Plaz, it’s not surprising that you would have trouble simulating this pitcher’s movements.
Here’s the way I try and explain movement by any pitcher:
Try and write a sentence, any sentence. Say, write down - Mary had a little lamb.. for example.
I know, I know it’s stupid – just do it. Then ask a couple of your buddies to do the same. When comparing the handwriting, are they all the same or different? They’re all different, of course.
And there in is the basic secret to professional coaching – looking at every individual as such, an individual. There is no way that you or anyone like you will start, pause, move, progress, release then stop as you do. Oh, when looking at two or more pitchers side by side in video, or even in real time, they may look absolutely identical, but they’re not – if you know where and what to look for. Little things separate each pitcher in sometimes subtle ways, that in total, make each of you unique.
How is this so important when receiving coaching and progressing yourself? There are what we call “triggers” that initiate each of the three basic stages of every pitcher’s progression as he pitches. Those three stages are the setup phase, the stride phase and the release/deceleration phase. These “triggers” are the body’s deliberate moves to setup the next phase, and so on, repeating until the end product.
Now pitcher’s like Lincecum take his phases to the extreme, and I use the word extreme only because of the comparison to other pitcher in the professional game. Possibly in the amateur game also, but I wouldn’t know about that.
Your body has natural tendencies that tell you things that go a long way with what you can and cannot do – at a certain point in your life. Listen and guide yourself accordingly. With professional coaching, you can enhance those assets to a certain level – but again, your body will only allow you to go so far. Not listening to your body’s sensing mechanisms will only result in pain and injuries. Recently I was watching a senior’s baseball game for men over 50. Let me tell you, somebody wasn’t home when the memo came out from the body saying– take it easy scooter I’m 50 years old, not 15!
