The loss of flexion would also create a large drop in velocity. Whether or not a pitcher uses his triceps to extend his arm, the leverage and extension through the elbow joint can make a huge velocity difference. As extension decreases, the ball is accelerated for a shorter length of time, therefore velocity is lost.

So there’s that…

Good stuff here, and I think you may be on to something w/r/t the supinated release. It just seems like there is too many defects in RRS delivery for him to remain effective over a long period of time.

Kyle,

Although you are correct about the practical use of the knee, but it appears to me that although locking the knee is ok w/r/t the knee itself, it becomes counterproductive when associated with a pitching motion. A fair percentage of forward momentum is lost when a pitcher plants the leading leg with the knee straight. Just as Jon noted, to overcome this situation a pitcher has to compensate with added energy through the arm.

The combination of the stiff leg plant and the inverted W looks to me to be a quick way to the DL…

Lonnie

I disagree with this assessment. ASMI notes: “…[pitchers with] greater front knee stabilization and extension will throw with greater ball velocity.” Furthermore, joints are meant to handle directly in-line forces like extension and flexion but are NOT meant to handle side-to-side movement (hence ACL ruptures/tears occuring on mostly sideways displacement unless hyperextension is achieved).

Overall, I don’t much care if the pitcher “locks out” his glove leg. In sports science, extending the knee joint is the first step of an efficient push against the ground – we call it “triple extension.”

However, I find it very interesting that RRS has admitted to a loss of flexion in his pitching elbow. This is exactly what happens when you release pitches with a supinated grip.