Pitching Mechanics

Important Information You Need To Know About Baseball Pitching Mechanics

Proper pitching technique is a very popular topic in the baseball world today and has been for a long time. Everyone wants to know how to throw a baseball the correct way and improve their pitching technique so they can increase pitching speed, have more pitching velocity and remain healthy enough to pitch for a long time.

There are some things you should know as you embark on the journey of finding the right pitching mechanics for you. I want to help you have the right mind set before you set out on that journey. Keep the following in mind before you begin:

The ultimate mechanical goal is to build a delivery that allows a pitcher to:

1. Maximize athleticism

2. Have ultimate balanced control over his body and movements

3. Be deceptive

4. Repeat these mechanics close to 100 pitches a game

5. Minimize the chance of injury

Following these 5 basic concepts will allow for a sound delivery that will maximize not only pitching velocity but also overall effectiveness on the mound. Isn’t that what all pitchers want…to throw harder and win?

Let’s look at them in a little more detail.

1. Maximize Athleticism

We want to better develop the athlete’s use of his existing physical skills and abilities. If we can increase a pitcher’s strength, agility and stamina while maintaining great flexibility, we will make him a better athlete and very likely a better baseball pitcher.

2. Balanced and Controlled

Show me a pitcher who is athletic and I’ll show you a pitcher who can maintain balance throughout his delivery and control where he wants his body to go and what he wants it to do. Balance and control is vital in baseball pitching because you have to be able to release the ball from the same spot every time for all pitches. If you can’t control your body then your body will do something a little different every time.

3. Deception

In addition to being athlete who can control their movements, you have to be able to deceive the batter. A pitcher’s goal is be able to develop a delivery that is sound but that also can hide the ball from the hitter as long as possible. We don’t want to give the hitter any idea of what we’re throwing until it leaves our hand, giving him the least amount of time to react.

4. Repeatable Mechanics

Every one of these concepts builds on the others. Having repeatable baseball pitching mechanics is important because it allows you to know what your pitch is going to do every time. If you don’t know what your body is doing because you don’t have balance and control, then you can’t expect to know where the ball is going to go and what it’s going to do. .

I always tell my students that if you want to control what the ball does at the plate then you have to control what your body does on the mound. Being able to repeat your delivery gives you the confidence in a game to concentrate on getting hitters out rather than worrying about your mechanics.

5. Minimize the Chance of Injury

It’s logical to conclude that if you want to continue to pitch you have to be healthy. Understand, too, that a pitcher can easily repeat bad mechanics. A pitcher that repeats bad mechanics in his delivery can develop many problems like lack of control, velocity and more importantly…the likelihood that they’ll get hurt.

Study the pitching mechanics of great pitchers who have remained healthy for a long time. Check out these great baseball pitching clips of the best pitchers in the big leagues. No two pitchers are exactly alike and there is not one set way to deliver a pitch to the plate. But there are certain elements of every great pitcher’s delivery that give them a better chance to stay healthy and injury free.

Keep this in mind:

There are no “perfect” pitching mechanics. And no two pitchers are exactly the same. Your goal should be to develop a baseball pitching delivery that follows the concepts above but is specific to your skills, abilities and talents. Keep working hard to improve those skills, abilities and talents and your performance will get better and you’ll give yourself the best chance to succeed.

Articles on Pitching Mechanics

What Happens From the Pivot to the Leg Lift?
An analysis of the next step in the windup takes us from the foot pivot to the lifting of the glove side leg. Great pictures and videos.

What Happens From the Leg Lift to Foot Plant?
Now a more in-depth peek at what really happens in pitching windup mechanics after the leg is lifted and the pitcher begins the drive towards the target. Great detailed videos take you through each step.

What Happens From Foot Plant to Release?
Explore what happens during the most important stage of your pitching mechanics. Find out what your body is doing and how everything works together.