11 Powerful Ways Pitchers Can Improve Dramatically In 2009

by Dick Mills on January 05, 2009

Here are 11 ways that sports science believes pitchers could dramatically improve during 2009.

1. Stop looking for magic ways to improve velocity - there are none.
2. Stop wasting time on what has not "proven" to work to boost performance such as...long toss, pitching drills, weight training, short distance bullpens, throwing at less than game intensity in bullpens or throwing too few pitches in bullpens in order to save the arm for the game.
3. Learn why velocity is produced by the body and not the arm.
4. Why the arm is mainly for control and not velocity.
5. Why arm strength is not a factor for producing velocity or reducing arm injury risk.
6. Why velocity is produce even before the arm starts to move toward the plate - you must understand this or you will waste a lot of time.
7. Why mound pitching is not the same as flat ground pitching.
8. Why stride lengths of 100% of a pitcher's height or more produces more velocity.
9. Videotape practice bullpens regularly and learn what faults reduce velocity and control and add stress to the arm.
10. Why momentum, speed of movement and the proper sequence of movement are the keys to velocity...not arm strength.
11. Educate yourself and stop listening to "belief based" coaching advice.

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. Not only does this improve velocity but reduces the risk of arm injuries. http://www.pitching.com/products/