The Mythical Unicorn: Training Mechanically for Scapular Loading

Since I began coaching high school baseball in 2005, a hot topic among coaches has been training their pitchers to focus on an upper body scapular load. I can't begin to stress how backwards this type of thought is, and you SHOULD NOT allow anyone preaching these mechanical adjustments to work with your son. A scapular load, defined, is the load transfer across the scapula during humeral abduction. In Layman's terms, it is a point in the windup, where the pitcher is bringing his chest towards the plate, and the elbows retract past the shoulders towards each other, creating a pinching effect on the back and shoulders. Think of trying to crack and egg, between your shoulder blades, while trying to touch your elbows behind your back. This reaction happens naturally due to torque created by a pitchers back hip rotating towards home plate, with that torque gradually working its way up his body, until his throwing arm is out in front, releasing the ball towards home plate. Kinetic energy at its finest. The problem with teaching a scapular load is most pitchers will load too early, losing the torque in their lower half, causing them to throw "all arm." The whole idea behind scapular loading is to get pitchers to throw harder. Unfortunately, throwing with maximum velocity is not a muscling up with our arm. In fact, the idea goes against all mechanical thought of keeping a pitcher healthy, while getting him to throw at maximum velocity.

Let's not forget the order of importance when it comes to pitching at an effective level: 1)Command of both sides of the plate with our fastball, first and foremost. 2) Two plane break on 2 pitches (this includes the two seam fastball), 3 pitches if you want to be a starter. 3) Velocity. With all that said, let's bring it all together. If you want your son to maximize his potential on the mound, always start at the feet. The legs and core throw the baseball, and keep the arm healthy at the same time. Shoulder work with the J-Bands will make his arm strong, and help build arm strength if combined with the proper throwing routine. Velocity will come as he matures into adulthood, and the best thing you can do for your son, at a young age, is to get him throwing the ball with proper mechanics. His strength will develop as he grows, and remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. If you allow your son to throw by scapular loading, you are putting him on a fast track to inconsistency and arm injuries.