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Pitching Mechanics — Why Slow Movements Kill Pitching Velocity

Pitching Mechanics And Why Slow Movements Kill Velocity

Would you like to jump your fastball pitching velocity from 82-83 to 87-89 in one week by paying close attention to your pitching mechanics by simply videotaping and looking for some obvious mechanical faults? 

That happened with a college pitcher after I advised his father to videotape his son and look for something I see regularly that reduces pitching velocity in Little League, high school and college pitchers.    

I just saw the same thing after doing a video analysis of a 6'4" 230 lb RH college pitcher who is also locked in below 85 mph. Again, it was simply about understanding how pitching mechanics effects pitching velocity.

My advice was to first check stride length. I then always ask if the pitcher looks like his pitching delivery is too slow or controlled? This is one of the first things any parent or coach should look for and is why I always emphasize this in our DVD program. If a pitcher moves slow he will throw slow. http://pitching.nexcess.net/product/complete-pitching-instruction-program/

How then to improve pitching velocity

Speed up the lunge move (stride) going toward landing. Also make sure that the pitcher is moving his entire body toward the plate by leading with his front hip...just as the front leg and the hands are coming down from their highest position out of the wind-up. This means that the hands will break after the pitcher is moving toward landing.

Thus you want a late...not an early hand break.  Many coaches and instructors do not understand this.

If you could speed up that lunge move toward landing by just 5% that alone will improve his overall pitching mechanics and his pitching velocity faster than any single element...as long as the timing of the other segments are correct.

Remember once the front foot lands pitching velocity cannot be improved by very much with the exception of flexing the trunk forward powerfully. So most of a pitcher's velocity is produced by the time his front foot lands...which occurs even before his arm starts to move forward into acceleration.

I want you to fully understand this.  Pitching velocity is produced even before the pitching arm moves because of all the energy that is built-up from forward momentum. 

Pitchers must get their body moving faster from the back leg to the front leg. Rotational forces are the result of linear forces...not a cause of velocity.

There are several online instructors, some pitching "gurus", who still believe that rotational forces of the hips and trunk are 80% of the 'cause' of pitching velocity. This is pure belief based pitching instruction with no basis in fact. These instructors, some former professional pitchers, with statements like that continue to prove they do not understand mechanics and how the body works to contribute to velocity.

This is one of the reasons why there are so many arm injuries today.

Because of this I am sure we will soon see lots of drills to improve rotational forces of the hips and trunk. This will actually cause every pitcher to slow down. There can not be a drill for improving rotational forces unless the pitcher gets his initial energy from linear forces. And that has to come as the result of developing more forward momentum as the pitcher moves his body from the rubber into landing.

If he moves slow his rotational forces will be slow. If he moves faster his rotational forces of the hips and trunk will be faster thus adding to more arm speed and velocity.

I continue to emphasize speed of movement. I see lots of very 'slow tempo' deliveries out there which produce slow pitching arms. 

Slow tempos, slow movements along with poor timing that create shorts strides are the most common actions that I see for reducing velocity in Little League, high school and college pitchers.

Speed up the tempo and the stride length and watch velocity jump.  And stop wasting time on pitching drills which produce slow and robotic pitchers.

Dick

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Here is a question I recently got from a father about this:

Dick

How do we know if a pitcher is moving fast enough? Is there an amount of time it should take for the pitcher to get to landing once he has begun his movement? Thanks much

Dan

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Dan,

The obvious question is does he look like he is moving too slow or being too methodical or mechanical in his movements? Does it look like he could speed up his overall tempo?

I ask that question to fathers and coaches all the time and I get a yes answer most times.

Can he move his body faster from the back leg to the front leg by shifting his weight sooner or by simply speeding up his tempo.

A pitcher's speed of movement should be as explosive as possible while moving under control with good mechanics creating a stride length at least 100% of the pitcher's height. Short strides kill pitching velocity and add stress the arm. 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Forget - My Complete Pitching Instruction program is the only complete "pitching clinic" home study course available that is backed by real sports science research. It's designed for parents, coaches, and players of all ages. Whether you're a pitcher just starting out, or an advanced pitcher looking for answers, we make it simple to understand for both the parent and pitcher.

"Dick’s program has given me the knowledge I need as a pitching coach to help young people succeed. I highly recommend it to any pitcher Little League through college. From mechanics to conditioning to the mental aspect, everything he does is top notch. His program helped our pitchers go 29-1, have a 0.80 ERA last season, and win a State Championship."

Banks Faulkner, Gilbert Indian Baseball, Gilbert, SC

If you're serious about improving pitching performance without risking arm injury or worse reserve your copy of the Complete Pitching Instruction DVD Set today!