When it comes to pitching mechanics, you know I’m a big fan of giving young pitchers the freedom to develop their own style… But there have to be some constants, don’t there?
I mean, you can’t just have young pitchers just trying to figure it all out on their own, can you?
Okay, I’d agree with that… But I also think you want to avoid being too cookie cutter.
- Focus on the important things… the Key Power Drivers
- Develop good mechanical efficiencies
- Avoid reinforcing major mechanical flaws
- Start developing powerful movements early on….
But what does all of that mean?
Yesterday, I had the honor of being a guest presenter for one of Powerchalk’s training webinars over at GetBetterFaster.tv. The topic?
[h3]Drop and Drive versus Tall & Fall Pitching Webinar[/h3]
Really had a great time talking shop with Chaz… And we got into what I see as some of the big problems I have with both terms…
It’s why you’ll never hear me actually use the terms Tall and Fall or Drop and Drive with my pitchers.
A lot of times guys hear “Drop and Drive” and they think it means sinking or “dropping” over their back foot and then pushing or “driving” off the rubber. Here’s a post from a while back where I talk more about that.
On the other hand, when pitchers hear “Tall and Fall” they think, “Okay, I just want to get tall and let gravity take over.” You end up with a stiff, passive back leg and a pitcher who’s totally upper-half dominant.
In case you’re not quite sure what I’m referring to, I dug up some clips here (you’ll see more if you head over and watch the webinar).
[h4]Some Classic Drop and Drive vs. Tall and Fall Pitching Examples[/h4]
That’s a David Cone (19 strikeout game) and a young Kerry Wood (only 20 K’s that day).
As you watch, I think it’s pretty easy to see which one of them would be considered the “Drop and Drive” guy. Another thing we discuss on the webinar is how a lot of guys you might think of as “Tall and Fall” really aren’t… they’re active with the back leg. Kershaw’s a great example. Brandon McCarthy’s another…
Real tall pitcher… High center of gravity… Throws “downhill”…
Looks like a “Tall and Fall” guy here, right?
But what about here?
This is a key move that most pitchers miss out on when they think about “staying tall”… Here’s another clip… Rosenthal on the left (more “Drop and Drive”), McCarthy on the right (“Tall and Fall”?)
Pay attention to McCarthy’s back leg… Look pretty active?
Okay, I’ll end it there today… Definitely plenty of room for more discussion.
So what do YOU think? Tall and Fall or Drop and Drive?
Or maybe Neither and Both???
Until next time…
Keep Learning. Keep Growing. Get Better!