Mastering teh Fundamentals: Pro Pitchers Share Catching Tips with Young Athletes
While pitching styles vary, every professional pitcher understands the crucial role of a solid catch. This was the focus of the “Professional Baseball Shizuoka Kenjin Association Baseball Class” event held last December, where twelve professional baseball players from Shizuoka Prefecture, including Hanshin’s yu Iwasaki and Yakult’s Reiji Ozawa, shared their expertise with 170 sixth-grade elementary school students.
The event, which featured instruction in defense, hitting, and catching, saw former DeNA pitchers Kufu Hayate and Sodai Ikeya, Oisix Niigata’s Takuto Takada, and Hiroshima’s Kenri Akatsuka leading the catching sessions.
Takada emphasized the importance of a strong, direct step with the lead foot (left foot for right-handed pitchers) towards the target when throwing. This principle, he explained, applies not only to pitchers but also to fielders making throws. He also stressed the need to avoid opening the body during the throw, aiming for a release point closer to the batter for a more elongated throwing motion.
Rather than relying solely on arm strength, Takada highlighted the significance of engaging the lower body for power. He encouraged the young athletes to focus on throwing accurate, line-drive throws rather than prioritizing distance.
Sodai Ikeya, observing the students’ technique, pointed out the common mistake of leaning forward during the throw. He explained that this prevents the full transfer of weight to the ball. Instead, he advised them to firmly plant their pivot foot (right foot for right-handed pitchers) and shift their weight onto it for a more powerful throw.
Kenri Akatsuka, known for his blazing fastball that clocks in at an impressive 153 km/h, shared his insights on grip technique. He focuses on “vertical rotation” to generate speed and power,gripping the ball with his index and middle fingers close together,eliminating any space between them. While this grip offers less control compared to a wider grip, it allows for greater vertical rotation, resulting in a faster ball.
Akatsuka emphasized that there is no single “correct” way to grip the ball. He encouraged the students to experiment and find a grip that suits their individual throwing style and strengths.
Catch, seemingly simple, is a essential skill that even professional players dedicate time to perfecting. It lays the groundwork for both pitching and throwing mechanics, highlighting the importance of mastering the basics.
Masterclass in Throwing Mechanics: An Interview with Coach Mike
Welcome back, sports fans! Today, we’re diving deep into the fundamentals of throwing mechanics with a seasoned expert – Coach mike Thompson, former MLB pitcher, and current youth baseball coach.
Coach, thanks for joining us. We recently saw some fascinating insights from professional pitchers in Japan about the importance of catching fundamentals. They emphasized aspects like footwork, weight transfer, and grip technique. Does this resonate with your experience in professional baseball?
Coach Mike: Absolutely! Throwing mechanics are incredibly critically important, and its great to see these Japanese players emphasizing the basics. Here in the US,we sometimes get too focused on velocity and forget that a solid foundation is crucial for any pitcher,nonetheless of their age or level.
That’s quite insightful.One of the pitchers stressed the importance of a strong, direct step with the lead foot when throwing. He argued this applies not just to pitching but even to fielders making throws. Do you agree with this?
Coach Mike: I couldn’t agree more! That lead foot drives the entire throwing motion.It creates momentum and helps generate power from the ground up. Think about it like hitting a golf ball – the backswing, the weight transfer, it all starts with a strong base.
The same article highlighted the importance of engaging the lower body for power, rather then just relying on arm strength. What’s your take on that?
Coach Mike: That’s spot on! Throwing should involve your entire body, not just your arm. Think of it like a whip – the power comes from the flick of the wrist, but that flick is connected to a long, coordinated movement from the whole body. If you’re not using your legs and core, you’re limited in your power and accuracy.
Now, we often see young pitchers try to throw as hard as they can, but is that always the best approach?
Coach Mike: (chuckles) You’re preaching to the choir! Young pitchers often fall into this trap. They think throwing harder is automatically better. However, accuracy is far more important at that stage.A well-placed fastball at 70 mph will be far more effective than a wild pitch at 80 mph.
Absolutely! The Japanese pitchers also discussed different grip techniques, with one emphasizing “vertical rotation” for speed. Do you think experimenting with grips is crucial for young pitchers?
Coach Mike: Absolutely! Find what works best for you. Some pitchers have a natural grip that works for them, while others need to adjust. It’s about finding that sweet spot where you can generate both speed and control.
We know our readers are passionate about baseball. What advice would you give to young baseball players who want to improve their throwing mechanics?
Coach Mike: Practice consistently, focus on the fundamentals, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from a coach or experienced player. Remember, it’s a journey, not a sprint.
Thanks for the amazing insights,Coach Mike. We truly appreciate you sharing your expertise with our readers.
What are your thoughts on these essential throwing principles? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! Let’s keep the conversation going!
Keywords:* throwing mechanics, baseball fundamentals, youth baseball, pitching techniques, grip, footwork, weight transfer, accuracy, velocity, expert advice
