Training a quarterback's "go-to" arm path is an important part of developing efficient passing mechanics.  Arm path is something that will have some situational variability to it, but it's important to have a home-base, or routine arm path, that is efficient and repeatable for power and accuracy.

So how do we go about developing it effectively?  One approach that we've found particularly effective is working backwards from release and breaking the motion down into parts.  It's helpful to isolate the mechanics in the upper body for this series of drills, so doing them on one knee (left knee on ground for right handers) is preferable. 

Step 1: Find Release Point

One of the most critical parts of throwing a tight spiral with consistency and accuracy is what happens right at the split seconds of the release of the football.  If the arm, wrist, hand, and ball are out of position at release, the ball isn't going to do what you want it to.  

So, the first step in working your arm path is finding where you want to finish your release.  

The elbow should be slightly above and in front of the shoulder.  The ball positioned above the elbow with the point of the ball facing toward the target.  The hand should be on the side of the ball (not underneath it), with fingers slightly on top.  

Step 2: Release - Stretch - Release

This drill isolates the Acceleration phase of the throwing motion, moving from the stretch to the release position.  The difficult thing about training this movement is that it happens so quickly and right in the middle of the overall throwing motion, so breaking this phase down and doing this drill in isolation is effective for making this movement more efficient and repeatable.  

Start at the release point.  Keep the elbow relatively stable while moving the ball back toward the throwing shoulder to the stretch position.  From there, move back to the release point and release the football to your target.  Note: for this drill the target should only be 4-5 yards away.  The goal is to do the movement smoothly.  

Step 3: Coil to Release

Once you've developed a feel for the Acceleration phase and the release, work backwards again by starting from the coil position and now trying to go through the Turn and Acceleration phase.  Get to and through the stretch position on the way to the release point. 

Again, it is best to do this on a knee with a close target and make the movement as smooth as possible. 

Step 4: Throw from Base

To put this all together, begin from the base position, either on a knee or in standing with the feet in a fixed position.  Now, move smoothly through the full throwing motion, going through the Break, Turn, and Acceleration phases, isolated to the upper body. 

It's OK to move slowly through these movements to really gain a feel for the timing, trying to make the movement as smooth as possible, before speeding it up.  

This is a great sequence for any QB who needs to make adjustments to their arm path to improve the efficiency of their throwing motion.  As always, if you notice inefficiencies in your throwing motion, it's a good idea to determine if there may be an underlying physical cause, so you can address it, along with the technical aspects of your mechanics.