Posted by: coach13 (halour@netscape.net) on Thu Feb 22 13:05:46 2007

> Post them.


The advisory board consists of Nolan Ryan,Randy Johnson,Mark Prior, Rob Nenn,Orel Hershiser,Dave Dravecky,Bobby Valentine,Dusty Baker,
John Young,Tom House,Karl Meinhard,Gary Heil,Jim Brogan,Glenn Fleisig,
Todd Durkin,Alan Blitzblau,Arnel Aguinaldo,Dr.Lewis Yocum,
Dr.Rick Heitsch,Dr.James Andrews,Dr.John Conway,Dr.Hank Chambers,
Dr.Todd Lanman
This article was written to update the baseball community on some science based research that facilitates a better understanding about how a pitcher develops and maintains the mechanics and functional strength to deliver a baseball with as close to his genetically optimal real velocity as possible.
Our biggest surprise came with the revelation that the larger percentage of total velocity comes from a pitcher's rotational momentum (hips and shoulders) and not his directional momentum (legs)!

Biomechanics Illustrated and Explained

Let's take a look at how the different body parts work in the pitching delivery and what the study showed about their contribution to the velocity of the ball.

Legs:
Legs are the foundation through which kinetic energy is initiated, the mechanism by which the total body mass is delivered down the mound. This is achieved through what we call weight transfer. This weight transfer turns potential energy into kinetic energy and helps determine the efficiency of both the timing and force thus effecting the amount of energy getting through the body to the baseball. Proper weight transfer sets up the efficient interaction and timing of rotational and directional momentum.

Ball velocity is optimized when:
1. posture is maintained,
2. the back leg stabilizes while the back knee flexes, firms up, and loads (isometrically) during front leg lift
3. there is an aggressive first forward movement with butt and center of gravity leading head/spine into front foot contact.
4. During this one second of weight transfer, a pitcher's lift leg should stay off the ground as long as possible to create a longer stride.
5. Head/spine stay on a natural line into a natural landing (foot strike) position.
6. Landing leg stabilizes, landing knee flexes, firms up and loads (isometrically) to translate kinetic energy up through body and out onto baseball at release point.
Hips/Shoulders:
Our research has indicated 80% of ball velocity is generated by rotational momentum when; 1) hips and shoulders separate between 40º - 60º around an upright spine. 2) Hips and shoulders maintain their angle of separation as long as strength and flexibility will allow while total body tracks forward into landing foot. 3) Throwing shoulder/glove shoulder delay rotation until hips have slowed/stopped their rotation. 4) Scapular 'loading' is allowed to be an unconscious accommodation that helps the throwing shoulder to stabilize and compensate for the weight of the throwing arm/ baseball as they change direction and snap from external rotation into release point.
Spine/Torso:
Our research has indicated 20% of ball velocity is generated by directional momentum when; 1) total body tracks head and spine on line in the exact direction created by shifting weight from posting foot to landing foot, 2) low back/spine hyperextend to keep torso upright and stacked as shoulders square up and track into a flexed and firm front leg. 3) Glove swivels and stabilizes over front foot as throwing arm lays back in external rotation. 4) Low back/spine goes into flexion just before throwing forearm snaps straight into release point.
With the evaluation data from this real velocity assessment available and analyzed, comes the obvious question: Is it possible to enhance the physical/biomechanical contribution of rotational momentum and/or directional momentum to the velocity of a fastball? (i.e. Can we become more mechanically efficient so we can make the most of our genetic potential to throw the ball faster?) The answer is yes!

there you go Im sure you will disagree with their findings.