General Pitching |

January 22, 2012 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

How To Tell If We’re Full Of Crap About Pitching Mechanics

We appreciate your readership, we really do. Both Dan and I work hard at bringing you the best of what we know about hitting and pitching mechanics on a regular basis.

We trust you find it useful.

In doing some writing last night for another ebook, I thought to myself, how do our readers know we’re not full of crap about pitching and hitting mechanics?

Look, we don’t want you to follow us blindly. (Or anyone else for that matter.) That’s why we provide video clips for MLB pitchers and hitters so you can see for yourself and validate what we teach.

The proof is in the technique Big League guys are using to become successful.

If it works for them, we teach it. No crazy theories from the 70′s, just the straight mechanics that work.

Take the tips we put out daily in our emails and use them.

Study how we and your other coaches match up to what Big League guys are doing.

If you want more? If you want the step by step instruction we give our athletes each day? Our DVD series will be waiting patiently for you at

www.simplifiedpitching.com

Filed Under: Coaching Pitchers, General Baseball, General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics

January 16, 2012 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Working with 13U pitchers

Tonight I begin working with a team of 13u pitchers. My job is to get their pitching mechanics in tip top shape before March when they begin playing.

The first area of focus I work on with his age is proper balance during the leg left. Secondly, I teach them how to lead with the hip. I think it’s safe to say most of the 10-13 year old kids I work with do not lead with their hips towards home plate.

Because of this mechanics oversight, they are giving up 3-7mph of fastball potential since they aren’t engaging their lower half in the beginning of their motion.

What does leading with the hip look like in action? Here, watch this clip. You see as Verlander nears the apex of his leg lift he begins to let his hips move towards home plate? That’s leading with the hips. I’ll be working with the kids tonight on this concept.

Dan does a great job explaining the early parts of the pitching motion in our Pitching Mechanics DVD. It’ll be on sale through today, and then the deal’s off. For $25 you get some seriously good pitching mechanics instruction; the same stuff we give the pitchers we work with daily.

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips

January 5, 2012 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Baseball Pitching: Preparing For 2012 Season

This is a fun time of year. Nate and I are inundated helping athletes fine tune their skills and work hard to ensure success this year.

Now is the time to lace up your shoes and get to work!

The biggest concern I have this time of year with many pitchers is they are simply training the wrong way. They are doing more harm than good for themselves.

What do I mean by that?

So many pitchers have poor mechanics. They throw the ball to throw and have never learned even some basic principals that will help them tremendously.

Pitching mechanics are vital to your success! It is imperative that you not only understand how to throw the baseball utilizing your entire body for power, but you learn how to “feel” that power as it works through the kinetic chain. (throwing with your legs, hips, core then upper body to release of the ball)

Don’t be an average pitcher this year!

In my travels each year, I see a ton of pitchers who have great talent, but don’t have the know-how to take their game to a higher level.

Take time to learn the game and start understanding the how’s and why’s of pitching.

If you are 100% ready to have your best year yet in 2012 and are hungry for that knowledge that will improve your game in every way; we are confident we can help you achieve that goal.

Take advantage of today’s opportunity and win big this year!

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Tips, Pitching Workouts Tagged With: Baseball Pitching, Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips

December 1, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

The Strike To Ball Ratio You Need To Win

I remember clearly my collegiate coach chirping at us pitchers daily about our overall stirke to ball ratio in our bullpen sessions during winter workouts.

The goal was 60%. Every time we took the mound. 60% strikes with two or more pitches and he said we’d win all the games we wanted as long as our defense would pick us up.

I’d always wondered why he’d picked this percentage as our goal.

Turns out, years later, he was right on with his percentage. In fact, for you number people (even if you’re not, don’t be scared, it’s delightfully interesting) I’ve found some good info.

Based on some serious statistical analysis, the average MLB pitcher threw 62% of his total pitches for strikes during the 2009 season.

Here are some highlights of the research I pulled from efastball.com

The top Strike to-Ball Percentage was 69% thrown by 7 pitchers, 68% by 10 pitchers.
500 pitchers (of the 666 total MLB pitchers) threw strikes at least 60% of the time. 660 pitchers threw at least 48% strikes. [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Tips

November 21, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Increase Velocity with Balance?

What most pitchers don’t understand is that they will throw faster when they are balanced.

Many pitchers try several things that they feel they will give them a few extra M.P.H.

Most are just old myths they are hearing from coaches or parents that played years ago and haven’t kept up with the science of throwing.

Apply what is in this video and see improvement in your pitching

You will want to check your emails This THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! HUGE SAVINGS!

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips, Pitching Velocity Tagged With: How to Throw Faster, How to Throw Harder, Increase Pitching Velocity, Pitching Velocity

November 17, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Nolan Ryan On Colby Lewis’ Preparation

Watch this quick clip of Nolan Ryan discussing Colby Lewisand his preparation and focus. Late in the clip Ryan identifies something key that high level athletes understand. In regards to not getting the pitch he wanted Ryan said,

“He does not let that carry over to the next pitch”.

If our kids would just get this one concept for this next season, oh how it would make a difference.

Here’s where we need to hear from you.

Take a minute and reply with the best advice you’ve received or been given on how to not let negatives carry over to the next pitch.

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Tips, Pitching Workouts

October 19, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Common Pitching Question

Nate and I get several great questions everyday about both hitting and pitching. One that has come up often is a proper warm-up routine for pitchers. Because so many of you have had that question lately, not only via our emails but in pitching camps and individual lessons, I thought I would address a couple of warm-up exercises you can do.

The best advice I ever heard about warming up before a game, and I wish I could remember who I heard it from; is to warm up until it feels like you have already pitched one inning. As a pitcher it is imperative that you are 100% loose before competition. When I take my pitchers through an entire warm-up routine (25-35 minutes) when they finally pick up the ball to warm up, they are absolutely amazed at how good it feels to throw. So many injuries will be avoided if you know how you should “feel” before you throw your first pitch in any game.

Let me take you back to an article I wrote last year about warm up exercises to help you understand this concept.

By the way, if you haven’t noticed already, we kept the DVD series on sale for a couple more days. Thanks and good luck training!

Filed Under: General Pitching, Pitching Tips, Pitching Workouts

September 25, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Last Day for Pitching Mechanics/How to Teach Pitchers

This week has been great! Nate and I have sent you some great information about pitching mechanics. We started off the week sending you two pitching videos; one about how to throw from the windup properly and another about how to maintain balance throughout your delivery. Remember, with proper balance comes accuracy and with momentum going in the right direction means increased velocity.

Nate and I also sent you a couple of articles. The one that got the most feedback was when Nate shared his story about helping his own son with his mechanics. Many parents could relate to the excitement that Nate shared with you this week.

Just a quick reminder!

Today is the final day of pitching mechanics week. That means it is the very last day to get our pitching mechanics DVD for only $25.

Many people have already taken advantage of this weeks opportunity to crank up their mechanics. If you haven’t yet, now is the time!

For those of you who are struggling with any of the following on the mound:

Struggle throwing strikes
Lack Velocity
Push the ball when throwing
Throw faster playing catch than on the mound
Consistently throw the ball high
Back of Arm, elbow or bicep hurts often
Pitching motion changes frequently
Stride is short

Take a look here now!

And please, If there are any questions you have in regards to pitching and hitting we would love to help anyway we can.

Filed Under: General Baseball, General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips Tagged With: Baseball Pitching, Pitching Tips

September 23, 2011 By The Pitching Academy 1 Comment

A Drill To Help Young Pitcher’s Velocity and Accuracy

Yesterday I sent out an email about my ten year old who just expressed interest in playing baseball this upcoming spring for the first time. Based on the emails we got in response, there are a number of you who have a young guy of your own who is new to the game. I wanted to share what my son and I worked on last night (after soccer practice of course) in the attempt to work on the correct fundamentals with the upper body while throwing. I have found that teaching correct throwing or pitching mechanics to kids ten and younger works best when you can start with knees on the ground. Once they get the hang of how the upper body works, then go ahead and introduce the legs and stride into the mix. Anyway, here is what we did last night; try it with your son, and I’m sure you’ll have some success. He’s making some progress, but clearly has some work to do.

• For all you baseball purists reading this, please excuse the soccer attire and baseball combination… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching Pitchers, General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips

September 21, 2011 By The Pitching Academy Leave a Comment

Pitching Mechanics: Throwing From The Windup

Can throwing from the windup give you more velocity? Many pitchers feel a significant difference in velocity when they throw from the windup than from the stretch. Is it psychological?

If you have been receiving these emails for awhile now you know that a lot of effort goes into throwing a baseball. There are so many variables to your mechanics that can decrease or increase velocity.

Nolan Ryan once told Tom House (his pitching coach) that he is consistently clocked throwing 3 miles an hour faster when he lifts his leg up to his head as opposed to lifting it only up to his hip. Typically, the higher the leg lift the longer the stride and the more momentum you will create toward your target.

So, yes! To answer the question above, most pitchers can throw faster in the windup than from the stretch. However, it’s not because a pitcher rocks back and forth more; it’s not because a pitcher is “swinging” raring back and firing as we hear many coaches say.

Take a look at our latest video about pitching from the windup. We give you a ton of pointers about how to keep your balance so you can throw hard strikes.

If you haven’t picked up our pitching mechanics DVD yet now’s your chance. This week it’s not that it’s just a bargain, it will give you the insight you need to take your game to a higher level. You will know what to work on everyday to take you to that level. This pitching mechanics DVD is part of our new series. Have a great day!

Filed Under: Coaching Pitchers, General Pitching, Pitching Mechanics, Pitching Tips, Pitching Velocity Tagged With: Baseball Pitching, Pitching, Pitching Tip, Pitching Tips, Pitching Velocity