Softball Throwing

How the ThrowMAX works for overhand - Softball
Examples of Poor Mechanics

Dropping the elbow	Leading with the elbow	Inside-out motion/wrapping	Shot-put/pie throwing
This throw looks like a player "flicking" the ball with no power, speed or accuracy behind it.	The elbow is far ahead of the rest of the arm which makes it look like a dragging motion - this puts severe strain on the elbow and shoulder.	In this throw, the arm is usually wrapped around the head and on the forward motion it is brought around the side of the body.	Commonly used by catchers, only the arm is used - this throw also puts alot of strain on the elbow, and shoulder.

How many times have you had to tell your players:
"GET YOUR ELBOW UP WHEN YOU THROW!!!"

Players learn by seeing hearing and feeling. If they cannot have all of those factors working for them it's very difficult to understand what a coach is saying. It is even more difficult for them to develop muscle memory for that action. The ThrowMAX is the world's only flexible arm brace made of extremely lightweight material that fits directly on a ballplayers arm. There are 2 Velcro straps to hold the brace on and 3 flexible polycarbonate bars that supply resistance which provides instant feedback as to the correct and incorrect motion of a player's throwing motion. The brace has a player immediately recognize if they try to shortcut an overhand throw.

	Notice in this close up that when the player tries to drop the elbow, the brace applies pressure - you can see the skin rising on top of the bicep, the inside of the forearm and tricep area.

How the ThrowMAX works:

• Keeps arms at a proper 85-90-degree angle
• Provides Instant feedback
• Creates muscle memory
  
  Wrapping around the back of the head (pitchers/outfielders), throwing behind the ear (catchers), and dropping the elbow below the shoulder (infielders), are all dangerous ways to throw meaning that injury is not far off. With the ThrowMAX, as soon as a players begins to drop their arm, they feel increasing pressure which tells the body to raise the arm up. Essentially the ThrowMAX alters the previous incorrect comfort zones of the throwing arm in order to take the stress off of the ligaments, elbow, growth plates, and shoulder. It helps promote a fluid and relaxed motion (as long as it is worn correctly - see Putting it on and Size Chart)

• Allows the appropriate rotation of the arm and shoulder
  The ball and socket are not hindered in any way, meaning the arm can still rotate back and forth in it's natural motion but not working from the inside-out. Combine this with the fact that the ThrowMAX will not allow the arm to drop greatly prevents the possibility of tearing the rotator cuff - check out Throwing Clinic for further details.
  
  
  
   

Before (not using the brace)	After (using the ThrowMAX)
Notice where this players arm is cocked. It's wrapped around the back of the head which makes body balance awkward with the ball in laid back on top of the hand. The results are incorrect arm slot and probably a tail on the throw. (See Throwing Clinic)
	Notice how the arm is in the high-cock position with the body upright, head straight, and easily balanced. The elbow is above the shoulder and the proper 90 degree arm slot will be used from top to bottom with the fingers on top of the ball preventing the unintentional slider.

• Develops body coordination and throwing speed
  Because the elbow is not allowed to drop, players can no longer "arm" the ball. When players "arm," "push," or "sling" instead of throwing, the ball often develops a natural tail or an unintentional slider. This slider comes from throwing with the fingers ending up on the side of the ball because the wrist and arm feel uncomfortable due to the arm slot. The ThrowMAX alters the arm slot to the correct location, thereby allowing the fingers to stay on top of the ball and acquire the appropriate backspin for the true fastball for straighter, longer throws.
  
  However, an extra bonus of the ThrowMAX is that if players want to learn to throw "junk," the brace actually shows how to throw a curve, riser, sinker without damaging arms. This is because on all of these "junk" throws still must use some type of proper arm slot.
  
   
• Additional benefits of using the ThrowMAX
  As with most things in sports, if one action is mastered it can be applied to other aspects of the game. For instance, once players learn to throw correctly they learn to recognize a throw based off of arm slot, or rotation of the ball. Using these skills, players can learn to hit with more consistency because they will begin to accurately recognize what's being thrown. However more importantly for coaches, the ThrowMAX takes the pressure off the arm for throwing batting practice. Since the brace has the body go through the full-range of motions on every throw, coaches cannot arm the ball meaning they won't get tired and drop the elbow leading to pain.