My Pitcher Digs To China

By Mr. Tim

Article supplied courtesy of Mr. Tim at
The Pitch-A-Fit FastPitch Website. (www.pitchafit.com)

The holes can be inches deep and resemble a small creek, especially after a rain. They are tough to fill and can cause a nagging balance problem late in the game. We have all seen these long and distinctive pitching drag marks that we sometimes refer to as "the moat." when you have a right and left-handed pitcher competing against each other, this moat can take on the shape of a good size "X." The grounds crew (normally the lone coach with an old rake), can labor daily to smooth out these marks that can crystallize into rock hard formations.

The are several reasons for digging during the execution of a pitch. Improper weight transfer, stepping too soon, and delayed hip rotation can all cause the troublesome drag marks. Drag marks can sometimes be the response to a pitcher screaming for more ground resistance from the lower body, especially if she is using improper body mechanics. Whatever the reason, deep moat trenching can be a sign of something mechanically wrong with the pitch.

Is digging considered bad, and can it be corrected? Some digging is expected, especially with the rise or any pitch that requires the weight to remain back. Some drag can actually help keep a pitcher's body behind the pitch. Dragging is really a result of a pitcher trying to use ground resistance during the delivery. Exploiting ground resistance is a great asset for a pitcher, improper use of ground resistance can work against her. A frequent cause of deep drag marks results from the improper pivot foot placement on the rubber.

The forward leg thrust must be a controlled and well-executed move in order to have good body balance and weight transfer throughout the pitch. The pivot foot and ankle work in unison to help place the forward leg thrust in correct aliment for the pitch. Deep drag marks late in the game can restrict a good pivot foot movement required for the forward leg thrust step. If the pivot foot is placed too far forward on the rubber (figure1), then the pitcher will be pushing off the dirt after executing a forward leg thrust. This can be demonstrated by having the pitcher place her forward leg foot on her normal landing area point. You then can see that her pivot foot is pushing off the dirt just in front of the rubber, hence the start of the dig marks.
 

By repositioning the pivot foot on the rubber, (with her foot at a slight angle, which helps ease the opening of the hips), she will find her pivot foot is pushing off the leading edge of the rubber instead of the dirt (figure 2). Pushing off the front off the leading edge of the rubber initiates better leg drive and ground resistance mechanics. A simple repositioning of the pivot foot on the rubber can decrease the digging action.

There will always be drag marks and coaches with rakes to fill them. Using ground resistance during the pitch can be a valuable tool for a pitcher, but only if proper fundamentals are mastered. If you find yourself harvesting rise from your drag marks, then maybe you need to get to the foot of the problem.
 

Article supplied courtesy of Mr. Tim at The Pitch-A-Fit Fastpitch Website. (www.pitchafit.com)