Catching: The importance of lower body mechanics

To initiate, speed up and generate power for throwdowns, proper footwork and lower body mechanics are crucial. Deb Hartwig, an instructor at Just Softball, discusses footwork and posture as well as how video analysis has helped her identify ways to aid her catchers.

She begins by showing how standing up vs. stepping forward into a throwdown, greatly improves the speed of the throwing action. Hartwig then continues to go over three ways catchers can approach a throwdown: foot replacement, foot pivot, and throwing from your knees. If the catcher catches the ball on their glove side,  foot replacement is best utilized. When the catcher catches the ball on their throwing side, a foot pivot may be optimal. Throwing from the knees is often the best option with a pitch lower in the zone. Hartwig emphasizes the importance of practicing all three of these techniques and demonstrates when catchers should make use of them.

She also highlights how critical proper posture and the lower half of the body is in generating power for their throws. Throughout her presentation, she notes ways to spot improper mechanics, what it means and how you can help your catcher make the correction.

What shouldn't your catchers do when they cheat into their throwing motions? How has Hartwig changed her views on the fastest way to get off a throw? What does it mean to “reverse-posture” and why is it so important? You’ll hear frank answers to these and other key questions on this informative video about catching and lower body mechanics.