7 Ways To Quickly Improve Baseball Pitching Velocity And Mechanics

by Dick Mills on July 20, 2010

Pitching velocity has been proven to come from the body and not the arm so that energy is quickly built and then passed off as late as possible to the arm.  It does not have to take weeks or months to improve pitching velocity. It is simply a matter of understanding which aspects of mechanics must be improved so that more energy is available to get to the ball.

Here is how you can virtually guarantee more pitching velocity very quickly:

These would be some of the elements to practice:

1. Develop a long stride to at least 100% of the pitcher's height.

2. Move the front hip at the target from a slightly bent but not collapsed leg before the ball comes out of the glove 

3. Complete back leg drive before landing - the back leg should straighten before landing - you want a complete push-off action

4. Land flat footed in a straight line toward the plate - the foot will be either pointed straight ahead or slightly angled 

5. Brace-up the front leg and hip at landing so the front knee does not continue to drift forward - the arm should be up and semi-cocked and positioned behind the head

6. Flex the trunk forward (slam trap door shut) until the back is close to parallel to the ground.

7. Finally...remove any deliberate delays, hesitations, slowing movements or swinging the leg

Other tips:

• start with upright posture - no leaning back or flexed forward
• don't collapse the back leg - move from a stable knee position
• keep the entire back foot down against the ground and then peel the foot away before landing to extend the back leg
• land flat-footed on the midline
• keep the throwing arm back until the front leg plants and trunk starts to rotate
• at landing make sure the back hip is higher than the front hip
• make sure the hips and trunk are facing the hitter before the throwing arm extends into ball release
  
  It would be a matter of simply determining which action would have the most impact.
  
  There are dozens upon dozens of major league pitchers who could increase velocity up to 5 mph or more by using these techniques rather than moving slow or trying to generate momentum too late in the delivery.
  
  But what do they do? Long toss and flat ground throwing and lift weights. Focusing on building arm strength will not improve pitching velocity. Only focusing on improving mechanics will.

But remember this... there are no secrets to pitching improvement. Just sound sports science principles that we apply to pitching that just make common sense. No magic spoken here.

Our Explosively Pitching DVD program teaches parents as easy way 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.  We also teach them proper conditioning.

See discounts on our instructional DVD's:  http://www.pitching.com/products/

"I had spent several hundred dollars on a pitching coach who was leading my son down the path to ruin. He embraced every failed philosophy and technique you've identified - long toss, towel drills and more drills ad nauseum. My son's skills were deteriorating. When I found your website and read your report, I sense intuitively your words had merit and deserved further study."   

Mark Smith, Downers Grove,IL