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Technical Details

  • Variable Type: Discrete Metric
  • Data Type: Boolean
  • Units: True/False
  • Column Name: elbow_hike
  • Aggregation: rate
  • Precision: 0
  • Optimal Direction: Lower is better
  • Unknown Value: -1
  • Measurement: Elbow position relative to shoulder at foot contact
  • Threshold: Elbow above shoulder

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Description

Elbow hike is a binary indicator that flags when the throwing elbow is positioned above the same-side shoulder at foot contact, which indicates improper arm positioning during the pitch.

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Use Cases

  • Arm position assessment
  • Mechanics evaluation
  • Injury risk identification

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Corrective Drills

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1. Wall Arm Path Drill

Stand arm’s length from a wall with the throwing shoulder facing it. Slowly go through the arm path from the glove break to foot contact, keeping the elbow at or below shoulder height throughout. The wall provides immediate tactile feedback if the elbow rises too high. Perform 3 sets of 10 slow repetitions before bullpen sessions. Search YouTube: wall arm path pitching drill elbow

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2. Towel Drill with Low-Elbow Cue

Use a standard towel drill setup (towel held at the base of the fingers, throw toward a target). Focus on keeping the elbow at or below the shoulder plane during the arm path before launch. Have a coach or mirror confirm elbow position at the moment the front foot contacts the ground. Perform 20–30 repetitions. Search YouTube: baseball pitching towel drill arm path mechanics

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3. Mirror/Video Pause Drill

Throw at half-speed into a net while recording from the front or side. Pause the video at foot contact and check elbow height relative to the shoulder. Repeat and self-correct until the elbow stays at or below the shoulder at foot contact. This builds proprioceptive awareness of proper arm positioning. Search YouTube: baseball pitching video analysis arm path elbow position