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External Rotation Pitching Articles

One of the key components of high velocity pitchers is external rotation. High velocity pitchers implement more external rotation than low velocity pitchers. This external rotation is the result of optimal stride power into optimal hip to shoulder separation.

Here are some pitching articles on this important pitching velocity topic. This topic is currently open for discussion. You can either comment on the articles below or start a thread in the pitching forums.

Stretching Reduces Pitching Velocity

When most pitchers first learn high velocity pitching mechanics, like with the revolutionary approach called 3X Pitching, they quickly discover the importance of range of motion. Harder throwers can create more range of motion between the hips and shoulder and also in the throwing shoulder during external rotation or the late cocking phase.

The problem is these pitchers will jump to conclusions that the answer to increasing pitching velocity is to only increase range of motion. Well if you have a basic understand of the laws of physics you will know that if you increase range of motion but reduce force in return then you are working against yourself.

For an increase in a pitcher’s range of motion to enhance pitching velocity, the forces coming from this movement must remain the same or hopefully they will also increase with the added range of motion. The key to increasing pitching velocity through more range of motion is with speed and not just with flexibility. Most pitchers will try to take this approach to using flexibility training to increase range of motion. They will stretch and stretch and stretch the arm, through a full range of motion, in hopes this will increase pitching velocity. In many cases this flawed approach reduces pitching velocity. Read more

The Superior Cuban Fastball Revealed

The Cuban defector who has set the new standard of pitching velocity, with his numerous 100+ mph pitches, reveals a secret of velocity that has been proven as a significant pitching velocity component of his culture. Yes, a case study has proven why Cuban pitchers rank the top in the world when it comes to pitching velocity.

Before diving into this study, it is important to understand that Chapman’s mechanics from toes to fingertips is one of the best in the game. You can learn why and compare him to some of the other better mechanics in the game by viewing his 3X Pitching Profile. His mechanics are definitely credit to his blazing speeds. The pitching velocity component listed in the study was not the only reason for his 100+ mph pitching velocity but is what separates him from all the other top pitchers in the world who also have very good pitching mechanics. Read more

A Major Pitching Velocity Headache

There is a major body part that can cause a major headache with pitching velocity. Most pitchers are completely unaware of this body part because it is the body part where awareness comes from. If you haven’t discovered it yet then it is the head. The head weighs between 8-12 pounds depending on how big the pitcher is. This means throwing the head around during the pitching delivery can be detrimental to pitching velocity. To help understand the positioning of the head through the entire delivery I am going to define where the head must be through the entire 3X mechanics. Read more

Arm Path And Pitching Velocity

There is one “Arm Path” to pitching velocity that all high velocity pitchers take. This “Arm Path” begins not where conventional wisdom would believe, which is after hand break, but in the cocked position at front foot strike. The funky delivery here of Zach Outman is a great example of how the “Arm Path” of the high velocity pitcher works. What makes his pitching delivery so different is because he starts his delivery with his arms above his head instead of the conventional way, which is in the glove below the head. This out of the box approach makes it easier for him to get his throwing arm into the prefect cocked position at front foot strike, so he can generate his top velocity. Read more

Pitching 101

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Top 3 Pitching Power Issues

As a pitcher, do you train for power? The more I coach and train pitchers with 3X Pitching, the more I want to spend  most of my time training them in the weight room with pure power lifts.

All of the 6 components of the 3X Pitching mechanics are representative of a ballistic or explosive movement during a specific point in time. If the pitcher tries to implement these components into their deliver as choreography then the final result will be negative. It is critical that you use drills to develop the motor coordination of each component of the power pitching delivery as you move through the entire sequence. This way the final result will always be positive.

This is the revolutionary approach behind 3X Pitching. The problem is most pitchers who start 3X Pitching are searching for a program to help them increase pitching velocity. This means they have mechanical issues and most of these mechanical issues are the negative results of the lack of power production in their deliveries. Read more

3X Pitching Superior To Extreme Long Toss

The argument behind extreme long toss is that the pitcher will learn how to take the throwing velocity of a 300 foot flat ground throw and transfer it into a 60 foot pitch off of a mound. This is what I learned from watching an interview with Alan Jaeger, who uses extreme long toss with yoga to develop pitchers.

If you have been following this site then you know that I am totally against this approach to developing the pitcher. Here is a quick summary of why I am against this type of training. The American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) proves in their latest case study here that this type of long toss creates elbow varus torque in the arm and uses different mechanics than those used on the mound. In defense, Alan Jaeger says that the athletics of the 300 foot flat ground throw when restricted to 60 feet, through his “Pull Down” phase, forces the pitcher to be more open and explosive. Read more

Why Some Pitchers Throw Harder Than Others?

Why Some Pitchers Throw Harder Than Others is a big question in baseball and it is a question that seems to continue to go unanswered. Determining why some pitchers throw harder than others was the basis for a study by the American Sports Medicine Institute, the School of Health & Sports Sciences Osaka University and the Department of Surgery Duke University. The study was called KINEMATIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIGHLY-SKILLED AND LESS-SKILLED BASEBALL PITCHERS. This study took place in 1999.

I wanted to title this article, “Why Some Athletes Throw Harder than Others?” but conventional wisdom does not label pitchers as athletes yet so I didn’t want to confuse anyone. I hope I can help change this perspective of us Pitchers in the near future. Read more

3 Keys To Pitching Velocity

The 3 Keys to Pitching Velocity fall outside of conventional wisdom. These 3 Keys to Pitching Velocity do not exist in the vocabulary of most high school and college pitching coaches. These 3 keys to Pitching Velocity are arguably the best FREE pitching advice you will find on the web.

Before I give you these keys you need to prepare your mind for success because these keys will change how you look at pitching and velocity. More than likely the knowledge you have of pitching velocity is not getting the job done and YES you can gain knowledge from a source like TopVelocity.net which will guide you to pitching velocity that you have dreamed of reaching. Obviously, I am proud of these 3 Keys to Pitching Velocity because I am gloating but I did have to pay a heavy price for this knowledge. I had to overcome a career ending rotator cuff tear before playing pro ball, along with over ten years of searching and searching for this knowledge and abusing my body through trial and error. These 3 Keys helped me to reach my velocity goals after several doctors told me I would never pitch again. So here goes! Read more

Pulling Down Is Slowing Down The Pitcher

Many Extreme Long Toss programs use what some call the “Pull down phase.” This is because after throwing the ball 300 feet in an “Air it out” program, they then want you to pull down your delivery so you do not continue to launch the ball high as you move closer to 60 feet. The problem is this goes against the science of pitching velocity.

Pitching velocity is the product of momentum and torque down a mound. You can read countless articles on this site about Momentum and Torque. Pulling the ball down during release prevents early internal rotation which is a key component to pitching velocity as stated in the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) case study called Comparison of High Velocity and Low Velocity Pitch Deliveries. Read more

The Proper Research On Why Extreme Long Toss Is Bad For Your Arm!

Alan Jaeger is upset that TopVelocity.net has not done the proper research on long tossing. He said in an email to me, “If you are going to be in the public domain, I would urge you to do the proper research.” I am not sure if you have visited his website but I do not see him practicing what he preaches. There is a lot more research posted on TopVelocity.net than www.jaegersports.com but I will still give him what he has requested in his email, “Proper Research.” Read more

The Secrets Behind Throwing Hard

Dr. James Andrews at ASMI put together a study of low velocity pitchers to high velocity pitchers to determine the difference in pitching mechanics. It was a good feeling after reading this study because the same information coming from Dr. Andrews is the same information Top Velocity has been coaching and training for years. It proves why I overcame a rotator cuff tear and was able to reach 94 mph on my fastball post surgery. Read more

Comparison Of High Velocity And Low Velocity Pitch Deliveries

Stodden DF, Fleisig GS, McLean SP, Lyman SL, Andrews JR. Relationship of pelvis and upper torso kinematics to pitched baseball velocity. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 17(2):164-172, 2001.

Matsuo T, Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Andrews JF. Comparison of kinematic and temporal parameters between different pitch velocity groups. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 17(1): 1-13, 2001.

Stodden, DF, Fleisig, GS, McLean, SP, Andrews, JR. Relationship of Biomechanical Factors to Basebal Pitching Velocity: Within Pitcher Variation. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 21(1): 44-56, 2005 Read more