Why do pitchers use sidearm?

It is most common to hear that sidearm pitching places less stress on the elbow and shoulder, thus reducing a pitcher’s risk of injury. It is also not uncommon to hear the opposite.

Is it bad to throw a baseball sidearm?

There is a common myth that pitching sidearm or three-quarters to sidearm increases the risk of injury. However, there is no evidence to establish this link. Instead, making pitchers throw over the top can create posture changes that negatively affect performance.

Why do shortstops throw sidearm?

The sidearm throwing motion is a way to counter balance the weight of the body moving from right to left when a shortstop fields a ground ball up the middle. It is a throwing motion that is fast and can be delivered on the move with much more accuracy than an over-the-shoulder throwing motion.

Why is a long arm better for throwing a light ball?

The muscles of players with shorter pitching arms apply their force with greater leverage—so, in order for pitchers with longer arms to achieve the same release velocity, they have to apply a greater force.

Should I pitch sidearm?

Should you lead with your elbow when pitching?

The “Elbow Up” Cue – What it Really Means Then, as the arm is moving through shoulder external rotation, the elbow will lead the throw, extending and pronating at ball release as shown below. This stays true with any position player or pitcher.

Does height affect pitching speed?

As you can see in table 1, the data show no evidence of a statistically significant correlation, for starting pitchers, between height (in inches) and any of the customary measures of pitching effectiveness.

Do longer arms make you throw harder?

Longer arms can also help throw a ball faster and farther due to the increased centrifugal force they can generate during the throwing motion, according to The Sport Journal. Regardless of the arm length, however, proper warmups and throwing mechanics are critical to reduce the risk of injuries.

Should the pitching arm go all the way to the side?

If it gets all the way to the side, it helps improve the rotation speed of the torso, which is a major component in pitching velocity. Now, there’s one caviat: the pitching arm shouldn’t just flop out to the side like many youth pitchers tend to do.

How can I improve my arm action in baseball?

Then, work on the hip bump, shoulder tilt, and stress a good glove arm action that leads the pitcher to move his chest forward to the plate. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

What is arm angle in pitching?

Arm angle is genetic and based on the arm’s relationship to the spine. Pitching instruction shouldn’t try to change this natural angle. “Get on top of the ball” is a common phrase players hear during pitching instruction.

What is the difference between sidearm and overhand pitching?

The biggest difference between throwing sidearm versus overhand is the movement of the pitches. Sidearm pitchers generally have much more tailing action on their pitches, and this enables pitchers with less velocity to improve their chances. The sidearm arm angle is also thought to be less stressful on the arm, but this is topic is widely argued.