Articles About Pitching by Dick Mills

These articles are based on the latest sports science research rather than common coaching beliefs about how pitchers can improve performance. Some articles contain video which allow us to emphasize proper pitching mechanics and common faults that may reduce velocity and control and could lead to injury. Or how to throw certain pitches. We also demonstrate proper form and techniques for developing functional strength and flexibility specific for pitching.

7 Components That Guarantee Pitchers Will Improve For The Upcoming Season

by Dick Mills on December 9, 2009

Who else wants to know what pitchers can do right now to get "game ready" with more velocity and control for the upcoming season...while ending the risk of an arm injury? read more.

How To Quickly Improve Pitching Mechanics And Velocity In Hours Instead Of Weeks

by Dick Mills on December 05, 2009

Improving pitching mechanics is the real secret to boosting pitching velocity while reducing the risk of pitching arm injuries.  However, it starts by understanding how the body produces pitching velocity and not the arm.  As Giants' Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum says: "My arm is along for the ride." And it starts by the pitcher having awareness of what… watch the video.

Pitching Workout Routines Of Strength And Power Not Related To Performance Improvement

by Dick Mills on December 2, 2009

Many trainers and baseball coaches focus on building strength, power and speed in order to help players improve their performance. However the scientific studies do not support that philosophy of training. For pitchers, as well as all baseball players, the study simply proves that baseball is primarily a skill activity...not a strength activity. read more.

Pitching Mechanics - Why Proper Posture Affects Pitching Velocity And Control

by Dick Mills on November 24, 2009

The posture of a pitcher can have a big effect on his pitching velocity and his control...plus it can effect how much stress he puts on his arm. read more.

How Baseball Pitchers Can Develop More Velocity From Momentum

by Dick Mills on November 20, 2009

Understanding how to use the body to develop velocity is a key component that help prevent so many arm injuries.  When we do video analysis or one-on-one instruction we show pitchers how to shift their weight properly so that the body builds more momentum initially so that the arm has to do much less work and can be used for… watch the video.

Pitcher Training Exercises Specific To Building Power And Velocity While Remaining Flexible

by Dick Mills on November 17, 2009

Here are pitching training exercises that are not only are more functional for pitching but very specific to helping build better movement skills for improving pitching mechanics. These are far more beneficial for helping pitchers develop power with flexibility rather than typical weight room exercises such as two-legged squats, leg press, leg curl or leg extension. Remember pitchers spend very… watch the video.

How To Condition The Pitcher’s Trunk To Improve Velocity And Reduce Arm Injury

by Dick Mills on November 12, 2009

This video demonstrates a great exercise to help build not only core strength but a strong and powerful trunk for increase pitching velocity. This is my son Ryan demonstrating a trunk exercise we like to a high school senior pitcher from New York who came for one-on-one lessons.  To improve pitching velocity a pitcher must learn how to rotate their trunk… watch the video.

Why Most Pitching Instructors Should Be Fired Immediately

by Dick Mills on November 10, 2009

Most pitching instructors are doing a below average job of helping pitchers improve.  If they are not videotaping and explaining problems and why these problems need fixing without using pitching drills then these instructors are guessing and wasting your money. This pitcher was taught by a former pro to stagger his feet so that he starts with his lead foot… watch the video.

Why Pitching Great Bob Gibson Would Have Used Momentum Pitching Mechanics

by Dick Mills on November 06, 2009

Bob Gibson, the Hall Of Fame Pitcher, who had what many say was the best season ever in 1968 with a 1.12 E.R.A., used pitching mechanics similar to Momentum Pitching, which we have been proposing since early 2007.  (At the time I was pitching in high A ball in Winston Salem, NC.  Everybody wanted to be Bob Gibson.) Notice in… watch the video.

How The Pitcher’s Trunk Delivers His Arm At Higher Speed

by Dick Mills on November 04, 2009

Unfortunately most amateur pitchers believe it is the arm that creates velocity because that is what their coaches are telling them.  Build arm strength using long toss.  That has been proven false by new sports science research which reveals why it is the body that produces velocity...not the arm.  No amount of additional arm strength will improve pitching velocity. How… watch the video.

How Slow And Robotic Mechanics And Short Strides Reduce Pitching Velocity

by Dick Mills on November 02, 2009

Pitchers that have slow moving and robotic pitching mechanics that produce short strides cannot maximize their pitching velocity.  Here is a video of Phillies starting pitcher Joe Blanton, who is listed as 6'3" and 244 lbs and yet he can barely break 90 mph.  So why can't he throw harder.  If you look closely at the video notice that Joe is walking… watch the video.

Phillies Pitcher Cliff Lee - Should You Copy His Pitching Mechanics?

by Dick Mills on October 27, 2009

Here is another reason why pitchers should not copy the mechanics of even top major league pitchers.  This is a video of Cliff Lee, the #1 starting pitcher for the Phillies, who will start the first game of the World Series against the New York Yankees.   No doubt Cliff has had recent success. But could he be even more… watch the video.

Why Amateur Pitchers Shouldn’t Copy Major League Pitcher’s Mechanics

by Dick Mills on October 22, 2009

Many amateur pitchers will copy the pitching styles or pitching mechanics of major league pitchers believing that they will improve their pitching velocity or overall pitching skills. In this video you can see Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett compared side-by-side to a 16 year old high school pitcher...who appears to be copying the pitching mechanics of A.J. Burnett. The problem… watch the video.

Teaching Kids How To Pitch Is Made More Difficult By Baseball Pitching Myths

by Dick Mills on October 20, 2009

Learning how to pitch is a sports skill activity that requires focus on pitching mechanics and throwing various pitches. In order to be successful developing pitchers must throw many more pitches in practice than is currently believed by the baseball coaches and instructors. The more a pitcher does other practice activities such as long toss, throwing weighted baseballs or pitching… read more.

The 7 Step Pitching Velocity Formula For Little League, high school and college pitchers

by Dick Mills on October 16, 2009

Just about ever pitcher wants to improve his velocity but they don't know how.  Too many unfortunately have been led to believe by coaches that velocity is about arm strength. Sports science research has proven that arm strength is not much of a factor for improving velocity.  What does Tim Lincecum say about how he produces velocity. He says that… watch the video.

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