How To Stop “Short-Arming” The Ball 

Hey, Coach Justin here! I’m going to be in the comments section doing Q&A for the first couple hours of the release, so if you have a question, comment below :)

My older son (12) is doing this short-arm throw. I didn't know how to correct it. We are going to try these drills. Thank you for your help!

Has anyone seen my lost white Labrador retriever? His name is Gary and he's really fast

This guy knows what he is talking about here.

Coach, on behalf of my short-armers and chuckers on the squad this year, thank you. We have incorporated some of what you're demonstrating here into our daily throwing progression drills and it has really helped!

I know this video is old but I just recently discovered you because my kids just started playing and I noticed my 8 year old short arming but I didn't know how to explain it to his coach, anyway I'm always using your videos to correct my son's moves and they're always super helpful, wish his coach had the same passion for teaching as I think you have. Keep up the good work!

2:47 the dog in the background 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Cool vids man im glad i found you. My boys are starting to play for the first time ever, was finally able to peel them away from basketball and these are going to help me explain the game better than i ever could have. Keep up the great work.

Wow, my son wanted to watch this video 3 times. He’s been struggling with getting his arm up. You broke it down so well, thank you!

I just discovered this channel, and I’m glad I did! My son loves baseball. Unfortunately for him, I played football. However, I’m a teacher and I coached 4 years of high school football, so I can teach him how to do this stuff. Luckily, this channel exists, so I can know what the heck I’m talking about!

This is literally the hardest thing in baseball for me. This is so helpful. I wish I saw this last season!!!

Your videos are always super practical and helpful! Thank you.

Thanks for this video. I know I'm a couple years behind from when this went live but this was a huge help for me teaching my boys!

Genial video!!! Personalmente, creo que lo que se dice en este video es una de las cosas mas esenciales en el pitching

Fantastic stuff coach! This is just the problem we are having right now. Helping us a ton

This is a great video, I’m helping coach 9 year olds and a lot of them are short arming the ball from lacking the confidence and any experience of throwing a ball. Perfect drills for a beginning ball player.

Great videos. As a 7u coach I use a lot of your tips and drills for our kids. Thanks

every time my coaches say I have an issue you always make a video like a day later to fix it😂. thanks

Video years old, but what a great point it does on arm up during wrist flicks to avoid short arming. So many youth players I see doing those flick drills with arm elbow low to see flick at eye level, defeating purpose and almost encouraging short arm. Dribbling tip is quality reinforce mixer too I had not seen elsewhere.

Just to be clear, this is not meant to criticize or attack. I only present this information in an effort to help you further your development as a coach. I agree with the premise of the video. Short arming is a terribly pervasive habit in baseball these days. However, I would like to point out the irony of the thumbnail. You spend the entire video talking about throwing with the arm up high and then the thumbnail has your arm working directly perpendicular to your torso. The thumbnail is actually the correct way of throwing. The humerus has to work at 90 degrees to the torso to perform optimally both in terms of health and performance. It’s a very large myth in baseball that pitchers throw from different arm slots. What actually determines what is referred to as “slot” is torso angle. You can look at practically any high level thrower at any position and their arm will be directly perpendicular to the torso at ball release. It is also important to understand that throwing is a rotational and crossbody movement. Teaching the arm to work in a direct linear path like throwing a dart is counterproductive. Pelvic rotation, trunk rotation, external and internal rotation of the arm. It’s all rotation. Nothing is truly done in a straight line.

Been getting great information from your channel to help my son. Thank you!

This is good stuff. I have been wrestling with a player all season. These tips will go a long way in correcting his throwing handicap..

Makes a lot of sense, Coach. I'm gonna try this with my son! Thank you for your videos.

Before i found this video I thought I had the yips. I started my senior baseball season hurt (I needed a surgery) and when I came back, I dove in head first before taking it slow (my mistake...) but anyways. Because of this video and the drills it taught me. I was able to finally diagnose what was wrong with my throwing and why I was throwing the ball everywhere but where it was supposed to be. Now I can work to repair my throw and get back to playing the sport I love more then anything in the world. Thank you so much!

Superb. Thank you, Coach!

The dribbling technique is intriguing me. When its warm I will try this thanks!

Thanks for the tips and advice : )

GREAT HELP FOR US THE COACHES. THANKS.

Great job man.. Will share with my kiddos today!

I coach little league (10 -12 years old) and I this is very, very common especially for a kid who is new to pitching or starts to miss his pitches. Great video and I'm going to use this.

Good stuff. This guy knows what he's talking about! He is spot on! Very educational video. Love this for sure. God bless!

Hey coach! I hope all of your videos are like this one. This one got me subscribed and thumbs up. Will this help me throw harder? I do throw short arm.

Awesome! Thank you

5:08 fell back off my seat, broke my table , dog freaked & knocked himself out against the wall ..

Awesome tips thanks!

good stuff as always

This was just the type of video I was looking for I just got into playing in highschool after not playing for a year my throwings all messed up hope this will help me thanks

Best video I’ve seen on short arming. One thing Is’m still am hazy on - is reaching back no longer considered proper mechanics? Or is it reach back but keep elbow up during throw. Or, do you just throw from the elbow up position? Is this different for infield vs outfield? Anybody can chime in here.

Hey Coach Justin. My son will break correctly, reach back correctly, but, just before release, he brings the ball back behind his ear, and tends to kind of short arm it from there.. any tips on getting him to keep his Elbow and hand away from his body more? thanks. You've helped me a TON in my Coaching over the last couple of years.

this really helped i started pitching this year and that was my main trouble i have stopped this video really helped

Thank you!

Coach Justin, I'd like to suggest a variation and tool I use that helps emphasize the proper arm action on the first drill you mentioned on a knee. What I do is use a G-Tee and raise the tee all the way up to where the rubber top is even with throwing shoulder. Postion the tee just under the inside of the elbow with arm at 90 degree angle. With this in place it gives the player "feedback by contact" of elbow dipping and contacting the tee topper. I've also told players that if they don't have a tee, go to the dollar store and buy one of those swim noodles for a dollar and cut it to length to accomplish the same thing. I really like your videos, keep up the good work!

Great video!

Great instruction. A good mechanical treatment for the throwing yips. It took me years to get out from between my ears, and then, of course, I discovered that my mechanics were a mess.

Thanks!

Good job coach, I would only add that dropping the elbow is a symptom of an earlier action not performed during the throwing motion which limits proper arm action, and that is not rotating the shoulder and hip to the target allowing the arm action to work by pulling the elbow back rotating up to 90 (not around straight back with ball pointing back like often taught) then rotating hips then shoulders toward target with throwing elbow in line with tilt of shoulders. The only reason elbow would be above shoulder would be if left shoulder is Lower than right so it only looks like the elbow is higher but in reality it’s in line with line drawn from left through right shoulder. Short arming is mostly caused by staying open. While correcting by lifting arm high leads to another problem of poor timing and early arm cocking. Really like the dribble concept to take too much thinking out and getting kids to move more naturally after the drills.

2:43 he has no idea that there was a dog HAULING it behind him😂

Thank you

Really helped did this in front of my varsity coach because I didn’t want to make a bad throw and wound up making bad throws in a 4 corners drill

You always post the right video at the right time

Liked the video very much.

I love ur videos. The craziest tasting had been happening since my SLAP and rotator surgery on my throwing arm. I have been short arming everything in practice. The scary think is it takes 300-3500 balls thrown to feel natural. When that time comes I go 50-50 on My target. The good thing is after my sessions. There is no pain in my shoulder. I’ve had no formal training., it was instinct for me. Iike hitting a ball over ur grandma’s house at 3. From what I have I hear it was a great shot

Very helpful actually

Good stuff

Very helpful. I purchased one of your throwing video packages. Also very helpful. PS continue to wear your uniform because kids like to see uniforms.

Hi! So I'm currently playing softball, but I came across this video while trying to fix my sidearm throw. ( it's giving me a lot of elbow and shoulder pains, so my coach has suggested to me to try overarm instead. ) One reason I side throw is that I also "short-arm" the ball ( I drop my elbow), which result in me snapping the ball to the side. The thing is, I have already corrected my low elbow, but my release point is still at the side, so I end up still side-throwing. If possible, could you please give me some suggestions on how to fix my throw? Thanks!!

I really like and agree with your methods here. Minus the basketball dribble. I feel that can potentially create a bad habit, similar to the player that pumps the ball in his glove 3 times before throwing it to first. Those can be difficult to break.

Thanks coach

This guy is the shit. Love these tips.

Do you have a video on how to teach kids the proper release point when pitching?

Great video. I have a player who short arms but I can't convince him to stop. I've tried this drill at practice an he goes right back to it. Won't pushing the ball or grenade launching eventually hurt his rotator cuff or arm in general?

How do I improve my pitch without getting injured my shoulder and my back?

im watching these as im starting to play baseball after about a 2 year abcense thanks a lot

Hey coach Justin what are some ways to always throw accurate and not off when fielding ground balls

you the man Justin! cant wait to use this with the girls.

i am 61 and evidently my muscle memory for the keeping my elbow and throwing hand high and hands operating like a mirror has lasted since age 11. must have been good coaching.

Hi Justin, I used to coach baseball. One thing I used to tell the kids was to take the ball out of the glove with the thumb on top. This forces a rotary motion and stops the short arm pull push type motion. What do you think?

My 10 yr old son has this issue. He has a strong throw but technique is bad. Dont want him to get hurt.... So, here I am doing research. Thanks for the videos. Keep them coming

First two dart exercises can be done with your glove holding your forearm first, then putting your glove under your arm. I've done this with my girls softball team.

DOGGIE!!! In all seriousness, great video and well explained. Thank you!

A very helpful video just need on how to fix reaching for the ball and how to catch a ball that is aimed at the ground

Huge fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins.

Dog at 2:47 working on base running sprints. Lol.

This is perfect for me

I'm getting here late, but we have 3 kids on the team who cannot throw properly and get no help at home. This appears to be part of their issue. Excellent video and thanks very much.

Hi Justin, you have helped me in many ways. But I am now having issues making good precise throws from third base. I have seeing that I should be taking a step to the right before fielding the ball so I can have a better angle after I get the ball. But sometimes I cant do that because the angle of the hit or I don't run for the ball and I am static, how can I move fast towards the first or second base? or how to at least align my body fast?Which drills do you think I should work on?

This might be an odd question but what type of mic are you using?

THANKS COACH

grate video

Im 3 years late this helped alot i did really good and throwing after i watched this

💯

ight so i’m having a problem i been playing baseball since i was 6 used to have really good control over the ball the i messed up my elbow and took a 2 month break off baseball and now it feels weird when i throw a baseball like i lost all my control over the ball and sometimes the ball would just feel like its stuck to my hand and it would like hit the ground before getting to my target so if you guys could please hep it would be helpful

I know this is an old video but this really helped me understand why my son's elbow hurts when he throws.

Lol 😂 dog on the back.. 👌

My friends son is playing pop Warner football and wants to be a pro baseball pitcher. I recommended that while he is growing to not play footbal. What are your thoughts? Thanks

Great video , I was told my release point was all over the place .

Great video 😊but that dog running around in the background 😂

Follow through. Full stop

Thanks for the video, sounds like my son's throwing problem. I hope it will be constructive for us.

I never knew I was short-arming the ball until my elbow started hurting a lot. Thank's Coach!

Hey coach can you do a video about getting young kids to spin there back foot when swinging.

Can you make a video on how to stop arm drag?

My son has a really bad case of this. I pray this helps

I’m 16 and I throw sidearm and as my velocity got faster I started to feel more pain on my elbow I always try this but for some reason I keep getting back in my old habits how can I fix this please help

My 10 yr old is doing this. Looks like he’s shot putting the ball so thanks for showing the drills needed to break this.

🙌🏽🔥

Best thing a couch ever told me to drop this habit was “ball on the thigh hand in the sky” it’s worked well for my kids

I love the comment about playing catch or warming up. I see it all the time and my kid is guilty of this. They don't take warming up seriously and you see bad lazy habits they do doing warm ups show up live during games.

I think you should make a video of how to catch a baseball

Are these good drills for throwing a softball? Trying to improve my daughter throwing.