STRAW MAN: A common form of argument based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent's argument, while actually refuting an argument which was not advanced by that opponent.

It is often, and widely, implied that I believe the Inverted W, and the other inverted and problematic arm actions, result solely from arm-based cues.

That is not the case.

While some arm action problems do result from arm-based cues like "break the hands thumbs down to get the elbows up," as I told the January 2013 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association, many arm action problems are the result of problems elsewhere in the delivery.

In late 2012, a minor league ballplayer approached me and told me that his (rehab) pitching coach told him he should look into my work.

Minor Leaguer in Late 2012

When I looked at the clip he sent me, I noticed a pronounced Inverted W. I asked him if he had been taught to do that and was surprised by his response.

He hadn't been taught anything with respect to arm action.

He had just been taught lower body cues.

As I explained in my January 2013 presentation to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association, that alerted me to the fact that, while cues like "break your hands thumbs down to get your elbows up" will certainly tend to create an inverted arm action, there are other ways of creating an inverted arm action and a Timing problem.

I discuss these other ways of creating an inverted arm action in...

• Mark Prior's Pitching Mechanics: The Definitive Analysis
• The Killer Quartet