MMV #011: 3 Reasons Pitchers Fly Open Early

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Read time: 2 minutes

How many times have you heard "keep the front shoulder closed" talked about? 

It's talked about a lot because it's important.

It's important for command, velocity, and health.

But what are some of the common causes of flying open?

Telling a pitcher to stay closed will unlikely solve the issue.

Today I want to share the 3 biggest reasons players fly open.

But first, let’s define it.

Flying open is when the front shoulder has started to open before foot plant.

Ideally there is still slight counter rotation.

Now, let’s begin:

1. Poor Hinge

The #1 reason players fly open early is because they don’t load well.

You will often see:

• Pushing instead of rotating
• Weight shifts to toes
• Knee goes over toes

The key to staying closed longer is to load better and to hold the hinge longer down the mound.

2. Early Extension

Early (spine) extension can happen as a result of:

• Trying to create velocity too early in the delivery
• Initial cross body direction

When players start throwing across their body, they often will extend the spine in order to get back in line towards home.

This will lead to flying the shoulder open early.

There are guys that can stay closed while throwing across their body, but it requires a greater amount of hip internal rotation.

3. Weak Front Side

I consider it a weak front side when the glove doesn’t stay in front of the body through the stride.

Reasons the glove gets outside the body:

• Early supination
• Forcing positive disconnection
• Forcing trunk rotation too early

Do this instead:

Stay stacked.

Hold hinge longer.

Rotate after foot plant.

RECAP

3 Causes of flying open early:

1. Poor hinge
2. Early extension
3. Weak front side

That's all for today.

See you next week!

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