Exposing the myth of "Pushing Off" the Mound
May 12, 2010
(You can click here for a 2-page .pdf of this newsletter)
Looked at muscle activation of the lower body during pitching in 4 different phases:
- Phase 1: Starting stance to the top of the leg kick
- Phase 2: From the top of the leg kick to Foot Strike
- Phase 3: From Foot Strike to Ball Release
- Phase 4: Ball Release until 0.5 seconds after Ball Release
What Did They Find?
- Both legs are equally important in pitching. As the pitchers approach Foot Strike (Phase 2):
both legs are used equally:
![foot 20strike 20muscles](/img/Pitching%20Newsletters/2010/Myth%20of%20Pushing%20Off/foot%20strike%20muscles.png)
and it's during Ball Release (Phase 3):
![Ball 20release](/img/Pitching%20Newsletters/2010/Myth%20of%20Pushing%20Off/Ball%20release.jpg)
that the legs work the hardest:
![ball 20release 20muscles](/img/Pitching%20Newsletters/2010/Myth%20of%20Pushing%20Off/ball%20release%20muscles.png)
- Pitchers DO NOT Push Off The Mound. There are 2 common approaches to the back leg when pitching:
but the evidence points NOT to pushing off but rather a "controlled fall":
Disproving yet another commonly-taught pitching mechanic:
![myth 20exposed](/img/Pitching%20Newsletters/2010/Myth%20of%20Pushing%20Off/myth%20exposed.png)
Focus on your hips, NOT your legs, to build velocity:
"The Quicker You Go, The Harder You Throw."
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Dr. Arnold!