Something as Simple as the Backswing

If you don’t understand the purpose of certain movements within an activity, it is easy to cause problems by trying to change them. Many people who work with pitchers have a single mindset. “This is the way I did it, or this is the way I see it, so just do it my way.”Not a lot of thought goes into the “why”.
The backswing is just one of those often misunderstood components in pitching. Something so simple can cause so many headaches. The arm can swing behind the back, it can go back so high that it appears far above the shoulder, or it can cause her timing problems. So, the simple solution is to simply remove it. Or is it?
What happens when we remove it? Most of the time the pitcher will feel the need for some sort of start so she begins by lifting the shoulder to try to generate momentum. Once the shoulder is taken out of its natural rotation it cannot be returned to the correct plane. It can slow her speed or it can cause shoulder to grind, creating pain just inside the shoulder blade, a warning that things are headed in a bad direction. Does this always happen? No. Sometimes athletes are just gifted with abilities so special they can do improper movements and still perform better than average. Could she be better? Most often the answer is yes.
Immediately someone will become defensive and say, “My daughter has no backswing and she does just fine”. The question is not whether a single person does okay with or without something, but whether certain movements should be changed just because someone did not know how to correct them. Let’s say a hitter reaches back too far, straightens the arms, or drops the bat angle as she loads to take the swing. Using the logic above, the simple answer would be to have her totally remove the load and start the bat head even with her ear, simply pushing the ball. There are strong kids who could do that effectively, but is that ideal?
This gets even more complicated when a male tries to influence a female without understanding significant differences in their movement patterns, the different angles in their body, and their strengths. Our entire point is that you should think more deeply. What is the role of a backswing? What causes it to go too far or to go behind the back? How is backswing related to arm speed, distance off the mound, or the ability to throw a riseball? How can a proper start easily eliminate all problems with the backswing? And, finally, does a proper backswing have anything to do with increasing the power in the hips, a huge factor for females in any athletic move? The key word is “proper” backswing.
There are a lot of theories, but few people even know how to go about researching this because of the variables that can occur if someone is not familiar with the sequencing of the entire motion. Researching this has been a fascinating journey for our organization and the findings were very revealing.
In summary, ask questions, challenge conventional wisdom, and just because one person does something in a certain way does not mean it is the best or most healthy way for your daughter. If you have questions, email us. If you are a former college pitcher who would like to learn more about joining with us and helping change pitching across the country, talk with me.