Tom House, Godfather of Pitching/Throwing Biomechanics & Founder National Pitching Association

Maybe you can interpret Pete.

He's gonna have some good questions. And folks, I'm being careful here where I'm letting people in. We are taping right now, but we'll do in a minute. Because of hackers, we've got as much security as possible. But these hackers are good, so bear with us. If there's a hacker, I'll get them off. And we'll also edit the video on that.

Okay?

We are live on Facebook. We are recording live on Twitter. Let me let it in a couple people still, then a few more. I will do a quick intro here. We'll be ready. Rock and roll. Just so you know, in about a half hour, Tom may have to go take a call. He'll be back. If he's not back, we will do a second half next week. So we'll let you know about that through your email.

So, Peter, while we're listening to your dog, I'll make an apology. Right now my wife is having a new fence put up. So if you're in any pounding or sawing, you can blame it on Marie, not me. Okay? And those of you that have wise you understand.

That'S a new one for me on the dog. To be honest with you. There's always something new, folks, live on Facebook. I'm sure the Facebook people and Twitter people are having a blast on this. I'm just waiting one more, 30 more seconds.

Because you're smart as a cat. Why that dog's going crazy.

Yeah, you know what happens is he hears the bell and I can't mute. I can't mute it. So unfortunately we're stuck with that for a second here. I bet you never had that on any of your Zoom shows anywhere that you guys were on. I'm gonna do an intro here. 3, 2, 1. Hey, what's up, everybody? Pete Caliendo baseball outside the box. We are back from our break. What a break we had. You got to have a break. It really re energizes. You had my espresso. Special thanks to everybody joining us today on Facebook, live on Twitter Zoom. Also a special, I guess shout out to our friends all over Canada. It is Canada Day, so welcome for joining the show. Really appreciate it. Don't forget, all we ask on the show is that you go to YouTube register because all the shows are also on YouTube and also register baseball outside the box. Let's get rocking and rolling because we got a little time here to get started. And we will welcome our guest, Tom House. And I don't even have to welcome I've known Tom for over 30 years. One of the best in the business when it comes to biomechanics, mental emotional training, you name it. He is the best. I love this guy. Why? Because he's so loyal. So let's not even waste any time. Welcome, Tom House. How are you doing, Tom?

Real good, Peter. Good to be here.

Yeah. Listen, I apologize for the dog barking. I think he's done right now. Also his top assistant. And I wrote this down. Dean Dosakis. Did I say that right?

I think I said, so close. So close. So close. Yeah, but, you know, that's why everybody just calls us docs. They don't even try, you know, Docs Akis, Doc Sakis.

Nailed it.

There you go. Good job.

Dean is Tom's top man, and he will continue the talk. Now, if he was Italian, I wouldn't have a problem with the name. But that's all right. I love Greeks also. So. Hey, folks, let's get started. Tom, let's not waste any time. I know you're limited to your time. Here's my question, and then we'll take questions in the chat. 40 years, whatever it's been. I mean, you were there when baseball outside the box hadn't even started. You were an outside thinker. You were a challenger of the status quo, and you took a lot of hits for it, but you did it professionally. And now you're at a point where, you know, I want to know what's new, what have you been doing, and what's new with the industry?

All right, well, thanks for the great intro. Really, what you just said is, I'm the world's greatest expert on what doesn't work. So that's what we've been battling for the last almost 50 years. And what it boils down to, I kind of hit the crease. I was very fortunate to hit the crease between old school and where we are right now with new school and technology and all the science. And we didn't really. I'd like to say it was a well thought out, well planned, with good strategy approach. Had no clue what we were doing, except we kept trying to get better at everything we did.

So.

So it started off with biomechanics. What our eyes were actually seeing at 40 frames a second and what was actually going on with a throw or a swing were virtually two different things. So we started with our first system we looked at was a kodak system. In 1986, when I was with the Texas Rangers, myself and a guy named Coop Durin had A look at it, it was too cumbersome and it wasn't efficient for a baseball capture. The next go around came with Gideon Ariel up at Cota di Casa and Vic Braden's tennis school. What was actually going on with a throw or a swing were virtually two different things. So we started with our first system we looked at was a kodak system in 1986 when I was with the Texas Rangers. Myself and a guy named Coop Durin had a look at it. But it was too cumbersome and it wasn't efficient for a baseball capture. The next go around came with Gideon Ariel up at Cota di Casa and Vic Braden's tennis school. Then we found something you could actually translate into baseball. And I saw Glenn Fleisig's name a couple seconds ago. But motion analysis, nobody ever even knew. Once we started capturing, we didn't even know what we had for about two, three years. But what the aerial system allowed us to do was to film in the major leagues elite pitchers and elite hitters. And after we had 100, 150 captures, we looked at the capture and started looking for common denominators, things that the great ones did. So our initial modeling didn't start with a group of little leaguers all over the world. It started with the best in the business in the major leagues. And we've worked backwards from that point in time. And I have to give baseball kind of a pat on the back. I think this is really a great time for baseball, rotational sports in general because the technology out there is awesome. People are capturing with all kinds of integrity now the one thing that separates what we do. And I'm sure Dean will help me out with this for all our measurables, all the captured data. Then we found something you could actually translate into baseball. And I saw Glenn Fleisig's name a couple seconds ago. But motion analysis, nobody have. We're one of the few organizations out there that actually have a deliverable or a teach to go with anything. We identify a non efficient delivery or some inefficient strength. So without getting too long here, the new stuff for me, we've come up with an app that is cell phone friendly. I call it a mobile mentoring device. For the past two and a half years, everything that is in my head, good, bad and indifferent, successes or failures, has been programmed and logged in to where if you have a cell phone, you can get the same motion analysis never even knew. Once we started capturing, we didn't even know what we had for about two, three years. But what the aerial system allowed us to do was to film in the major leagues elite pitchers and elite hitters. And after we had, in three dimensions, you can get a strength test, you get mental emotional reframing and a nutrition evaluation, all on a cell phone. So that, that literally is a mobile mentoring device. Now with that technology, we humanize it through the National Pitching association. And Dean is my main guy with that. We have upwards of 25, 26 facilities around the country where the hands on face to face instruction goes. So we're capturing data through artificial intelligence and we're humanizing it with hands on training in these facilities. So that in a nutshell, is what I've been doing recently.

Awesome. And Dean, you know, you mentioned Dean. Obviously Dean's gonna take over later on. So folks, if you got questions, I would type them in the chat room now so we can get some of the questions to Tom. But understand, Tom sat Dean is one of the best in the business.

So, you know, 100, 150 captures. We looked at the capture and started looking for common denominators, things that the great ones did. So our initial modeling didn't start with a group of little leaguers all over the world. It started with the best in the business in the major leagues. And we worked backwards from that point in time. And I have to give baseball kind of a pat on the back. I think this is really a great time for baseball, rotational sports in general.

We're in great hands either way, so we'll look forward to it. So check it out on your chat. Hey Tom, one of the things you mentioned was, you know, and this is my concern, and a great example came up the other day on one of the shows. Someone said to me, so, well, we know about spin rate, you know, and we know, you know, Rapsodo does all this stuff, but how do we teach it? How do we increase the spin? And that's what you're talking about. You have ways to implement, not just Pete, that's awesome.

We actually have a teach to go with every evaluation, every measurable that the Rapsodos and the modus leaves and all those great technologies provide. So we identify an issue and we come up with a way to facilitate the fix to that issue.

That's a really good point. I mean, we have all this awesome technology out there. You can get overloaded with the amount of data that you collect now. And really what matters is can you take that data and turn it into a training program that can actually give you results.

Because the technology out there is awesome. People are capturing with all kinds of integrity now the one thing that separates what we do. And I'm sure Dean will help me out with this. For all our measurables, all the captured data we have, we're one of the few organizations out there that actually have a deliverable or a teach to go with anything we identify as a non efficient delivery side of the athlete.

And so not only get the results, but or as I say, not only the training program be helpful, but it needs to be very cross specific to a correct biomechanical sequence. So that's kind of where we kind of shine in this industry is that yeah, we've been using data for a long time, but what we do so well and trying to help others do is take that data. And now let's say, okay, I've got this data. How can I turn this into something that makes a difference for this athlete? And that's what we do so well.

You know, and the second part to this, and I'm going right to the questions now, the second part is keeping it simple because again, I've been on social media and man, there's stuff on there. Look, I've got a college degree, but there's stuff on there that I just don't understand.

I mean, I could read three sentences, some inefficient strength. So without getting too long here, the new stuff for me, we've come up with an app that is cell phone friendly. I call it a mobile mentoring device. For the past two and a half years, everything that is in my head, good, bad and indifferent, successes or failures, has been programmed and logged in to where if you have a cell phone, you can get the same motion analysis.

And maybe understand five words. So I think keeping it simple is the next part. And how important you see that, whether it be Tom or Dean, how important you see that, Dean for coaches? Because we're not talking about coaches just in college and high school and pro ball. We're talking about the foundation of the sport being the youth baseball and that's where we need it.

That's a great point. And I think I mentioned earlier in the show that I've been blessed because I was part of the old school and still hanging around with what the new era is, the new school. So we actually have coaching vocabulary that we try to use.

There's absolutely baseball and that's where we need it.

That's a great point. And I think I mentioned earlier in the show that I've been blessed because I was part of the old School still hanging around with what the new era is, the new school. So we actually have coaching vocabulary that we try to use. There's absolutely nothing wrong with propeller heads. That's what I call the guys that capture the data and sit up in the manager's box or in the owner's box and call all the pitches and do it. There's nothing wrong with that. But their vocabulary and a coaching and teaching vocabulary sometimes match up. And that's what's so great about these. In three dimensions, you can get a strength test. You get mental, emotional. Nothing wrong with the propeller heads. That's what I call the guys that capture the data and sit up in the manager's box, in the owner's box and call all the pitches and do it. There's nothing wrong with that. But their vocabulary and a coaching, teaching vocabulary sometimes match up. And that's what's so great about these kind of shows, Pete, is that it gives everybody a chance to kind of coordinate the vocabulary.

Fantastic. We're going to do something a little different. We're going to the questions, reframing and.

Nutrition evaluation all on a cell phone. So that that literally is a mobile mentoring device. Now, with that technology, we humanize it through the National Fishing association and Dean is my main guy with that. We have upwards of 25.

Please mute your mic if it's not muted so we don't get any background noise from Tyler Waubonsie Community College looks like. What kind of mechanical changes?

I have 26 facilities around the country where the hands on face to face instruction goes. So we're capturing data kind of shows is that it gives everybody a chance to kind of coordinate the vocabulary.

Fantastic. We're going to do something a little different. We'll go right to the questions. Please mute your mic if it's not muted so we don't get any background noise from Tyler Waubonsie Community College looks like. What kind of mechanical changes, techniques and drills do you believe in? And to support getting down the mound fast? And I remember you always talking about we got to get down fast. Can you explain that?

All right, I'll give you the coach's words and Dean, you can back me up if I screw it up. We call it basically gff. Go frigging fast.

All right, what simple techniques and drills do you believe in to support getting down the mound fast? And I remember you always talking about we got to get down fast. Can you explain that?

All right, I'll give you the coach's words and Dean, you can back me Up. If I screw it up, we call it basically gff. Go friggin fast.

That's simple to understand.

Yeah, I'm going to keep your eyes level, firm up your front side and drag your back foot. And those four things encompass timing, sequencing, the variables that coaches teach from balance and posture.

Sand.

Yeah, I'm going to keep your eyes level, firm up your front side and drag your back foot. And those four things encompass timing, sequencing, the variables that coaches teach from balance and posture all the way through release point and then the drag foot stand on the ground is like a right away through release point and then the drag foot stand on the ground is like a rudder on a bite of gff. Eyes level, firm, front side, drag your foot, back foot. There's probably 500 different things that can be taught in there, but that's as simple as you can go. You can go slow, but you can't go too fast.

As far as the gff, what can really make a big difference is one step that comes before that and your posture and balance before you ever start moving. If you're set up incorrectly to where things don't start correctly, then that GFF has a hard time happening. So make sure that you're looking at are you set up, is your posture correct before you ever start trying to go gff? Because if you are, it's going to be a lot easier and get that timing correct.

Let me jump on that, Peter. I'm sorry. Let me jump. It only takes one rep to change position. It takes thousands of reps to change in movement. So we're looking for simplicity. It's Occam's razor. Glenn Fleisik will know what that is. The simplest solution is. So when you can position a kid and you get him moving, it goes position, movement and then the task, the skill, the resistance, whatever it might be. But position first, then movement and then whatever the activity goes. And when you add all those together, that's pretty much what we've reached through artificial intelligence and we're humanizing it with hands on training in these facilities. So that in a nutshell is what I've been doing recently.

Awesome. And Dean, you know you mentioned Dean. Obviously Dean's going to take over later on. So folks, if you got questions, I would type them in the chat room now so we can get some of the questions to Tom. But understand Tom said Dean is one of the best in the business. So you know, we're in great hands either way. So we'll look forward to it. So check it out on your Chat. Hey, Tom, one of the things you mentioned was, you know, and this is my concern, and a great example came up the other day on one of the shows. Someone said to me, so, well, we know about spin rate, you know, and.

We know measurables and deliverables.

Now, Tom, one of the things you talked for years has been the dragline. That's come up on Twitter a couple times now. Can you explain the dragline a little bit, the importance behind it and how you actually what it actually, how it helps you?

Sure. And again, I'm going to go backwards for a little bit first. When I first got into pro ball.

You know, rapsodo does all this stuff, but how do we teach it? How do we increase the spin? And that's what you're talking about. You have ways to implement not just.

Yes, Pete, that's. That's awesome. We actually have a teach to go with every evaluation, every measurable that the rapsodos and the motor sleeves and all those great technologies provide. So we identify an issue. They told us to drag our back foot when we wanted to throw a change in. Well, that was a good idea for the wrong reasons. What the back foot drag line does, it has to do with what we're calling vector management. The back foot drag line literally keeps your body on the target line to home plate, from the middle of rubber to the middle of home plate. And we come up with a way to, you know, facilitate the fix to that issue.

That's a really good point. I mean, we have all this awesome technology drag line.

It should be two of your feet and stay on the ground till the ball leaves your out there.

You can get overloaded with the amount of data that you collect now. And really what matters is can you take that data and turn it into a training program that can actually give you results out of the athlete and so not only get the results, but or as I should say, not only the training program.

Hand is an indicator of what your balance and posture are doing as you go into the delivery of the ball. So it's basically, it's a facilitator for your head movement and it's an indicator of how efficient all your vectors are going toward home plate.

I will take another question. Go ahead.

Yeah.

One of the.

One of the biggest issues or misinformation we see about the dragline is people will believe that it has something to do with reducing velocity. If you have a dragline, which is the exact opposite. If anything, it helps actually create more velocity by directing all your vectors the right Direction, allowing that energy to go in the baseball.

Excellent. And another question here on the looks like, how important is the hip tilt in the gff?

And folks, that's a good question.

Yeah, it's a good question. And we're going to. There's also a question about the app.

We'll get you be helpful, but it needs to be very cross specific to a correct biomechanical sequence. So that's kind of where we kind of shine in this industry is that yeah, we've been using data for a long time, but what we do so.

Well and the information on the app also email it to you and put it in the show notes.

But go ahead, I'll start first. And Dean, you can correct me what happens when an athlete gets to the mound because the only unnatural thing about pitching is the slope of the mound and people get all caught up with hip tilt, shoulder tilt.

All that kind of trying to help others do is take that data and now let's say, okay, I've got this stuff.

If you kind of range yourself to be parallel to the slope you're throwing on. So a flat ground throw, if your hips and shoulders were basically parallel to flat ground, that would be fine for flat ground. If you're on the mound, you want to readjust your posture to fit the slope of the mound. If you do that, then instead of being the right side of a right triangle where you go down and forward, you're going down perfectly parallel to the mound. So it's a teach. There's nothing wrong with the way people teach hips and shoulders, but it may not be necessary for many athletes.

One of the problems that's happened with this onset of people trying to create hip tilt is that what happens is an athlete will actually attempt to move this data. How can I turn this into something that makes a difference for this athlete? And that's what we do so well.

You know, and the second part to this, and I'm going right to the questions now, the second part is keeping it simple because again, I've been on social media and man, there's stuff on there. Look, I've got a college degree, but there's stuff on there that I just don't understand. I mean, I could read three sentences.

Hip forward and tilt it. They'll shift all their upper body weight back. And now we've disrupted the sequence when we do that. So whatever you're trying to accomplish now, it's been disrupted. The hip tilt will naturally happen if you just set up correctly and lift correctly. Okay, so if we have a balanced position where our feet are equal to our hips or our armpits and weights applied equal to both feet. When we lift up and back to our glove, guess what happens?

Your hip goes forward.

Okay, so it's more about. Again, back to what Tom said. Fix your position and guess what happens. Things will start to fall into place correctly.

Awesome. And Tom, I'm going to jump to the head for a second and this is almost two questions. The head movement I remember you talking about, you know, this was a while ago about Roger Clemens, you know, when he adjusted his head tilt, how much that helped him and maybe understand five words. So I think keeping it simple is the next part. And how important you see that, whether it be Tom or Dean, how important you see that being for coaches? Because we're not talking about coaches just in college and high school and pro ball. We're talking about the foundation of the sport being the youth. How much of that is true now? How does the head work? And also the other part is baseball, and that's where we need it.

That's a great point. And I think I mentioned earlier in the show that I've been blessed because I was part of the old school from Mike.

And it's a good question because you mentioned on Twitter about if you're teaching things from five years ago, you're not really up to date. What things have you changed from the last five years?

Well, we've always known, even from early and still hanging around with what the new era is, the new school. So we actually research that any misdirected movement with your head would cause a problem with release point. Well, we now know that one inch of inappropriate head movement up, down, east, west or away from home plate will cause about 2 inches at release point. And if you're just standing with your head in a neutral position, you can be 15 degree. Have coaching vocabulary that we try to use. There's absolutely nothing wrong with propeller heads. That's what I call the guys that capture the data and sit up in the manager's box or in the owner's box and call all the pitches in these inside the width of your body without having too much of an issue with inappropriate head. So guys that have a tilt and head lynsicum, there's guys that will have a little tilt in their head as they go in.