halskinner
Banned
- May 7, 2008
- 2,637
- 0
A couple of points:
1) since the rules specifically state that the pivot foot must be on the pitching plate during the pitching motion but can drag forward along the ground, it is implied that the pivot foot should not be leaving the ground until the pitch is released. The reason the supplemental rules address "leaping" is they wanted to distinquish between two different types of illegal pictches: a) crow hopping (where the pivot foot pushes off the ground twice) and leaping (where both feet are off the ground).
2) even if you are correct that "the pivot foot can leave the ground as long as the stride foot is planted"; why would you encourage this technique? Its my understanding that the pivot foot is important for three reasons a) initial push off from the plate b) acts as a "rudder" for balance as it drags along the ground; and c) helps drive the hips closed right at release. If the pivot is off the ground when the stride foot is planted, it cannot help you achieve "b" and "c".
c) helps drive the hips closed right at release. If the pivot is off the ground when the stride foot is planted, it cannot help you achieve "b" and "c".[/QUOTE]
THAT IS AN INCORRRECT ANSWER. The pivot foot / leg DOES NOT contribute to hip closure. It does, in fact, impede hip closure. Hip closure is accomplished by the core muscles, the muscles of the upper body and shoulders. This is one of the big reasons you only want just enough pressure on the pivot foot toe dragging to keep it in contact with the ground, so the pivot leg / foot provides the least amount of resistance to any hip closure.
To imply that the pivot leg is what causes hip closure is to imply that you must have a 2nd push off from that leg near release. THAT is not true and is a misconception.