Why ThrowFix™?
After coaching six seasons of youth softball, I’ve
learned that the “shot-putting” habit is both
common—and very tough to fix. Why? Well, I’m no
kinesiologist, but I have a few ideas...
First, for many young players, “shot-putting” or
“pushing” the ball feels more natural. Keeping
the throwing arm close to the body gives them
a sense of control. As does being able to see the
ball as it passes their face.
Second, this style actually improves accuracy
for short distances—think of throwing a dart.
Third, a full, proper throw (arms spread wide in
a “T” shape, followed by a whip-like, overhead
motion) can feel like overkill when playing
catch at close range—especially when their
partner is also just learning to catch!
But as players get older and need to make longer
throws, “pushing” the ball no longer gets the job
done. By this point, however, the habit is deeply
ingrained—and many kids just “push harder” instead
of changing their mechanics.
So what to do?
Unlearning a habit is often harder than acquiring a
new one. And with so many other skills to
practice—hitting, catching, fielding,
baserunning—retraining a throwing motion can
easily fall to the bottom of the list. Further, teaching
a new throwing style can be extremely attention-
intensive, meaning: without a coach or parent
nearby to offer constant reminders, players can
easily slip back into old throwing habits.
Enter ThrowFix™.
ThrowFix™ makes the “re-learning how to throw”
process simpler, more effective, and even fun.
1. It “gamifies” the experience. Players have a
tangible goal: hit the target with their fingers
as they throw. When they do, they hear and feel
it. Miss, and they don’t. Instant feedback.
2. It relieves the parent/coach burden. With
ThrowFix™ providing tactile and auditory cues
that promote a higher throwpath, adults can
step back from being “Nag-in-Chief” and focus
on other parts of player or team development.
3. It removes ambiguity. No more guessing
how high the throwing hand should travel.
When the ThrowFix™ Fence Mount is hung at
eye level, the bottom of the target naturally
hangs about 4–8 inches above the player’s
head—a perfect height for reinforcing a proper
overhead motion.
So, will ThrowFix™ correct a “shot-putting” habit in
one session? Possibly—but probably not. Like any
skill, improvement takes repetition and practice.
But before long, players will start throwing with a
natural, fluid overhead motion—and that old habit
will fade away.
Enjoy, and good luck out there!
Evan Grove
Little League Coach
& ThrowFix™ Inventor