Improving Your Performance The most prevalent method used for improving performance is to pitch more. Coaches make corrections in pitching form and the pitcher continues to throw. This method has some merit. However, it should be noted that most of the corrections made are in the preparatory movements, i.e., initial stance and stride or in the follow through movements.<\/p>\n

As a rule corrections are not made in the force production phase which is the key to speed and accuracy. The reason for this is that the human eye is incapable of seeing what occurs during this most important phase between the preparatory and follow through actions. The early preparatory and the ending movements are relatively slow and therefore it is easy to pick up on what has occurred. But what you do early and late usually has little bearing on the production of force, the most important middle part of the throw.<\/p>\n

In addition, many of the corrections that are made relate to pitching “strategy”. This means the type of pitch that should be thrown, how the ball should be held, which pitches should be thrown to a particular batter and so on. As a result many pitchers do not improve their throwing technique as much as is possible<\/p>\n

It should also be noted that many coaches, including pitching coaches, are not versed in the scientific foundations of what constitutes biomechanically effective and efficient pitching. Without such information it is impossible to make effective corrections in throwing technique. The key factor here is understanding what constitutes effective throwing, i.e., the key joint actions that occur in throwing that are responsible not only for speed but also for accuracy.<\/p>\n

Once you understand what is involved it is then possible to make corrections in body movements to enable you to throw with maximum force and accuracy and at the same time prevent injury. Understanding what occurs in pitching is also critical to creating the strength and flexibility exercises that duplicate exactly what you do in your throwing motion.<\/p>\n

Because pitching has not been examined closely from a scientific point of view there are many myths and misunderstandings presently in vogue. For example, there have been several major league coaches who have written articles regarding the curve ball and why it is so dangerous for youngsters. Even the medical profession has come out against the throwing of a curve ball because of its danger to the elbow with youngsters.<\/p>\n

But yet, if they understood the exact actions that are involved in throwing a curve ball they would understand that the curve is a perfectly safe pitch for youngsters. The danger comes from what the youngsters do incorrectly that creates the problems.<\/p>\n

More specifically, in the articles by these coaches they describe an action which if carried out, and if the youngster threw with great force, it would definitely injure the elbow. In essence, these coaches stated that in throwing the curve ball you must turn the hand so that the back of the hand faces the pitcher when you release the ball. But yet film analyses of all the top pitchers and all the pitches thrown, shows that this action is never, and I repeat, never used when throwing a ball. It is the action that will injure the elbow if attempted.<\/p>\n

In this action the pitcher supinates or turns the hand palm up, in the throw which is a highly dangerous movement. It should never be done, but yet it is amazing to see how many coaches still believe that you turn the back of the hand toward the pitcher when throwing the curve and other pitches.<\/p>\n

Being able to prevent injury and at the same time improve performance is extremely important in today’s game. Pitching plays one of the most important roles in winning and losing, and the more effective the pitcher the better the chances of winning. However, because of the reliance on the arm or upper body actions in pitching many pitchers need at least three to five days of rest for the arm to fully recover. This shows an over reliance on the arm for the production of force which in time can eventually lead to injury.<\/p>\n

But by learning more effective technique so that the body can generate the force needed the arm can then be used more for greater accuracy and not as the major producer of force. The arm should never be the main force producing action as it will eventually lead to a “dead” arm.<\/p>\n

When you learn effective technique and develop your physical abilities as needed to throw hard and accurately, you will find that you can not only throw more often, but that your throwing will be less stressful on the body. There is no reason why most pitchers cannot pitch more often and be even more effective than many are today.<\/p>\n

The key is to perfect and master pitching technique and to develop your physical abilities to the optimal level. This is something that to date, most pitchers have not done. But it is relatively easy to do and if you follow the suggestions presented in this manual you will see how it can be done. The key lies not only in perfecting your technique but also in improving your physical abilities as they relate directly to your pitching technique.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Improving Your Performance The most prevalent method used for improving performance is to pitch more. Coaches make corrections in pitching form and the pitcher continues to throw. This method has some merit. However, it should be noted that most of the corrections made are in the preparatory movements, i.e., initial stance and stride or in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[35,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-baseball","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n