Why Momentum Pitching Quickly Produces More Velocity Without A Balance Position
by Dick Mills on March 05, 2009
This video of a 12 year old Little League pitcher demonstrates Momentum Pitching which reveals a new and very effective way to help pitchers not only produce more velocity quickly but also as a way to be more effective against hitters since moving faster gives hitters less time to react. There is no balance position in Momentum Pitching since a balance point limits the ability of a pitcher to produce maximum momentum...which is considered by sports science research to be the most important aspect for improving pitching velocity.
The pitcher takes a fairly big step back which increases the distance through which he will move his entire body in a direct line to the plate...which also increases his ability to produce more momentum into landing and thus more energy to help accelerate his hips and trunk which is how the arm is whipped through at high speed. The more momentum a pitcher builds into a long stride the less his arm has to work.
More Velocity, Better Control And Less Risk Of Injury
Momentum Pitching not only produces more velocity and better control but reduces the risk of injury. The closer a pitcher can get to the target the easier it is to control the ball and the less time the hitter has to react.
Momentum Pitching can be taught in less than 10 minutes
I have taught Momentum Pitching to Little League pitchers, high school, college and even professional pitchers in less than ten minutes. It is easy for the coach to teach and even easier for the pitcher to learn. It not only makes sense but it allows the pitcher to feel how his body can produce momentum naturally without having to think about five different things. With Momentum Pitching pitchers will never have to do another pitching drill ever. It would not make any sense.
Most coaches today spend a great deal of time teaching pitchers...especially beginner pitchers what is referred to as "the balance point." The balance point is a point in a pitcher's wind-up mechanics where he lifts his leg up to its maximum height...whatever height that might be. It might be lifting the leg up to the waist or it might lifting it high on his chest.
However, even though just about all pitchers lift their legs up during the wind-up phase, we have to ask why this is referred to as the balance point and why is this important? Remember even though balance is important in all sports it does generally not have to be taught since the body has a feedback mechanism already built in that helps athletes right themselves if out of balance.
After all when pitchers pitch from the stretch position using a "slide-step" where the leg is not lifted up, why then would the balance position be so important. In fact, there are many pitchers who pitch only out of the slide-step exclusively and they are able to pitch at high velocity with good control.
The Balance Position Reduces Velocity And Makes Pitchers Robotic
Coaching pitchers to reach the "balance position" is even more puzzling. The pitcher is asked to lift his leg up to waist height and then hold it there sometimes for 5 to 10 seconds. But does this make any sense at all since in pitching stopping or hesitating at any point completely reduces forward momentum and thus dramatically reduces velocity and adds stress to the pitching arm.
The question that all parents should ask is this - why would I teach my son a practice activity that never actually occurs while pitching? Does it make any sense at all to stop in the so-called "balance position?" Of course not since pitching is a dynamic and explosive action where once a pitcher makes his move toward the plate he never stops until the pitch is complete.
The balance position in pitching not only never occurs but is in my opinion one of the biggest reasons why more youth, high school and college pitchers never reach their velocity potential. The balance position teaches pitchers to be slow and robotic.
Momentum Pitching increase velocity while a balance position reduces velocity.
