fairly) straight line. Player should not extend throwing arm – keep it near a 90-degree angle.
Thrower begins rotating their chest towards their glove (and therefore the target. Player should not extend throwing arm during this part of the rotation.
If the player rotates properly, the upper body looks a lot like the upper body in the beginning of the “Extend and Release” phase taught in the previous drill.
If the player can learn to rotate properly they will consistently get their upper bodies ready to properly extend their arm to release the ball.
Trains throwers to create forward momentum without starting their rotation early
Start with thrower 30-35 feet from target
Feet spread out approx. 2x shoulder width, standing sideways with glove-side shoulder pointed at target. Knees bent in general athletic ready position. Back foot perpendicular to target, front leg pointed at target. Hips aligned with shoulders, encourage players to “sit down” in their legs.
Upright upper body, elbows at sides, bent 90 degrees with hands together
Weight balanced between both feet
Shift weight 75-80%(ish) to front foot, point front elbow and front knee at target. Maintain good posture and do not rotate torso towards target.
Shift weight back onto back leg, maintaining good posture and separating hands to raise arms into the “loose-‘T’” without extending elbows.
Shift weight forward again with intent to throw. Maintain upright, loose-“T” position without rotating torso towards target. Allow back foot to drag directly behind the body, watch for it “leaking” out to the side.
Common mistakes by young throwers