Will Momentum Pitching Soon Find Its Way Into Major League Baseball?

In January of 2007 a new style of pitching mechanics was born. Momentum Pitching was a term I later coined to describe this new style of pitching mechanics unlike anything seen since the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s similar to what had been utilized by many Hall Of Fame pitchers of the past. Momentum Pitching is a collaboration between myself and Dr. Brent Rushall, my coauthor in the book, The Science And Art Of Baseball Pitching.

In a recent article on the STLtoday website , Cardinals’ minor league roving pitching coach Brent Strom seems to be embracing an idea similar to Momentum Pitching…which is refreshing to see in professional baseball. The are calling it “natural mechanics” which seems fit since today most pitching deliveries are far less than natural looking.

“The pitchers are getting extensive video work, going through a new long-toss program, and learning the principles of what the Cardinals call ‘classic mechanics,’ what they believe are the shared traits from the deliveries of great pitchers.”

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here,” said Brent Strom, the Cardinals’ new minor-league roving pitching instructor. “Before coaches came along, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, all the greats, did what they did because they had to. The body found a way to do what it needed—to throw hard, with velocity, and get hitters out.”

“It’s a very natural approach to finding the best mechanics.” “Natural mechanics,” said Dyar Miller, the Cardinals’ minor-league pitcher coordinator. “We’re looking at what’s natural for them and working from there.” I am very pleased that Brent Strom is courageous enough to think outside the box and introduce more natural pitching mechanics designed to produce more momentum, improved pitching velocity, better control and less stress to the pitching arm.

Sure, there are some things I wish I hadn’t coached before; there are things I’d like to take back,” Strom said. “The biggest thing I was guilty of was reducing the pitcher’s delivery into its lowest common denominator. Looking for the perfect movements. They don’t exist.”

But there are truisms, he said. Strom, a former major-league pitcher, has stressed the importance of tempo and rhythm to the pitchers in the minicamp. He also has worked with them on momentum.”

Here is what was stated in the article:

Could this be the end to pitching drills and today’s pitching deliveries that emphasize stepping to the side, lifting to balance with little emphasis on a long stride? Only time will tell. But this is a great start to seeing how professional pitchers utilize more natural movements that should produce more momentum into much longer strides for more velocity, better control and less risk of injury.

It seems that we could very well see Momentum Pitching in the big leagues some time very soon. Momentum Pitching is a new addition to Dick Mills’ Explosive Pitching DVD instructional program for pitchers of all ages.

Momentum Pitching, a new type of delivery used in the wind-up, unlike today’s pitching deliveries, emphasizes a step back toward second base, no balance position, while the pitcher focuses on driving his his entire body away from the rubber into a stride at least 100% of his height. The main focus is to develop maximum momentum by increasing the distance the pitcher moves his body while removing any slow movements or hesitation. This new delivery is designed to increase pitching velocity.

Unlike slow and controlled pitching mechanics being taught today, Momentum Pitching is about moving the body as fast as possible going from the back leg to the front leg. This extra speed of movement and added momentum has shown to produce more pitching velocity, better control while reducing the stress to the pitcher’s arm. Thus better performance and less risk of arm injury.

We wish Brent Strom and all the Cardinal minor leauge pitchers well. We believe they will find pitching to be more fun and far more effective.

Dick Mills