Darrell Coulter wrote:

"How much Velocity do you think a pitcher could add by just getting the leg lift, hip moving and 3X before front foot strike right? (The First Move)"

"I agree with you that strength is a major issue with most pitchers, but if pitcher's would start working on the motor skill side (drills) of your program I think they could and would see the quickest results if they are already powerful athlete."

Darrell – I read your question a little differently than the way Brent did.  The way I read what you're asking is "How much can pitchers improve their velocity if they implement 3X mechanics, but not 3X training?  And will the mechanics get quicker results than the training?"

I feel qualified to answer that question because I think it defines the difference between Brent and me.  For quite a few years, I have had success with helping pitchers get better by teaching them to move sooner, faster, and farther to generate more momentum to the target.  The result is almost always better velocity and the elimination of faults which occurred in the delivery because it was too slow.  However, looking back on my work I realize that I didn't give the proper amount of time and effort to their strength and ability to generate power.  With the exception of a few pitchers I could spend more time with than the others, I focused mostly on arm care, general conditioning, and programs that emphasized plyometrics – but failed to understand the importance of building power into their delivery.  That's one of the most important things I've learned from Brent. 

The result is I've helped lots of pitchers get better – but, have to honestly say I didn't help them reach their maximum potential because I didn't understand the power component as much as I should have.  (My oldest son – who finished his collegiate career with a 25-2 record – and I have had some interesting what-if conversations about what 3X might have done for him.)  So – and I know you know this – I think anyone who has spent much time really studying Brent and 3X understand that the mechanics of 3X and the power training of 3X go hand in hand.   

But, I read your question as the practical one of "I can't control whether these guys implement a training program or not, but what if they start by getting the mechanics right?"  And my answer from experience is that you absolutely can make a tremendous difference and sometimes dramatic improvement just by teaching a product of coaching that is "stuck in the conventional past" (shout out to Josh Brodersen for that great description!) to move with the mechanics of 3X.  I've seen young pitchers add several miles per hour in one session just by getting them to move sooner, faster, and farther.  And it stands to reason to me that the mechanics will have a more immediate impact than the training – because it doesn't take as long.  Remember – I'm a total convert to the fact that the two must go hand-in-hand to maximize your potential.  But, you have to start somewhere.  And it makes sense to me to pick the low-hanging fruit first by teaching them the mechanics – and then maximizing their improvement by implementing the 3X strength and conditioning program. 

As to putting on a presentation to a room full of balance-point coaches – I've done that.  (I haven't done it since I discovered 3X, but I've already started thinking about how to change it to include what I've learned from Brent.)  It has always gone extremely well because balance-point mechanics are stupid and make no sense.  The result is always a room full of coaches saying "That's so obvious – how did we miss that?".  At the very least, I would recommend a handout with lots of pictures of pitchers.  (There's plenty of them in the 3X manual – and I'm sure Brent wouldn't mind the free advertising.)  The picture that has the most impact in a presentation like this are of pitchers performing what I first called the Energy Angle – then I called the Power Angle – and now call the Force Vector.

If I do another clinic - and I've been asked to do one this Thanksgiving – I'm going to try to get a little more high-tech and do a power point with some video.  Even old dogs can learn new tricks.      

I will say that my clinics have always been for youth coaches.  High school coaches are a hide-bound, conventional-thinking, un-intellectual, cliquish bunch.  But, you have the tremendous advantage of having been a former professional pitcher.  That gives you instant credibility even if you're an idiot – which we all know you're not. 

To sum it up – and Brent may disagree with this – you have to start somewhere.  And I think it makes sense to start with the mechanics – in fact the 3X manual does start with the mechanics.  The sometimes immediate improvement by implementing the mechanics with hopefully inspire a pitcher to go all the way towards maximizing his potential by implementing the whole program.