It is not uncommon to hear coaches say that they work with players on their mechanics. But they rarely if ever, spell out what they mean by mechanics or what the mechanics are. Sometimes the definitions that they do give for mechanics appear to be counter to the generally accepted understandings.
For example, some coaches make a major distinction between mechanics and skills but they do not say what the differences are. Other coaches use the term mechanics in place of technique or use technique when describing mechanics. Most often mechanics is used in place of skill.
For purposes of understanding exactly what we are talking about is necessary to define each of these terms and how they are used in this article and on the website. Skill or skill execution refers to the accomplishment of a particular act. This refers to whether the athlete can accomplish the act of throwing a ball, or hitting a ball, catching a ball, running, jumping and so on.
When speaking of these acts in general terms, we sometimes use the term movement pattern. In this case skill is reserved for the accomplishment of a specific skill within the movement pattern. For example, in a hitting movement pattern we use specific terms such as the tennis forehand, the baseball batting swing or the tennis serve. When discussing the jump pattern, skill can refer to the jump shot, a rebound, a layup and so on
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For simplicity, mechanics refers to the kinematics, the geometry of motion which includes displacement, velocity and acceleration without regard for the forces acting on a body, and kinetics, which incorporates mass force and energy as they affect motion. These factors are usually discussed in the fields of physics and biomechanics.
In essence, these factors relate to how fast an object or person is moving, how hard or powerfully an object or person is thrown, moved or hit, how much mass or weight is involved, and so on. There are still other factors but they are not critical at this point.
Technique usually refers to a style or type of execution of a skill. For example, in baseball hitting there is a sit and spin technique and another one that involves weight shift and sequential joint actions. In jumping, we refer to a double leg takeoff or a single-leg takeoff. Or it can refer to the linear or rotary style in the shot put.
The definition of technique has been expanded over the years so that now it can refer to how each individual executes a particular skill. This refers to how an individual runs, i.e., whether he or she is a heel hitter, has an erect body, whether the arms go directly forward and back and so on.
Since the limbs and muscles act as lever and pulley systems they can be evaluated in a very scientific and precise manner. However, instead of precisely determining the exact actions or movements that are in need of improvement or enhancement, we usually hear general terms such as they are working on full extension of the arm. When this occurs or why it is even needed, is not mentioned.
It is very important to know exactly when full extension should occur — if it does. For example, with most pitchers full extension usually occurs in the follow through. But yet the follow through is determined by what happens in the actual throwing motion. This phase of the throw, however, is not touched upon by most coaches.
Pitchers who rely mainly on medial shoulder joint rotation in the release rarely if ever, achieve full extension at this time or in the follow-through. Working for full extension would be a detriment to these pitchers. Other pitchers who throw sidearm or have an outside release point usually achieve full extension prior to and during the release and hold it through the follow through. Is it these pitchers they refer to and if so, in which phase of the throw?
In some cases, pitching coaches talk about working on the delivery aspect or working on the follow through or the stride, etc. However I have never seen any specific examples of exactly what was in need of correction and how it was corrected. It is easy to say you’re working on the delivery but you must know exactly what aspects need the work before this can be stated. Perhaps this is why we never see anything beyond the general overall statement.
In fact, it is hard to find in any baseball magazine or book exactly what is involved in the pitching motion. As a result, we hear many different opinions of what may take place and opinions of what should be corrected and how it should be corrected. There is little to no substantiation to back-up the statements.
In this age of technology, every action can and should be analyzed especially in very important and complex skills such as pitching, especially when pitchers are having difficulty. But it never happens. Why are baseball teams still in the dark ages when it comes to helping improve their players ? The technology and knowledge is here and the means for analyzation are available. When will baseball teams begin to incorporate them?
For information related to baseball pitching mechanics and training, see Build a Better Athlete