Does It Make Sense For College Pitchers To Throw From Shorter Distances?
Here is a question I got from a college pitching coach about having his pitchers throwing from reduced distances in order to help them with their command. This will never work for many reasons.
Always be asking the question -how will this particular activity help build better pitchers. By honestly answering that question you will see that there is a ton of time that is being wasted in trying to develop better pitchers at all levels.
Dick,
I am currently the pitching coach at XXX University and bought and used your program with good success about 5 years ago when I was in college. It was valuable to me then and continues to be to this day. The basis of everything we do here with our pitchers is based on your program. I have a few quick questions that I hope you can help me with.
I have had my guys do a lot of flat ground throwing from about 40 feet. Usually about 20 FB, 20 BB, 20 CH twice a week. I think it has helped with our command, but am I hurting them because at the shortened distance they slow their motions down. They then seem to take this slower motion to the mound and I think this hurts their velocity from the mound. Their mechanics are solid, but their tempo is too slow.
What would be your suggestions or alternatives that I could use that would give us the benefits of increased command without diminishing their velocity? Our starters have 5 days rest in between starts. We play 4 game weekend sets. I have some good young talent and don’t want to waste them by being uneducated. I always want to learn more to help them be the best they can be.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ask yourself why would you want pitchers throwing on flat ground once they are in throwing condition when they will be evaluated by how well they throw in a game? Everything you do on flat ground including mechanics is totally different than mechanics from the mound. So just about all the time your pitchers put into throwing flat ground will not transfer and help them become better pitchers.
The body understands both flat grond and long toss throwing as two completely different activities. Neither flat ground throwing nor doing long toss is going to help build a better pitcher whose success will be evaluated on how he throws from a mound in a game. Both types of throwing require a completely different set of mechanics than throwing from a mound.
Also the lesser intensity of throwing from flat ground is totally different than throwing at game intensity from the mound.
In order to develop pitchers you need to develop them by having them throw at game intensity, more often from the mound. Don’t waste your time on flat ground throwing or on long toss. Long toss does not transfer either and will have zero positive effect in helping your pitchers get better. Long toss can eat up valuable time that can better be used throwing from the mound while focusing on good mechanics and command of each pitch. If you want to have pitchers use long toss as a quick warmup prior to a bullpen that’s fine but put long toss into its proper perspective as simply a warmup tool inseason or as a conditioning tool offseason. It has no value as a skill building tool.
Also forget about throwing from 40 feet or 50 ft or 55 ft. Pitching is a skill activity that occurs at a distance of 60’6″ throwing downhill. Throwing from other distances makes no sense at all.
If you end your flat ground throwing and have your pitchers throwing from the mound more often you will see a noticeable difference in everything…velocity, control and it will keep them in better condition to throw deeper into games.
If they need to increase the tempo of their deliveries then just have them speed it up.
Remember your pitchers will never be judged on how far they can throw the ball, how good they throw from flat ground or on how well they do a certain drill. In fact, doing drills for college (and high school) pitchers is a huge time waster and can actually adversely effect and disrupt their game mechanics.
The more your pitchers throw at game intensity from the mound focusing on mechanics and hitting the glove with all their pitches the better overall pitchers you will develop.
Always ask yourself the question: How will this activity help my pitchers throw better in games? Don’t just do what every other college pitching coach advocates because many have no idea why they are doing what they are doing. It’s usually just passed on down from one coach to the next.
Kevin, I also suggest you get our new DVD series Explosive Pitching. It will put this whole issue of mechanics and how to throw game intensity command bullpens into its proper perspective in terms of building more successful college pitchers.
Dick Mills
If you have questions about this blog post or 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 http://www.powerpitching.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, a Little League pitcher 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.
(If you are a high school or college coach, ask for our special Free Coach’s Report.)
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