How A Video Analysis Can Help Improve Pitching Velocity And Eliminate Arm Injuries

This is a video of a high school pitcher with very poor mechanics. To me his pitching mechanics are very obviously poor…but apparently not to his high school coach or his private pitching instructor. Not only will pitching mechanics like this reduce velocity and control but will also add undue stress to the throwing arm.

This pitcher has many mechanical faults such as collapsing his back leg, leaning back, swinging his lead leg out and around and landing too far toward third base with an unstable base of support. Those faults will continue to reduce his overall performance and get him closer to an arm injury. I am sure he would like nothing more than to have someone identify his problems and explaikn how to make the needed changes so that he could maximize his performance and pitch to the best of his ability. Currently this pitcher is not able to do that. So not only do poor mechanics reduce velocity and control while adding stress to the throwing arm but they also reduce a pitcher’s confidence.

More Strength Will Not Improve Pitching Velocity

Thousands of high school and college pitchers like this wonder why they cannot generate more pitching velocity. They are foolishly told to get stronger by lifting weights or by doing long toss. In the case of this pitcher, like so many thousands, no additional strength can have any beneficial affect on his velocity…since we know from the latest sports science research that pitching velocity is not improved with more strength.

In a pitcher who has a general form of fitness, no additional strength can improve velocity. In almost every case improving pitching velocity or getting rid of arm soreness or pain will only occur with improvement of pitching mechanics.

Video Analysis Can Help To Instantly Improve Velocity And Reduce Arm Soreness

The only possible way that this pitcher can improve his velocity is to have a reputable pitching coach videotape his delivery and point out the mechanical faults that are preventing his body from creating more force. Remember the lower body produces velocity while the arm is along for the ride and used as mainly the control device of the ball.

Parents unfortunately believe it is the coach’s responsibility to help their son improve. However, most coaches at the Little League, high school and even top college levels have scant knowledge of mechanics. Most know just enough to be dangerous.

A Doctor Can Diagnose Arm Damage But Only Improved Mechanics Will Eliminate Arm Soreness

Parents whose sons complain of sore arms will generally take them to a doctor. In most cases this is a waste of money. Unless the pitcher’s arm has a noticeable stress fracture or ligament or tendon tear, a doctor will not be able to help that pitcher reduce his soreness or reduce the risk of injury. The only thing that will reduce the soreness is to help the pitcher use his body more efficiently so that his arm is not taking on the stress of the throw.

A common cause of arm soreness or eventual injury and surgery is not using the lower body to develop momentum and move explosively into a stride that is at least 100% of the pitcher’s height. Moving the body slow or a short stride will force the throwing arm to do more work.

Another common cause of arm injuries is poor arm action. This means that the pitcher is not taking the ball out of the glove and swinging it down, back and up in a circular motion. Breaking the hands too high or too early, where the throwing elbow lifts above shoulder height is a common cause of both shoulder and elbow injuries.

Whether a pitcher has arm soreness or sharp pain they should immediately stop pitching. The soreness or the pain are signals from the body that something is seriously wrong. Besides seeing a doctor to make sure there is no damage to the arm, parents should immediately seek the help of a knowledgeable pitching instructor who can watch videotape of that pitcher and point out why the pitcher is not using his body efficiently to deliver his arm.

Without videotaping the pitcher’s mechanics…diagnosing an arm problem is just not possible.