A Key To More Pitching Velocity For Little League, High School And College Pitchers

by Dick Mills on September 10, 2009

Increasing pitching velocity is all about using the body to create more energy so that the arm can be used for control.  This is how to reduce the risk of arm injuries for all Little League, high school and college pitchers.

While doing video analysis and one-on-one instruction we observe that most pitchers do not use their lower bodies efficiently to create more velocity. Most are throwing with just their arms, which is why so many are trying to improve velocity and why so many are getting injured.

This is a before and after video of a 5'11" 175 lb. high school junior who came to my facility in Arizona with his father for a two day lesson. 

Like so many high school pitchers he wants to improve his pitching velocity. 

Our focus during every lesson is to videotape and show the pitcher exactly what he is doing to make changes.

This change of how to improve his weight shift before hand break occured in less than 30 minutes.  Now all he has to do is practice this during the off-season, use the exercises we gave him to increase his functional strength and flexibility and I believe he will easily add at least 5 mph to his fastball.

However, without videotaping, there are few if any instructors who are able to recognize the common faults that kill velocity and increase the risk of injury.

If instructors or coaches are not videotaping - they are guessing. And guessing will not help pitchers reach their full potential. 

Video analysis is the key to pitching improvement. And so isn't building functionial strength and flexibility...during the off-season.

This is what I have been focusing on in our Explosively Pitching DVD program since 2004.  We teach parents how to help their sons use their bodies to pitch instead of just their arms. And how to get specifically stronger for pitching without losing flexibility. Not only does this improve velocity but reduces the risk of arm injuries. http://www.pitching.com/products/

"My 14 year old son's velocity jumped 12 mph, his control improved dramatically and his arm pain vanished. For the first time since he has been pitching, he finally understands what he is doing...what causes the ball to do what it does and how his body functions to be effective...now that is priceless."