Separation Pitching Articles
Hip to shoulder separation is a key pitching velocity component that several studies have linked to the high velocity pitchers. High velocity pitchers generate more hip to shoulder separation than low velocity pitchers. They also have a bigger margin of separation-timing.
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.
Study Proves Separation-Timing More Accurate Measurement Of Pitch Velocity
by Brent Pourciau · January 30, 2013
Separation-timing more accurate measurement of pitch velocity, WHAT IS THIS?
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better and it does!
If you know anything about 3X Pitching, you know the power of hip to shoulder separation. If you do not know anything about 3X Pitching then watch this video on 3X Pitching 101. 3X Pitching is a comprehensive approach to high velocity pitching that teaches the enhancement of hip to shoulder separation through a linear force vector and an explosive triple extension (3X).
Hip to shoulder separation has been labeled as a way to measure the high velocity pitcher. The National Pitching Association in their studies of over 500+ pitchers have discovered that the average Major League Pitcher has 40-60 degrees of hip to shoulder separation. Read more
Study Reveals High Velocity Pitcher’s Use Stride To Enhance Hip Rotation Speeds
by Brent Pourciau · June 11, 2012
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
Pitcher’s Torso Speeds Enhance Pitching Velocity And Reduce Injury
by Brent Pourciau · June 1, 2012
The conventional pitching coach will spend most of his time working with a pitcher’s body positions, like torso alignment or arm angle, instead of his speeds. Pitching velocity is influenced more by the speeds of the body movements than its Kinematics. Kinematics are very important to pitching but without a complete understanding of its relationships to the forces and speeds of the movements then the ability of a pitching coach or a pitcher to have a significant effect on enhancing pitching velocity is limited.
Speed Mechanics is the heart of 3X Pitching. It defines the importance of speed through the kinetic chain as it relates to pitching velocity. It tends to be overlooked by the conventional coaches and pitchers who learn the 3X approach to increase pitching velocity for the first time because they focus more on the kinematics aka 3X Mechanics. The problem is most of these coaches and pitchers do not see themselves or the pitcher as speed or power athletes. It takes a completely new perspective for these conventional coaches and pitchers to see high velocity pitching as a speed movement and not just a series of positions. This article will help prove once again the importance of speed to pitching velocity. Read more
Scientific Proof That 3X Is Key To Separation And Pitching Velocity
by Brent Pourciau · May 15, 2012
If you read the countless articles on this site you will learn about a new term that has been brought into the pitching world. This term was first planted into the pitching delivery right here at TopVelocity.net. Maybe you found this website because you wanted to learn the hype behind this term or maybe you have no idea of what you just stumbled on. Either way this article will cover and scientifically prove a revolutionary secret to high velocity pitching.
The term that I am referring to is called Triple Extension (3X). 3X is defined as the extension of the ankle, knee and hip flexor. It comes from the Olympic Lifting world. In Olympic Lifting it is a key component to building power. This is also true for power pitchers but it is even more than just a power component for pitchers, it will enhance hip to shoulder separation which has been proven to be the component that holds 80% of a pitchers velocity potential. Read more
What Is Momentum Pitching?
by Brent Pourciau · June 14, 2009
The online world of pitching experts have been throwing around the buzz word “Momentum pitching” recently. This isn’t anything new unless you are up to date on the breakthroughs of pitching science. Pitchers have been trying to find better ways to generate more momentum in their deliveries for years but what is changing is the science behind this matter.
During the prime of the likes of Nolan Ryan, the popular way of generating more momentum back then was the “Stand Tall and Fall” style developed by Nolan Ryan and his pitching coach Tom House, who may have coined the term. This proceeded the popular style of “Drop and Drive” used by the great Tom Seaver. These two styles of pitching are still used today. What is changing is pitching mechanics are evolving from an art form into the world of science. Read more
Separation And Triple Extension
by Brent Pourciau · June 6, 2009
This videos covers the importance of “Separation” which builds core torque, increases velocity and takes stress off of the arm. Brent Pourciau also talks about how “Triple Extension” and the “Load” position is the key to generating optimal “Separation. Read more
Triple Extension Pitching Creates Optimal Separation
by Brent Pourciau · June 6, 2009
For all of those pitchers who are trying to develop more separation in back hip to back shoulder, you will only achieve this with explosive triple extension of the drive leg. “Triple Extension” is the extension of the ankle joint, knee joint and the hip flexor. You must perform this in your drive leg so your back hip can open completely to the target. If you keep your shoulders and weight back while aligning your Force Vector and once your Force Vector is linear you perform”Triple Extension,” optimal “Separation” will occur. Read more
The Split Perspective Of Separation
by Brent Pourciau · February 17, 2009
Separation is a major component to developing top velocity and longevity. Separation means having separation from your back hip to back shoulder at front foot strike. Notice the picture here of Felix Hernandez. His back hip is pointing towards home plate and his back shoulder is pointing towards second base. This creates torque in the core. You can see the stretching in his jersey around the stomach area. Having more torque in the core instead of the shoulder of the arm will lead to more velocity and a healthier arm. Read more
The Hip Slide To Pitching Velocity
by Brent Pourciau · February 12, 2009
The biggest problem I find in young pitchers is that they have poor separation in their hips to shoulders. There are many articles on this site covering the pitching component “Separation.” It is so important because having separation from your back hip to back shoulder before the shoulders rotate to the plate, is critical for velocity and the health of your arm. What “Separation” does is it builds core torque. It puts more torque in the big muscle groups of the core, instead of mainly in the small muscle groups of the shoulder. Read more
Pitching Torque And The 3 Pivots
by Brent Pourciau · December 16, 2008
The most important component of the pitching delivery is what is called, “Separation.” This is the separation of the hips and shoulders at front foot strike. This is what builds torque mainly in the core instead of the arm. This component will not only increase velocity but save a pitchers shoulder. Most high school and college pitchers have poor “Separation.” I have written about this component in just about every article on pitching velocity. I will once again define this into more detail.
The picture here of Felix Hernandez pretty much says it all. You can see the “Separation” from his hips to shoulders. It is like he is a towel being rung out to dry. Tim Lincecum calls this tightening his “Rubber Band.” The “Rubber Band” being his core. To understand why this is so effective in increasing velocity and preventing injury, we must first look at the bio-mechanics of pitching. Read more
Can Working Out Increase Pitching Velocity?
by Brent Pourciau · December 10, 2008
I have heard many players and coaches say that working out will not increase pitching velocity. I have even heard them say that it will hurt the pitcher. I understand that this is many parents, coaches and players concerns because it seems to be conventional wisdom that working out is bad but I will be the first to tell you that if you just do your research, you will learn otherwise. It will also prove to you that those who are spreading these rumors about working out and pitching, have not done their research.
When someone tells me that working out is bad for pitching, I then ask them then why was about 70% of Major League Ball Players on Steroids or Human Growth Hormone during the Steroid Era? It isn’t because they just wanted to look good on TV. I then ask them then why was the majority of the position players listed on the Michell Report pitchers? I always get a few stutters, followed by total silence. Read more
Pitching Velocity Drills – The Sled
by Brent Pourciau · December 8, 2008
The main purpose of a Drill, is to practice a component of the delivery that will help to correct a mechanical flaw. I also believe it is important to add resistance to a drill to help imprint the new muscle memory.
The drill below should be performed 2 – 3 days a week, for at least 3 – 4 months. The drill should also be performed after completing the “Flexibility Training” portion of the Fusion System which can be found in the Ace Pitcher Handbook included in the 3X Pitching Velocity Program. You will also find a ton more drills in the 3X programs. Try to push each drill to muscle fatigue, if possible. Read more
10 Legitimate Tips To Pitching Velocity
by Brent Pourciau · December 1, 2008
There are hundreds of Pitching Tips for Baseball on the web titled something similar to this article, but most of them are worthless, because they focus mainly on upper body mechanics as the means to developing velocity. Any hard thrower will tell you, there is a lot more to pitching velocity than just your arm. If you want to see significant gains in pitching velocity then read all of these key Baseball Tips on Pitching and the articles linked to it. The only way you are going to see improvements, is if you develop a good understanding of how pitching velocity is generated in hard throwing pitchers.
Remember you are bound by nothing. You have the ability to throw 90+ mph. Doctors told me I would not be able to and I proved them wrong. These tips will help you do the same. Read more
Bigger, Stronger, Faster!
by Brent Pourciau · November 26, 2008
It is almost December, so this is your last chance for athletic improvement before the season begins. For all those college pitchers and ball players getting ready for the 2009 season, don’t be that guy who walks into spring with the Thanksgiving, Christmas belly. I am not saying, “Do not eat this holiday” but I am saying, “Do not sit on your butt!” You may think Coaches have their lineup and starters set pre-season but the truth of the matter is, this can change if someone drags their out of shape butt into spring training.
Lift For Show, Load For Doe!
by Brent Pourciau · November 22, 2008
Ok, the leg lift isn’t only for “Show.” There is a lot of momentum that can be generated by the leg lift which transfers into velocity. The question is, “How come pitchers who have big leg lift’s in the wind up, when pitching in the stretch, have a lower leg lift but still throw the same velocity?” The answer is called the “Load.”
“Loading” is when the pitcher holds his weight back over his back leg, while his front side continues building momentum towards the target. This is why strong legs and core, produce powerful pitching. Look at Eric Gagne in this picture. He is squatting on his back leg, waiting for the perfect time to fire his hips and then his shoulders. Read more
Violence And The Pitching Delivery
by Brent Pourciau · November 18, 2008
I don’t mean to mislead you with the title. Some of you may have expected the first sentence to be something like, “Study proves that Pitchers are more prone to violent behavior.” This may be true for athletes but this isn’t what I am writing about in this article. I am writing about “Violence,” the way I would write about “Power” in the pitching delivery. I use the word “Violence” to make a point. Before I attempt to make the point, let’s look at the definition.
Define Violence: Violence is the exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse.
Now why would I want to use the word “Violence” to make a point about something as delicate as pitching? The same reason companies use the word “Maximum Strength” to describe something as delicate as medicine. Jerry Seinfeld has some great comedy on this topic. Read more
3rd Component Of Pitching
by Brent Pourciau · November 13, 2008
All the photos here are of professionals performing the 3rd Component of Pitching – Triple Extension and Separation, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.
I do not own these photos. This is a collection I obtained from the web.
Read more
“Salsa” And The Latin Pitcher
by Brent Pourciau · October 1, 2008
When I think of the Latin culture, I think of their food and their life style. When I say “Salsa,” I am not talking about food, I am talking about dance. I have had maybe two “Salsa” lessons in my life and it was my wife’s idea. When I think about it, I am so glad I had the experience because it has helped me as a pitcher.
Salsa definition:
A mixture of up tempo Latin styles of music. The salsa is not an actual style of Latin music; it is a style of dance. One that has become increasingly popular over time. Up beat Latin patterns and beats played together create a salsa style groove.
When you take a lesson or watch it on the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” you will see that “Salsa” is all about the hips moving the body. Observe the video. Read more
The Pull Perspective
by Brent Pourciau · September 8, 2008
Definition of throwing: the act of throwing; propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist; “the catcher made a good throw to second base”
Definition of pulling: the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you; “the pull up the hill had him breathing harder”
What definition best describes what a Major League Pitcher does on the mound?
TopVelocity.net And The Lincecum Revolution
by Brent Pourciau · July 3, 2008
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Well, it looks like the baseball world is seeing the light. Thanks to little giants like Tim Lincecum and his father.
His father Chris works for Boeing, which is why he produced a son with such a perfect understanding of physics driven mechanics. Tom Verducci has written the article of all articles when it comes to the revolution of the pitching delivery. Verducci writes for Sports Illustrated. In this article he expresses a better understanding of physics driven pitching mechanics than some of the best Coaches in the game. It goes to show how baseball’s ego has prevented its own evolution. MLB has been drafting young, tall and lanky pitchers for years because these pitchers can get away with more and therefore Read more
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