Basic Baseball Mechanics - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Basic Baseball MechanicsBob McCrearyBaseball by the Yard .comhttp://www.baseballbytheyard.com/videos/View the videos in conjunction with these notes for explanation of concepts and mechanics

2. Basic Catching and ThrowingPalms FacingHigh five, above the waistLow five, below the waistStep to the BallGain momentum towards your targetStep to the ball with glove side footFront Side ClosedBaseball eyes towards your targetLess strain on your arm especially on larger fieldsThumbs Down, Fingers on Top of the BallSets up arm for a proper path to grab the fence.Flexible wristElbow/HeadElbow at shoulder height or higherEyes level, steady head

3. It All Starts with DefenseSet Up 1-2 Baseball Ready at every pitch. Move to the balls of your feetSquare up your feetCorner Infielders glove down, Middle Infielders glove in frontOutfield, step, square up, hands on hipsInfield BasicsTwo TrianglesFeet and head, feet apart, good athletic positionGlove and feet, glove out in frontHead down, nose in the glove, should see button of capOutfield BasicsDrop step to side ball is hitRun on balls of feetSquare shoulders and body to where the ball is going, not where it is Catching BasicsFeet apart, establish a wide base, good balanceReceive ball like you are steering a carBury throwing hand behind your ankle or the glove if a runner is onTag and Bag BasicsTag in a capital V, not sweep or UStraddle the bag, Tag to the bag, not the runner

4. Hitting….Movement ConservationStride or Not?Depends on ability to make contactStay balancedLoad or Not? Slight shoulder turn, in and downWeight shift to back footHands insideQuickest path to the ballPromotes good hip turnFront Foot-Back FootOnly one foot moves at a timeBalance and DirectionContact PointMost importantT Work Drill-Start at point of contact, work backFollow ThroughFollow through is important for proper momentum

5. Pitching Basics Keep in Mind….Its not rocket sciencePitching does not have to be too complicatedKeep it to basic conceptsOne size does not fit allOk for every pitcher to be unique in some wayGood for your pitching staff to have different looksQuirkiness vs Health HazardCoaches do not have to iron out the quirk but need to address the health hazardPitching is not completely safeVery unnatural movement for an elbow of go above the shoulder, or shoulder to rotate forwardEffective pitching and coaching takes time

6. Basic Pitching MechanicsPart oneThe set upFeet shoulder width apartHands in front of the belly buttonKnee KickSlight above parallel to the groundGood balanceFoot under the kneeHands togetherFront Side ApproachHands separate when the leg starts to come downFront side is closed, baseball eyes on targetHead is up, eyes are levelThe LandingStride long enough for pitcher to land flat footedLand on a straight line to the plateSlight bend in knee at point of landing, allows momentum to continue Part Two Two E’s. Elbows and EyesElbow at or above shoulder levelGlove elbow at the hipEyes are level. Don’t tilt your headRotation and Finish180 degree turn, start to finishGlove at the hipLeg, up and over the bucketBend, head, back, hips are parallel to the groundDon’t emphasize defensive position too early, (only 90 degree rotationCommon mistakesPitchers go from tall to smallInfielders go from small to tallKids need to make that transition when they go from fielding to pitching

7. Roy Halladay: Baseball Eyes on target, leg kick parallel to the ground, grab the fence, finishCole Hamels: Fingers on top of the ball, thumb to the thigh, bend and step over the bucketSteve Carlton: Using the lower body for torque and power, grab the fence, pitch tall to small