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Pulldown vs. Crow Hop vs. Shuffle Step vs. Step Behinds
Loosely, the goal in all of these is to create extra momentum and hip/shoulder separation.
Why? To train moving and throwing as fast as you possibly can.
Letâs get into it
Loosely, the goal in all of these is to create extra momentum and hip/shoulder separation.
Why? To train moving and throwing as fast as you possibly can.
Letâs get into it
Since the beginning of time, weâve been trying to throw objects as far, fast and accurately as possible. We did this to hunt. Today, we do it for sport.
As we developed methods to throw harder like weighted balls, we recognized that it was important to throw from different positions.
The three positions we throw from at the @NPA_Pitching are: Knees, Rocker/Leaper and Run-and-Gun
The three positions we throw from at the @NPA_Pitching are: Knees, Rocker/Leaper and Run-and-Gun
Knees: no momentum, neutral ground force, all upper body torque
Rocker/Leaper: rocking back, leaping into foot strike, adding lower half, while maintaining torque
Run-and-Guns: full momentum, step behind and full torque
Rocker/Leaper: rocking back, leaping into foot strike, adding lower half, while maintaining torque
Run-and-Guns: full momentum, step behind and full torque
What are run-and-guns? We use them to test maximum capacity for pitchers. A full speed run into a step behind and throw.
Some would call this a pulldown. If you want to, go ahead. Actually, there is no difference if done correctly. You run fast and throw as hard as you can. BUT
Some would call this a pulldown. If you want to, go ahead. Actually, there is no difference if done correctly. You run fast and throw as hard as you can. BUT
The problem is the terminology of âpulldownâ gives the impression that a pitcher should pull their front side down to create more energy. So everyone is out there yanking their front sides.
Hence the term Run-and-Gun.
Moving fast, forward and with perfect mechanics.
Hence the term Run-and-Gun.
Moving fast, forward and with perfect mechanics.
I use step-behinds and run-and-guns. Thatâs what weâve tested in terms of movement and terminology, to be the most helpful to our athletes.
We ran into issues with âcrow hopsâ because athletes will jump and send force up instead of forward.
We ran into issues with âcrow hopsâ because athletes will jump and send force up instead of forward.
And âshuffle stepsâ lead to pitchers moving too slowly.
All of this is to say, these terms are used interchangeably and thatâs when things get messy.
We, as an industry, need to be clear and concise about drills and what their intentions are.
All of this is to say, these terms are used interchangeably and thatâs when things get messy.
We, as an industry, need to be clear and concise about drills and what their intentions are.
When youâre trying to throw as hard as you can, you donât want to do any drill where your mechanics deteriorate and change to try and get more velocity. The goal is to have as good of mechanics as you can, while moving and throwing as fast as you can.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
