Pitching Pointers: The Drive Position
Nine times out of ten when you ask a softball pitcher what they want to get better at, the most common answer is to learn how to throw harder. Everyone knows that the majority of a pitcher’s speed comes from the legs. The arm speed and whip are important too, but speed requires much more effort from the legs. Teaching speed is not an easy concept. Most pitchers have had coaches or parents who like to use the phrase, “use your legs”. It is much easier said than done and if it’s not understood by the pitcher, chances are it won’t happen.
The drive position in a pitcher’s motion is the key to using legs and gaining speed. Every single pitcher has a drive position, however, some utilize it more than others. That is why many pitchers throw at different speeds. The drive position happens at the end of the pitcher’s pre-motion right before she pushes off the mound towards the catcher. The drive position in pitching is very similar to a track runner who is about to sprint forward. In order to explode out of the start line, or off the pitching mound, a few things need to happen.
First, pitchers need to bend their legs. Bending and squatting are two totally different things. Pitchers need to get their legs into an athletic bend position as well as stay balanced. For this to happen, the feet may need to be shifted to shoulder width apart on the rubber when the pitcher takes the mound. If the feet are too close together, it will be difficult for a pitcher to bend her legs and stay balanced in a good drive position.
Second, pitchers need to lean with their chest while their legs are bent. There is a big difference between leaning and falling over and leaning while maintaining a strong base with the legs bent. The chest should not be straight up and down while a pitcher’s legs are bent in the drive position. This will defeat the whole purpose of the drive position, which is to drive forward.
Pitchers should never sit too low in the drive position. The main purpose of the drive position is to incorporate the legs into the pitch. Bending the legs and getting the chest into a good position will help pitchers explode off the mound towards their catcher. Exploding with the legs and incorporating arm speed will always result in more speed.
Another thing the drive position is good for is cutting down the pitching distance. If pitchers are able to get into a good drive position and actually drive off the mound, they are going to increase their stride and get closer to the catcher. What pitcher wouldn’t want to throw from a closer pitching distance? The closer the pitcher can get to the catcher; the pitch will get to the hitter quicker, giving the pitcher what most call “sneaky speed”. Pitching from a closer distance is also going to be easier for pitchers and will help them maintain endurance throughout a game.
The drive position is crucial to a pitcher’s motion, especially when it comes to speed. Pitchers who throw with more speed are typically those who utilize the drive position. If you are looking for ways to increase speed, keep in mind that speed increase always comes from the legs. Two legs are always going to win against the single pitching arm, especially if you drive with them.
