Why Does Tim Lincecum’s Unique Delivery Produce 95 MPH Plus Pitching Velocity?

Why don’t more pitchers try to improve their pitching velocity by using some aspects of Tim Lincecum’s delivery?

A recent article on the cover of the sports section of the March 17, 2009 issue of USA Today reads – Lincecum’s special delivery is overpowering on mound.  http://tinyurl.com/djcet3

Tim Lincecum is just 5’10″ 170 lbs. and throws fastballs 95-100 mph. The question that baseball should be answering is – how does he do it and why don’t more coaches realize that all pitchers can improve their velocity by borrowing the correct aspects of Tim Lincecum’s mechanics?

Giants’ pitching coach Dave Reghetti doesn’t seem to realize exactly why Lincecum is able to produce such overpowering velocity. Otherwise he would be able to help all the Giants’ pitchers improve theirs as well.

All any parent, coach or player has to do is observe what Tim Lincecum does exceptionally well and then use that to help them boost the pitching velocity of their own son’s or players.

Tim Lincecum does not reach a balance point or move slow or stride short.

Here are some of the obvious reasons why Tim Lincecum is able to produce exceptional velocity for his size. And by doing what he does he throws harder than Red Sox Josh Beckett who is 7″ taller and at least 50 lbs. heavier.

Here is all that any pitcher need to do to boost their velocity by using aspects of Tim Lincecum’s delivery.

1. increase overall tempo – move faster away from the rubber.
2. use back leg drive to get low and force the back leg from a bent position to a fully extended position just before landing
3. get the throwing arm involved as late as possible so that more of the forces from the body end up on the ball. This also hides the ball from the hitter. So keep the throwing shoulder and back hip back as long as possible
4. stride out at least 100% of your height or beyond (Lincecum strides to 85″ or 120% of his height)
5. land on a bent but braced up front leg and hip in order to speed up hip and trunk rotatation
6. finish with the head out over the front knee and front leg to maximize trunk flexion

If pitchers move slow they will throw slow. If they stride short they will have to use more of their arm for more stress.