Pitching Mechanics - 5 Lower Body Problems That Reduce Velocity And Control
by Dick Mills on June 22, 2009
Pitching mechanics are the foundation for improving overall pitching for Little League and high school pitchers. Without proper pitching mechanics pitchers will always wonder why they cannot improve their velocity or their control.
The real secret to improving pitching mechanics is to first understand that it is lower body mechanics that must be taught first since the lower body provides the base of support and the real foundation that allows the upper body or trunk to rotate around and to deliver the arm at high speed.
Without a solid foundation at landing the pitcher is not able to produce force or to transfer those forces efficiently to the upper body... which eventually whips the arm through at high speed.
Too many coaches and instructors focus on what the throwing arm is doing when the throwing arm is essentially along for the ride. If lower body mechanics are poor then the arm not only moves more slowly but it takes on more stress in the throw.
Here are five common lower body mechanical problems that reduce velocity and control that I regularly see with pitchers at all levels are:
- poor lower body momentum - the pitcher falls forward instead of driving forward
- swings the lead leg out and around into landing - produces a slowing action
- no back leg drive or doesn't complete back leg drive before landing - reduce power
- does not land in a straight line toward the plate - forces not going toward the plate
- upon landing the front leg and hip do not brace-up or stop continuing to move - reduces power production
Improving lower body mechanics can have an instant positive impact on both pitching velocity and control.
The secret is to understand how to videotape a pitcher so that any parent, coach or player can instantly see the most common problems. And then to learn how to fix those problems without disrupting the pitcher's overall mechanics.
