Style Versus Form

There is a difference between style and form. So often we see young pitchers trying to emulate the style they have seen with pitchers they admire. Style and form are two very different things. Form, or mechanics, is the part of the pitch which directly affects outcome.

Style is simply the “presentation, decoration, or personality” that makes a pitcher unique. It doesn’t affect outcome. However, in many cases they can become confused.
Some people believe that the height of a pitcher’s glove before the backswing is simply style. It can be style, but it can also affect form. If, for instance, a pitcher takes the hand and glove so high that it arches her back before the backswing, the downswing can actually throw the shoulders forward and leave hips behind, causing the pitcher to have to pull the hips forward before release, which requires energy that should have gone into the ball. The same action may get too much weight on the heel of the back foot, causing the pitcher to have to take a tiny step forward to establish momentum, which becomes illegal as well as inefficient.
How about the backswing? Is that style or form? Actually our research has shown that a backswing is a significant contributor in several ways. However, if the backswing is so dramatic that it causes a bending off the waist, tightening of the delts, or turning of the shoulder, then it can hamper the pitcher. Not knowing how to handle these problems, many people choose to eliminate the backswing, but that can create new problems in the beginning of the motion. Think about hitting. Taking the bat back too far, or not far enough, creates different problems. The key is balance.
How about a pitcher who bends dramatically at the waist before pushing off the mound? Is that style or form? It largely depends on the position she achieves right at push-off. One little difference can set in motion a chain of events which allow the pitcher to reach new levels, or prevent her from ever reaching her potential. The more curious you become the more you can help your pitcher make sure that she doesn’t let style affect form and that she understands the purpose of each part of the move. If you, or your instructor, have questions, let us know.