“Proprioceptively Accurate Power Positions”
Throwing Arm Fires Without Kinetic Chain Involvement
When a pitcher tries to generate velocity and command using only their arm, they’re essentially “throwing” with their upper body in isolation. The lower body, hips, and core should initiate the movement, and the arm should be the last link in the chain to fire. This type of motion:
- Decreased Velocity: The pitcher can’t utilize the immense power generated by the legs and hips. They rely solely on smaller, more injury-prone muscles in the shoulder and arm.
- Hurts Command: Without a connected, repeatable sequence of movements, the timing of the arm and body will be inconsistent, making it difficult to hit a specific target.
- Increases Injury Risk: The arm and shoulder are put under tremendous stress as they attempt to compensate for the lack of a proper kinetic chain. This can lead to serious overuse injuries like rotator cuff tears or UCL damage.
Glove Hand Fires the Lower Body and Engages the Kinetic Chain
This statement describes a much more efficient and healthy pitching motion.
The glove hand acts as a crucial timing and sequencing mechanism. By “firing” or pulling the glove hand in towards the front hip, the pitcher initiates the rotation of the torso and transfers energy from the lower body. This motion:
- Increases Velocity: The glove-hand action helps to create hip-shoulder separation, which is the key to generating torque and power. As the glove side pulls toward the front hip, it allows the hips to open up and the chest to rotate forward, whipping the arm through the throwing zone.
- Improves Command: A consistent glove-hand action creates a repeatable and stable front side. This provides a solid base for the throwing arm to release the ball at the same point every time, leading to superior accuracy.
- Reduces Injury Risk: When the kinetic chain is properly engaged, the force generated by the throw is distributed throughout the body, from the legs to the core, rather than being isolated to the arm, which significantly reduces the stress on the elbow and shoulder joints.
