Baeball Pitching Instructional Programs—Videos, DVD’s, Books, And Clinics

by Dick Mills on November 25, 2004

Most Baseball pitching instructional programs in the form of videos, DVD's, books or clinics are time wasters. And one of the big reasons that these baseball pitching instructional programs waste time and don't produce good results for parents, players and coaches is that they suggest that every pitcher does the same thing to improve.

These baseball pitching instructional programs suggest that all players do the same drill, the same exercise or follow the same routine. In other words—you get a "one size fits all" program.

These pitching programs however do not follow an important principle of sports science which is the Principle of Individualality. This principle indicates that every coach must always consider that each athlete should be treated independently. Prescribing incorrect forms of training such as every pitcher doing the same drill…will produce poor results. And that includes following the programs of top pitchers.

Why don't these programs work as stated? Because they are not tailored for each individual. And this is why baseball pitching drills are not a good idea because the suggested drill may not even address the pitcher's real problem.

Does it make sense for a pitcher to spend time working on a problem over and over if there is no problem?

This is why for example, doing baseball pitching balance drills on a balance beam is a foolish waste of time if the pitcher does not have a balance problem. Or strapping on a weighted vest designed to improve posture when posture is not the pitcher's problem. Or changing a pitcher's arm action that is not a problem because some program says that their arm action drill is more effective and should be done by everyone.

The majority of baseball pitching instructonal programs—videos, books, DVD's or clinics never address the idea that each pitcher is an individual who has individual problems which are certainly not the same for every pitcher. Therefor in order for coaches and instructors to help pitchers improve…they must fully understand how to recognize pitching mechanic faults.

What then should be the basis for all baseball pitching instructional programs? I believe every program should be based on the idea of recognizing individual pitching faults and then providing solutions to fix each problem. When these pitching mechanics faults are fixed that is when performance goes up. It is rarely if ever the result of doing a drill that has no application to a particular pitcher.

The reason that many of these pitching instructional programs are based on doing drills is that the instructors do not understand the biomechanics of pitching in a way that makes it easy for parents, players and coaches to recognize individual pitching faults. And there is only one way to recognize them. The pitcher must be videotaped and given a tool to help them pick out their problem. Then simply work on fixing that problem. A pitching drill may be the worst thing a pitcher could do to make the needed adjustment. It could actually create an ever bigger problem since pitching drills have proven to be disruptive.

If baseball pitching instructional programs suggest that every pitcher do certain drills then I would suggest that those programs will not only waste time but will be ineffective long term.

Boosting overall pitching performance is as simple as—find the problem then fix the problem. But that requires that every instructor or coach fully understands the biomechanics of pitching. And pitching drills do not qualify necessarily as having an understanding of pitching mechanics.

If pitching coaches or instructors are not vidoetaping pitchers in order to find problems or as a means on ongoing evaluation, then pitchers should be concerned about the coach's ability to to fully understand pitching mechanics and provide solutions to mechanical problems.

If you have questions on any phase of pitching—mechanics, strength and conditioning, mental training, strategy send those questions to dickmills@gmail.com and I will answer them here.

If you want an explosive body and explosive mechanics you need to get my Free Report at www.pitching.nexcess.net. We won't waste your time. We show you how to recognize exactly what is holding back most pitchers…find the problem—fix the problem. I show you a comparison between two high school pitchers and a major league pitcher who throws mid to upper nineties. You will see the biggest problem that reduces velocity in the majority of pitchers.