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Principles of Pitching
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* Better Mechanics equals better control, lower pitch counts, better velocity, less risk of injury, more success, and MORE FUN!
Pitching is a skill. It
requires getting the body in the correct position, at the correct time, in
order to perform with consistency. All players must learn the ABC’s to
perform effectively and this is even more the case for pitchers. The ABC’s
are Agility, Balance, and Coordination. These are the key components to
performing successfully at any level! To improve performance level a young pitcher must commit to mastering his mechanics through muscle memory. Bad habits are picked up in an instant, but eliminating these habits takes countless repetitions of doing something the correct way! Theory Behind Proper Pitching Mechanics Pitching mechanics is simply about being in the right position to throw when the front foot is planted. It is about moving a balanced body in a controlled manner with correct timing. The importance of overall timing between what the pitcher's arm is doing and what the legs and trunk are doing is one of the least understood and most important aspects of having good mechanics. Without proper timing, and making sure that all parts fit together, results are a lack of velocity, poor control, and a sore arm. Optimizing Power & Control One of the biggest misconceptions in pitching is that a pitcher develops power by pushing off the rubber. It sounds good but IT'S WRONG! Think about it, when a pitcher starts forward out of his balanced position the ball must come back out of the glove and up into the throwing position by the time his front foot lands. This timing is crucial! However, think of what happens if he has pushed off too quickly. His front foot will have already landed before the arm is in the correct throwing position. It is as if the pitcher is throwing up hill and the ball will typically end up high in the strike zone. Even worse, the pitcher is putting tremendous stress on his arm, elbow, and shoulder. Pitching properly is achieving balance, keeping your chin over your belt buckle, keeping your weight back, your head and eyes level and being in the power position at the time of landing. If the pitcher's head is too far forward at the time of planting the foot then he is rushing his motion. This prevents him from getting the power from his hips and trunk. In order for a pitcher to gain maximum power his body must get into the correct position so that the force is efficiently transferred from the legs, the hips, the trunk, and finally to the arm. The reality is most pitchers get their bodies moving out too early (from "pushing" off the rubber or from rushing the delivery) and their power gets transferred too soon. If the power is transferred too soon then all the energy weakens and the pitcher loses power. So, once again, TIMING IS CRITICAL! Poor control and a lack of power is the result of not being able to repeat the correct delivery with good timing. Functional Strength & Pitching Strength has very little to do with size or weight and a better pitcher is not made in the weight room! Functional strength (being strong in the performance of an individual action), flexibility, and sound mechanics is what forms a strong, solid pitcher. It is the body that develops the rotational forces needed for power which develops more velocity and relieves stress placed upon the arm. A strong, flexible
body is like the handle on a whip. This is exactly how a pitcher the size
of Pedro Martinez can be smaller yet develop such high rotational forces
that he creates dominating arm speed and velocity. Good hip and trunk
rotation is the key to making the body work more effortlessly while
providing more velocity and less stress on the arm.
THE FOLLOWING WILL
ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN
A pitcher should take the mound with confidence. A large percentage of pitching successfully is being mentally prepared to succeed! The pitcher on the rubber is in total control. Nothing can happen until he chooses it to. A young pitcher may choose to throw from either the "wind-up" or the "stretch" depending on which one is more comfortable. I recommend teaching young, inexperienced pitchers to begin from the stretch. If done correctly, absolutely no power nor control is lost. Also, with less motion and mechanical memorization their is less room for error! Wind Up
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3 Also, understand that as the knee drops to stride out between phases 2 and 3 the glove and ball hands slightly drop and release out as well. The glove is focused in the direction of the target and the throwing arm is straight back with the palm of the ball hand facing second base. IMPORTANT! As
the lead leg strides out the foot should slightly land "inside".
Imagine a line traveling directly from the middle of the pitching rubber to
the middle of home plate. Landing "inside" that line means not to open the
hips too soon and keeps to body in tune for optimum power and timing.
Please view the picture below by clicking it.
The body's
natural momentum will bring the back leg over and should allow the body to
finish in a fielding position as pictured below.
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