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Pitching Mechanics Pitching Articles

All high velocity pitchers use a similar set of pitching mechanics. It is critical for a low velocity pitcher to learn these pitching mechanics if they want to become a high velocity pitcher one day. This site represents these high velocity mechanics in a revolutionary approach to increase pitching velocity called 3X Pitching.

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.

3X Pitching Podcast – Episode 4

3X Pitching – Podcast Episode 4 Transcript

This transcript is a rough draft. It is recommended that you listen to the podcast above.

Conventional Wisdom of Pitching

Alright! Brent Pourciau, TopVelocity.net. And this is the fourth episode of the 3x pitching podcast. Hopefully you listened to the other three. We’ve had some great ones. Actually the third one was probably my favorite. We covered ground force reactions, which really is a cool topic when it comes to high velocity pitching. And this one is actually going to be cool too! Because we’re going to talk about the perspective of 3x pitching. Read more

10 Common Mistakes That Cause Pitching Injury

There are 10 common mistakes that most of the pitchers in this game make at some point in their pitching careers which can or will lead to injury and can be avoided with some basic knowledge of science driven pitching mechanics.

Let’s face it, pain and injury is a serious problem for pitchers at all levels of the game. Baseball is a game that involves periods of apparent inactivity punctuated by the highest recorded angular velocities of human movement. (6) Due to this hostile environment the threat of injury is that snake in the woods that is hunting you down and you are just hoping you do not run into it. Every pitcher is just praying that this pain or discomfort in the arm is not going to be a career changer. I really don’t want to scare you here because I am here to help and the best way for me to start helping you is by acknowledging the risks involved.
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Study Proves Arm Path Most Effective For Increasing Pitching Speed

A popular and conventional topic of pitching mechanics is “Arm Path.” This means the path the arm takes out of the glove into pitch release. Do you break your hands early or late? Do you swing the arm up or down? Do you through your elbows high or low? Do you break your arms hard or soft? Does any of this even matter?

The major issue with just coaching the “Arm Path” to increase pitching velocity is like telling the passenger in the car to start pushing the car so we can go faster. It is a backwards approach to pitching velocity and like the passenger in the car, it is better to tell him to just hold on for the ride. Read more

3X Advanced Component – 3X Burst

This video covers the critical movement of the high velocity pitcher called the 3X Burst. This movement will help a low velocity pitcher move into a high velocity category. This video is from the 3X Pitching Mechanics Guide instructional video stream which covers the 3X 2 Phase Delivery, the 6 3X Components and 20 new 3X Advanced Components. It is also back by 20 references to case studies that support the 3X approach to increasing pitching velocity. If you like this video please share it and TopVelocity.net will unlock more 3X Advanced Components from the volt!

 

Study Proves Pitching Velocity Is Generated From The Initial Movement

The 3X Pitching Mechanics Guide defines some revolutionary advanced pitching components that prove how to enhance the initial movement of the throwing arm as evident in a high velocity pitching delivery. Some of these 3X Advanced Components are Action to Reaction, the 3X to 2X Factor and the 3X Burst to name a few. The application of maximum force to load the arm, which in return will enhance the speed of the initial movement in the throwing arm, is what separates a high velocity pitcher from a low velocity pitcher.

This increased load into the initial movement to enhance performance is best defined in the Stretch Shortening Cycle (SSC), which is listed as another 3X Advanced Component in the 3X Pitching Mechanics Guide. The SSC is critical because this is how the body generates the energy to multiply forces. A case study performed by Grezios AK, Gissis IT, Sotiropoulos AA, Nikolaidis DV, Souglis AG. at the Laboratory of Biomechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece called, Muscle-contraction properties in overarm throwing movements proves the importance of loading the arm with force to enhance the speeds of the initial movement, which implements the SSC and increases throwing velocity. Here is the results from the case study: Read more

Study Reveals High Velocity Pitcher’s Use Stride To Enhance Hip Rotation Speeds

There are many studies that define the difference in the kinematics of high velocity pitchers to low velocity pitchers but few of these studies mention the time or speeds of the movements. When speed is used as a measurement of movements and how these speeds effect the movements up the entire kinetic chain then these measurements expose the secrets to high velocity pitching.

Speed is why pitchers must use video analysis to discover flaws and to make effective mechanical adjustments to their deliveries. The entire pitching delivery of a high velocity pitcher from the peak of the leg lift to pitch release is less than 1 second. The human eye is not capable of recording all the movements a pitcher makes during this short amount of time. This is why most young pitchers have a poor understand of high velocity pitching mechanics, like how the stride effects hip rotation speeds and how hip rotation speeds effects the rest of the pitching delivery. Read more

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

Dorsiflexion Is The Key To The Pitching Power Of 3X

3X Pitching is a revolutionary approach to increase pitching velocity which holds the secrets to power pitching. The foundation of the approach is using triple extension (3X) of the drive leg to enhance hip to shoulder separation and pitching velocity. You can learn more about the science behind this power pitching approach in my latest article called, Scientific Proof that 3X is Key to Separation and Pitching Velocity.

In another article here at TopVelocity.net, I defined a critical component to implementing 3X which is called the ankle kick. You can learn more about the ankle kick and it’s role in the 3X Pitching mechanics in the article called, 3X Pitching and the Critical Ankle Kick. Once a pitcher has learned the power of the ankle kick to the 3X approach to pitching and has used the 3X Velocity System (throwing program) to implement the motor coordination around the 3X Pitching mechanics then it is important to begin working on the fine motor skills of 3X Pitching to help the pitcher master the entire approach and have a significant increase on pitching velocity. Read more

Research Proving Pronation Supports Pitching Velocity While Preventing Injury

More and more pitchers are hearing the word Pronation as it relates to good pitching mechanics. The reason it is becoming more apart of the conventional vocabulary of baseball today is because of the ever rising arm surgeries at all levels of the game.

The reason the rise in arm surgery is causing this terminology to surface is because institutes like the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at The University of Auckland, New Zealand have discovered the importance of this mechanical component to protecting the elbow joint of the arm when throwing as evident in the article called the Evolution of the treatment options of ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbow hosted at the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The article describes the issues of the throwing movement on the elbow joint and lists some new discoveries and solutions to these problems. Here is an excerpt from the article stating the importance of pronation to reducing loads on the arm which can lead to injury. Read more

Pitchers Remodel More Fast-Twitch Muscle With Olympic Lifting

TopVelocity.net has been a very controversial source of information within the conventional wisdom of the game when it comes to training the power pitcher. This is because 3X Pitching promotes the use of Olympic Lifting to develop any low velocity pitcher into a dominate high velocity power pitcher. The controversy has been going on for some time now and will continue until the conventional wisdom of the game adapts to the new discoveries of science. This article will plug some of these new and old studies that prove why the use of Olympic Lifting to build the power pitcher is so effective. Read more

Distance Running Reduces Elastic Energy And Lowers Pitching Velocity

We all should know by now that long distance running is bad for pitchers (read 2009 article called Just Say NO to Long Distance Running) but now everyone needs to know how bad it really is. Yes, the study below proves that long distance running reduces the bodies ability to absorb and use the power of elastic energy.

If you have spent anytime on this site, you have learned the importance of elastic energy to pitching velocity. If you need a refresher or a basic understanding here are some of the key components that use elastic properties to generate high pitching velocity. Read more

Strength Development Before Power Pitching Motor Skill Training

In the case of all power pitchers or athletes, to prevent wasting precious time when learning a power movement like pitching at high velocities, it is important to understand that strength or power development must come before the power motor skills of the power pitching mechanics. Attempting to train the power motor skills before the pitcher has the strength or power to move through them efficiently and effectively, is not just a total waste of time but it also can end ones pitching career. Read more

3X Pitching Mechanics Triggers To Benefit You Game Time

3X Pitching is an advanced approach to pitching velocity. It is extremely effective but requires an insane work ethic to implement the 3X mechanics. It is hard enough to perfect the 3X approach when in practice, when in a game, it can almost seem impossible until you have given it enough time and effort. What makes game time so difficult is the stress factor. Stress effects the brain by overloading it with excessive stimulation. This means all of the new motor coordination, that has just been programmed, is out the window when stress shows up. The only way to battle this is to learn how to reduce your stress levels by giving your brain some triggers to simplify the mechanics commands to help stimulate your central nervous system. Read more

Long Toss Vs 3X Power Throws

 In the 3X Pre-Season program, the “Old School” approach of Long Tossing is replaced with the revolutionary 3X Power Throws. These throws revolutionize the traditional throwing practice of Long Tossing by incorporating the 3X Mechanics and velocity support. Once you learn this cutting edge approach to an in-season throwing program you will not want to go back to your old ways of Long Tossing.

The problem with the traditional Long Toss was discovered in the latest case study performed by the famous ASMI which was backed by the famous Dr. Andrews. You can learn more about this study here. The final results proved that the traditional long toss, along with the popular extreme long toss, not only is destructive to your pitching mechanics but it puts a tremendous amount of stress in the elbow. The 3X Power Throws were developed to eliminate this stress in the elbow while also promoting the 3X pitching mechanics. The results have been revolutionary. Read more

Training The Power Pitcher

When it comes to training the power pitcher, you must not only have a good understanding of pitching mechanics but strength and conditioning. The problem is most pitching coaches have a very poor understanding of strength and conditioning and most strength and conditioning coaches have a very poor understanding of pitching mechanics. Read more

Pitching Velocity Specificity

Pitching Velocity Specificity is based around two variables; pitching mechanics and physical fitness. The baseball world has a descent understanding of how important sound pitching mechanics are in producing an above average pitcher but they have very little understanding of how effective physical fitness is in producing an above average pitcher.

This has a lot to do with the trickle down theory. Most of baseball gets their education from Major League Baseball. The problem with the MLB is that they are made up of an elite group of athletes. Therefore the league does not have to spend a lot of time in physical development of their players because everyone they acquire is already developed. This is why they draft athletes over baseball players. If you want proof just look at the 2000 MLB draft when the Colorado Rookies Drafted Michael Vick in the 30th round. The last time Michael Vick played baseball was in the 8th grade. They drafted him because he is one of the best athletes in the world. The MLB would rather draft athletes than just baseball players because they know it is easier to turn an athlete into a baseball player than a baseball player into an athlete. This is why the MLB has very little knowledge and experience in physical fitness and development. So why does all the levels under the MLB look to them for guidance in physical fitness and development? Good question! Read more

Force Vector Pitching

Is your pitching coach teaching the force vector?

More than likely your Pitching Coach has no idea what Force Vector Pitching is and why it is so critical for velocity. I would love to see the look on his face when you ask him what force vector pitching is and why is it so important.

I have talked about the Pitching Force Vector many times on this site and in my analysis. It is also in the 3X Pitching Velocity program and the fact is, I really can’t talk about this critical component enough. 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

Pitching Speed And The Glove

There is a lot of controversy around the glove side to pitching mechanics. Conventional Wisdom would coach the pitcher to pull down or pull around the glove side to launch the throwing arm into action. The problem is this would go against pure speed and classic physics.

The reality is that the glove arm to shoulder must act as a fulcrum for the shoulders during the throw to allow for efficient speed mechanics. To understand this we must first define the fulcrum. A fulcrum is the pivot about which a lever turns. The lever in pitching mechanics is the shoulders and also the hips but in this article we are only talking about the shoulders. The shoulders must swing like a door towards the target. Once they open then the arm must launch over the top of the door. If the pivot or fulcrum of the door is moving when the door is slamming closed then the door will not reach its top velocity. The same results would occur with other tools that use the fulcrum or pivot to swing a lever. Good examples similar to pitching, which I have used on this site, would be the catapult or mouse trap. Read more