How Pitches Can Create Instant Mechanical Changes In Hours Instead Of Months
by Dick Mills on August 16, 2009
Is it possible to almost instantly improve a pitcher's mechanics in a matter of hours instead of months? We believe it is. In fact, during our one-on-one lessons we do it every single week.
The large majority of amateur pitchers need to make changes in their pitching mechancis in order to improve their performance. Some need to change their mechanics because of constant sore arms.
But most parents do not understand that it does not have to take months or a big investment in pitching lessons in order to see improvement.
In fact...most parents in my opinion can do a better job coaching their sons than most high paid instructors. But how?
The single biggest pitching factor for positive pitching change comes from first recognizing which problems reduce performance and then understanding how to help the pitcher execute the change. There is only one way to recognize the most common faults that need change and that is by videotaping.
If a coach or instructor is not videotaping his lessons he is simply guessing.
Plus if the student is not able to see what he is doing wrong he will not be able to internalize what he needs to change. Verbal instruction has very litlte positive impact for mechanical changes compared to video.
Here are 7 ways that parents can use to help their son improve their pitching in days instead of months:
- Learn how to recognize the common mechanical faults that reduce performance such as poor weight shift, breaking the hands too high, no leg drive, lands off-centered, short stride, no front leg bracing action, poor trunk flexion and early ball release. Parents must get educated.
- Videotape the pitcher and show him his delivery compared to a major league pitcher with good mechanics so he can see the difference. Videotape from at least two but perferable three angles.
- Set practice goals and work on only one change at a time
- Videotape every session and show the pitcher his progress - the camera doesn't lie
- Before each session put his body into the correct position that needs changing.
- Show him the video after every 5 pitches or so so he can see the progress
- Set a time limit on the session and keep the atmosphere positive
Something else that works very well is to have the pitcher feed back to you exactly what he is going to attempt during each pitch. This insures that he fully understands what and how he will work to improve during each block of pitches.
Those are some of the techniques I use to help pitchers make mechanical adjustments usually within 3-4 hours during our 1 or 2-day one-on-one lessons where parents fly in from all over the country to help their sons improve. Before they leave we insure that both the parents and the pitcher not only understands the faults that need changing but we expect those changes to occur within a matter of hours.
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/view/explosive-pitching-instructional-dvd-program/
"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."
Mark A Smith, Downers, Grove, IL
