increasing stride length

[jamesh23]

I googled and googled and looked for this... I couldnt find it. So how does one go about increasing his stride length? i want to get mine to at least 100% of my height which is 68" but im going for 72". right now its short its at 51" consistently how would I increase my stride 20" before the season starts? also how could one work on hip/shoulder seperation and opening? I'm mainly trying to increase my velocity with good mechanics. I throw with a high arm slot just so everyone knows, I always have, should I lower it to 3/4's and keep my shoulder low like greg maddux?

[XV84]

Why do you want a long stride? Don't tell me "so it can increase my velocity". The stride length is not a cause of velocity. It is a result of explosiveness towards the plate into footplant and the amount of bend in the rear knee. Maintaining balance and momentum over a certain amount of distance certainly plays a role as well.

[paul5150]

To stride further wouldnt you just stride further? Not rocket science?

[Coach45]

Biomechanical studies done on stride length suggest that 70-80% of body height is superior from an efficiency standpoint. You're in that range now. Lengthening your stride is likely to create timing problems, increase you risk of shoulder and/or elbow injury as you compensate for timing, and also end up hurting either your lower back, glove-side knee and hip, or groin. Suggest you forget about lengthening your stride.

[Chris O'Leary]

Biomechanical studies done on stride length suggest that 70-80% of body height is superior from an efficiency standpoint. You're in that range now. Lengthening your stride is likely to create timing problems, increase you risk of shoulder and/or elbow injury as you compensate for timing, and also end up hurting either your lower back, glove-side knee and hip, or groin. Suggest you forget about lengthening your stride.

I agree with this.

[RIstar]

No way 70-80% of your height your stride I think should be around 90-100% of your height anything less you are not creating enough elastic energy to transfer up the chain. Most pitchers stride to there height.


Also work on momentum and being explosive down the mound longer that will help.

Stride is a Cause and Effect thing

Cause- momentum and explosiveness

Effect- long stride to home plate.

[jamesh23]

To stride further wouldnt you just stride further? Not rocket science?

no, measure your stride now thats consistent when you pitch and just automatically try to stride 6" further you cant do it, and yea its to increase velocity, i read something that says for every foot of stride length thats 3 mph added.

[dm59]

Biomechanical studies done on stride length suggest that 70-80% of body height is superior from an efficiency standpoint.Hey coach. Haven't spoken to you in a while. Can you post some links to those studies?

[jamesh23]

No way 70-80% of your height your stride I think should be around 90-100% of your height anything less you are not creating enough elastic energy to transfer up the chain. Most pitchers stride to there height.


Also work on momentum and being explosive down the mound longer that will help.

Stride is a Cause and Effect thing

Cause- momentum and explosiveness

Effect- long stride to home plate.


ok so what about opening up the hips and keeping the elbow low?

[Coach45]

No way 70-80% of your height your stride I think should be around 90-100% of your height anything less you are not creating enough elastic energy to transfer up the chain. Most pitchers stride to there height.


Also work on momentum and being explosive down the mound longer that will help.

Stride is a Cause and Effect thing

Cause- momentum and explosiveness

Effect- long stride to home plate.

You're welcome to your opinion although your opinion flies in the face of scientists who are actually measuring these things and figuring out WHY things work the way they do. I'm familiar with these concepts because I talk with some of these gentlemen on a regular basis. The more you increase stride length the lower your release point. Think of it this way: stand up tall and visualize your release; now, do the splits and visualize your release. Lengthening the stride is like doing the splits, and the torso doesn't really go much farther forward, it just sinks downward. It stays centered on the hips.

[RIstar]

jamesh23 you are talking about how fast the hitter has to react it's true the closer you are less time BUT do not focus on stirde length intead focus on what gets you to the stride length.

Momentum and also explosive movement. That will get you your long stride you want if you do it right.

[RIstar]

Coach45 that's if you are reaching with your front foot for a longer stride. But if you allow momentum and a hard explosive move you will get around 90-100% of your height.

[Chris O'Leary]

no, measure your stride now thats consistent when you pitch and just automatically try to stride 6" further you cant do it, and yea its to increase velocity, i read something that says for every foot of stride length thats 3 mph added.

Not if you overstride and lock up your hips. Then you may COST yourself MPH.

A longer stride is no panacea.

[Coach45]

Hey coach. Haven't spoken to you in a while. Can you post some links to those studies?

Hi DM,

I'm compiling a database of these but don't have it accessible at the moment. One publisher is going to allow me to publish PDF's of a few studies through a website. Go to Google Scholar and enter keywords "pitching stride length" for starters. Unfortunately many of these articles (Journal of Biomechanics, etc) require paid subscriptions. An MD friend of mine was able to get free copies for me. However, some of the abstracts give minimal overviews of conclusions.

Send me a PM if you want more details.

[Coach45]

Coach45 that's if you are reaching with your front foot for a longer stride. But if you allow momentum and a hard explosive move you will get around 90-100% of your height.

Understand your point, yet at this point you're now talking about drive off the backside and not stride length. Two different concepts.

[Shake Zula]

Not if you overstride and lock up your hips. Then you may COST yourself MPH.

A longer stride is no panacea.

Hmmm.. then if Lincecum can reduce his stride length to 80%, then would he increase his velocity? Assuming that he gets same separation, scap load and momentum.

Would all of these guys gain velocity if they reduce their stride? (all of them has long strides)

http://thebickeringmicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/88065915-5a20-4000-a265-f6c65584df51.jpg
http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2007-w40/img.14563_t.jpg
http://static.baseballtoaster.com/blogs/u/cardboardgods/2007/611/0001/Nolan_Ryan_80_360.jpg
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/1007/mlb_g_sabathia_275.jpg

I'm not a Mills klan and I don't like the mechanics that he usually teaches(I follow mix of many 'gurus'), but I think long stride is an advantage for pitchers because they can get closer to the home plate on the release point (without towel drill or perceived velocity) And I don't see hips 'locking' out due to a long stride because of the momentum flow that has been occurring before striding allows hips to continue to rotate.

And another key point is a longer stride causes the ball to go lower--which means faster. It's not like we are throwing line drives on a flat ground; pitchers throw down to the catcher from the higher elevation with the help of gravity.

[Chris O'Leary]

Hmmm.. then if Lincecum can reduce his stride length to 80%, then would he increase his velocity? Assuming that he gets same separation, scap load and momentum.

Would all of these guys gain velocity if they reduce their stride? (all of them has long strides)

Not necessarily.

But these guys' bodies can handle a longer stride. Not everyone can.

Also, their balls move enough that they can get away with throwing a flatter ball.


I'm not a Mills klan and I don't like the mechanics that he usually teaches(I follow mix of many 'gurus'), but I think long stride is an advantage for pitchers because they can get closer to the home plate on the release point (without towel drill or perceived velocity)

You are also lowering your release point, which is non-trivial.


And I don't see hips 'locking' out due to a long stride because of the momentum flow that has been occurring before striding allows hips to continue to rotate.

That doesn't mean it doesn't happen.


And another key point is a longer stride causes the ball to go lower--which means faster.

This doesn't make any sense.

[APPpitch]

Understand your point, yet at this point you're now talking about drive off the backside and not stride length. Two different concepts.

Right. Stride length is a result of the momentum created when you move fast enough to get your hips traveling forcefully toward the target.

If you are at least 100% of your height, then you are probably moving in an explosive manner.

All of the pictures of the pitchers just above do this, including Lincecum. If you attempt to lengthen your stride while still moving at a speed which naturally gets you 65", it won't work. Add the speed, adjust for your new timing, and enjoy the affects.

If your goal is to pitch more like these guys and less like others who move slowly and rely on arm strength instead of body strength as a unit, then mark a line in the dirt and move your body with just enough force to attain this simple goal.

It is not rocket science, it is a result of pitching in a manner most of the best do without much concern.

-scott

[jamesh23]

APPpitch thats the exact answer I was looking for thanks.

[APPpitch]

I googled and googled and looked for this... I couldnt find it. So how does one go about increasing his stride length? i want to get mine to at least 100% of my height which is 68" but im going for 72". right now its short its at 51" consistently how would I increase my stride 20" before the season starts? also how could one work on hip/shoulder seperation and opening? I'm mainly trying to increase my velocity with good mechanics. I throw with a high arm slot just so everyone knows, I always have, should I lower it to 3/4's and keep my shoulder low like greg maddux?

Without seeing and knowing you, I'll make a blanket statement. If you are not truly fit to pitch, moving smooth, with force enough to get to 100% might be very difficult. So take it a little at a time. Start by putting the line at 55" and each week for the next 12, add to it. By then, you'll be in pitching shape and ready to go for the season.

-scott

ps. With a high arm slot, I'll assume you are trunk leaning in order to stay safe. When you watch video of yourself, just make sure your elbow doesn't get higher than your shoulder. Keeping these aligned is a very safe natural position. Do you know what I mean?

-s

[jamesh23]

Without seeing and knowing you, I'll make a blanket statement. If you are not truly fit to pitch, moving smooth, with force enough to get to 100% might be very difficult. So take it a little at a time. Start by putting the line at 55" and each week for the next 12, add to it. By then, you'll be in pitching shape and ready to go for the season.

-scott

thanks a lot, and my elbow does go higher than my shoulder, if I brought it down it wouldnt be over the top woudl it? it would be 3/4's.

[APPpitch]

thanks a lot, and my elbow does go higher than my shoulder, if I brought it down it wouldnt be over the top woudl it? it would be 3/4's.


And that works too. Nolan Ryan threw low 3/4's. In a video review, you should be able to draw a straight line from one shoulder past the neck to the other shoulder to your throwing elbow and it should be a straight line. Ideally, of course.

So if you throw over the top, it should mean that you are leaning your trunk enough so that that straight line can still be drawn. Even if it goes from 11:00 to 5:00. Or 10:00 to 4:00.

I don't have access to fancy graphics software and a stock of pictures to pull from, but Chris O'Leary does.

-scott