Pitching Drills and Mechanics
The media has been hounding Roger Clemens ever since the steroid scandal was unleashed by Jose Canseco. His book, “Juiced” shed light on the widespread abuse of steroids and other performance enhancing substances around Major League Baseball. Can you really blame the media for grilling Clemens relentlessly? He is the poster child of the most …
Opinions vary widely when the topic of icing after games comes up. Most amateur baseball players witness pitchers at the major league level icing after a game. Their thoughts go something like this, “if icing is done at the major league level that means all pitchers should ice after games.” Some people claim that icing …
Stability balls are great for core training and as we all know pitchers must have an exceptionally strong midsection. The core muscles are composed of abdominal, lower back and leg muscles. Most of a pitchers power comes from having a strong core. With that being said, many people find common core exercises like crunches and …
The mirror is one of the most basic pitching aids available to athletes. Mirrors are great for practice since you can make sure you are in the correct pitching positions at all times. Unlike cameras and video-recorders, mirrors don’t require batteries and can be used to practice on your own. You also receive clear and …
This drill focuses on the proper alignment and positioning at the pitcher’s balance point. The balance beam will challenge the athlete to maintain balance over the balls of his feet. However, the drill can also be done on flat-ground depending on comfort level. The balance beam provides instant feedback, since poor balance obviously leads to …
The balance beam is the best training aid for my own personal practice and lessons for a variety of reasons. First of all, the beam trains pitchers to use the balls of their feet throughout the delivery. This trains optimal balance and strengthens the leg muscles at the same time. Secondly, the beam gives you …
Building a 2×4 balance beam is fairly simple. First you will need a 2X6 and a 2X4 which you can pick up from any lumber yard, like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Try to find some straight boards so the board doesn’t move during drills. They normally come in 8 foot lengths, which will be sufficient …
The number one culprit of lost velocity and control in young pitchers is “rushing” . This occurs when the pitcher moves to quickly toward home plate, before his arm is ready to throw. I believe the single biggest factor for increasing the velocity and command of a young pitcher is having them learn to keep …
Verbal Series of Checkpoints
Take the sign
Step Back
Pivot
Leg up (balance point)
Break (weight back)
Turn
Finish
Follow Through
Take the sign
Step Back
Pivot
Leg Up (balance point)
Break (hand break & weight back)
Turn (rotate weight and torso)
Finish
Toss and Balance – 20x Daily
Out of both the windup and stretch get to a balance point and hold for a count of 3 seconds. Focus on chin over your belt with leg raised at waist level – splitting your body in half. Lead side glove should be closed with elbow directed at the target. …