Over the past 10 years, the mechanics of pitching, in regards to
instruction, have evolved a great deal. A lot more emphasis is
being placed on the upper part of the body with arm action, arm
speed and getting the ball closer to home plate being the primary
focus.
Over the past 10 years, the mechanics of pitching, in regards to instruction, have evolved a great deal. A lot more emphasis is being placed on the upper part of the body with arm action, arm speed and getting the ball closer to home plate being the primary focus. Pushing off, driving toward the plate and putting emphasis on the legs is of less concern these days than it used to be. Now, don’t get me wrong, the legs are still an important part of the delivery, but especially with kids, the lower half of the body is being introduced differently.
It’s actually become old school teaching versus new school mechanics. Now, there is nothing wrong with the old school mechanics and how they’re taught, but advanced technology and the study of throwing mechanics has allowed us to step out of the box. We’re now learning how certain mechanics put a strain on the arm as well as what produces the greatest arm speed. This is such a great advantage for today’s youth and amateur players.
There are three things, in relation to the body, that need to be directed toward home plate. The front foot, hip and shoulder should all follow a straight path toward the catcher. Drawing a straight line on the ground from your pivot foot toward home plate will help you see if your accomplishing this. By staying closed until your front foot hits will enable you to generate more power. Opening up too soon or stepping off the center of the line allows your arm to drag through, putting a strain on your arm. This, in turn, leads to less arm speed and therefore less velocity.
Breaking down the mechanics as simply as possible for youth players is actually quite easy. And, if you focus on these four basic principles as your cornerstones, success will follow. Number one, your front leg (non-pivot foot) must lift high enough so you could place a dinner plate on it. This will establish balance and allow your arm to reach back and get extension for better arm speed. Number two, your front leg goes right back down toward the ground, not out. You now break your hands. Number three, you glide forward with your front foot going down the line.
Through all these three steps you shouldn’t be rushing, leaning or speeding toward the plate. Developing balance with a good rhythm and tempo is essential. And, fourth, you’ll deliver the pitch and finish square, meaning your landing foot and pivot foot will finish spread out and even with one another. This develops a consistent release point leading to better control.
In learning these four steps, everything should be done from the stretch position. Starting youth pitchers from a windup doesn’t allow them to understand balance and timing, which leads to rushing. And this is where the bad habits begin. So, create some new habits on the mound.
Rich Taylor is the owner, head instructor and CEO of Taylor Made Baseball. He is a former pitching coach at Pepperdine University and Chicago White Sox scout. He founded the West Coast Baseball School and has 26 years of youth coaching experience. His column appears on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
