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.
In this article, I will give you the science behind momentum pitching and the best training program for developing the momentum in your delivery of a high velocity pitcher.
The Science Behind Momentum Pitching
Instead of hearing terms like "Stand Tall and Fall" or "Drop and Drive," we are now hearing terms like "Core Torque," "Triple Extension" or "Separation." What we are learning is the more science we can put into momentum pitching, the more benchmarks we have to help pitchers make their improvements. If pitching mechanics are only seen as an art form, then they are based on opinion, which has been the case for some time now. When pitching mechanics are seen as a science then through analysis pitching mechanics must meet certain benchmarks to be labeled efficient and effective.
What we have learned from these two styles, "Stand Tall and Fall" and "Drop and Drive," is more momentum equals more velocity. What we know today is that digital science has proven that momentum is only effective if it transfers from the lower half to the upper half of the body before it can move into the ball at release. This is the importance of "Separation." "Separation" is at front foot strike when the hips are open towards the target and the shoulders are still closed. Notice the picture of Tim Lincecum above just about to land in this position. You can develop all the momentum in the world with a Nolan Ryan leg lift or a Tim Lincecum jump off the mound but if you do not let that momentum travel up your body into the ball, with proper "Separation," then this means you will be stuck with just your arm to generate the velocity of the pitch.
I like to use the analogy of a moving car. Imagine a car traveling at 100 mph. The drivers side door is closed but it isn't closed all the way. All of a sudden the driver slams on the brakes and stops the car in its tracks. What would happen to the door? It would fly open because once the momentum of the car is stopped by the brakes, the momentum moves into anything that is not secured down. The door was not secured down, so it picked up the momentum and flew open. This is exactly how momentum must travel through a pitchers body. To transition from the moving car analogy into the delivery of a pitcher we could say the car is the legs and core of the pitcher and the door is the shoulders and arms. Once the pitcher puts on the brakes with his front leg during front foot strike and the shoulders are closed, then the momentum will travel into the shoulders launching them open towards the front knee. If the front leg continues to stabilize, the momentum will jump into the ball once the shoulders and arms cannot travel any farther.
This analogy makes it sound simple but it is not because there is a sequence of rotational pivots that must rotate perfectly in order for the ball to reach your potential velocity. To learn more about these pivots read Pitching-torque-and-the-3-pivots. It is also a major feat to train your muscles to move your "car" at speeds that cannot be seen by the human eye but I believe it is possible and so should you. Purchase the 3X Pitching Velocity Program for a complete training program to help you grow bigger, stronger, faster.
The #1 Momentum Pitching Training Program
This program has helped tons of pitchers live the dream of throwing 90+mph and signing with a D1 University, getting drafted by a Major League Organization and making it back to Major League Baseball. Many scouts in all organizations of baseball have recommended this program to help young pitchers get to the 90+mph range to improve their value at the next level.
The reason the 3X Extreme Pitching Velocity Program works is because it is based off of science and it has been proven to develop the 90+mph fastball on thousands of pitchers. It isn't rocket science or voodoo, it is the real deal! The program comes with a high level workload of drills, lifts and exercises scientifically programmed to enhance throwing speed on the mound while developing an efficient pitching delivery. The format of the 3X Pitching Velocity Program is similar to the same approach Olympic throwers have been using for decades to increase throwing velocity. This approach isn't new to the sports world but it is new to baseball.
If you are serious about your career and are insanely driven to put yourself into an extremely small percentage of pitchers who are potential D1 prospects, top level draft picks or you just want to reach your potential on the mound then this program is the best chance you have to making your dreams come true.
Learn more about the 3X Extreme Pitching Velocity Program or get started TODAY adding 5-10+mph!
I like what you have here. Very detailed in the explanation of weight transfer. Especially the car analogy. It’s hard to to teach the feeling of throwing against a firm front side.
The only thing that I did not agree on is that pitching is not an art. How could one look at King Felix Madison bum, or Zack greinke and see science? They have three different bodies with different arm actions and flexibility. Similarities are there like (weight transfer) but everyone has their own style because no other arm action is quite like yours. What I see is people get way to science with mechanics and they end up loosing their natural gift(arm action). Also the proof is in the pudding. There needs to be no bench mark. Simple as this. If he is under control throughout his delivery, finishing out front/over the ball with his fingers, and good timing he will throw the ball where he wants it. That is the scale. Can he repeat his motion? Is he throwing strikes? I am a firm believer of K.I.S.S
I’m just bored, looking to talk baseball. Keep putting out good work man.
It is both style and science. Just look at cars. We can build any two cars the same and get the same performance when performing the same action. Style only comes in when you want to take those two same cars and make each one look or drive different when doing the same action. With pitchers, none are the same because their parts are not made the same, so when they are performing the same action you get different results which makes it science. It is style when the pitcher changes the way to perform the action. Greinke, Bum, Felix all are trying to stride down the mound towards the target, separate their shoulders at front foot strike and then throw the ball which makes it all science but someone like Kershaw likes to lift his leg and put it back down before he starts his stride which makes this style.