The Pro Pitching Institute

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

The Interplay of Footwork, Glove Work, and Balance

By focusing on these aspects, Pitchers develop a more comprehensive understanding of their mechanics and make targeted improvements to their game.

Footwork

Foot positioning is foundational to balance, glove work, and command.

Proper heel positioning means your Heels are slightly apart and aligned with target and is crucial for maintaining balance and facilitating smooth glove work.

Incorrect heel placement leads to imbalance, poor glove work, and decreased accuracy.

Glove Work

Glove work generates power and accuracy in throws.

By going Glove Hand Palm facing your target to a flip so your Glove Hand Palm faces your target, your Glove Hand initiates lower body movement, leading to a powerful and accurate throw.

Effective glove work is essential for transferring energy from the lower body to the upper body and ultimately the ball.

Balance

Balance is the key to consistent and effective movement.

Proper foot positioning creates a stable platform for all subsequent movements.

The connection between footwork, glove work, and throwing motion is essential for generating power and accuracy.

Maintaining balance throughout the entire movement allows for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

Getting Better Balance

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Your Glove Hand Palm Flip Prompts Accuracy

By controlling the timing and direction of the glove hand flip, pitchers achieve a smaller target area and significantly improve their accuracy.

Importance of Glove Hand Palm

A well-timed glove hand palm flip with the palm facing upwards allows for a smaller target area and greater accuracy.

Consequences of No Glove Hand Control:

Where there’s no glove hand palm movement, the front foot is positioned poorly behind the hip and the pitcher’s shoulders aren’t in line with his target.

In this case, the glove hand moves in a passive, uncontrolled way and acts primarily for balance.

The lack of control over the glove hand palm leads to a larger target area and reduced accuracy.

Benefits of Ideal Glove Hand:

Where the pitcher's body is in balance, the front foot is aligned with back toes, the front toe is toward the target, and the glove hand naturally turns over palm upwards.

By controlling the timing and direction of the glove hand flip, pitchers achieve a smaller target area and significantly improve their accuracy.

Getting Lower Body Engaged

When you're balanced, your glove hand flip maintains balance and guides accurate pitches.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Proper Balance Prompts Uncanny Accuracy

With proper balance, you set the direction for your throw by your glove arm moving across your body.

The glove arm plays a crucial role in maintaining balance during the pitching motion.

In Balance Mechanics

When you're balanced, you throw the ball with uncanny regularity and fluid velocity.

Your center of gravity is directly over the back foot instep and your base is stable.

With proper balance, you set the direction for your throw by your glove arm moving across your body.

As the stride finishes, the glove arm's palm naturally turns upward and guides the throwing hand into a smooth release precise release.

Out of Balance Mechanics

Conversely, your throwing arm commands inaccurate throws, and forced velocity.

An overactive front knee finishes behind the front hip and throws off your center of gravity.

Due to the misplaced front knee, your weight gets transferred entirely to the back foot.

Since you're trying to regain balance, the glove arm can't contribute to the throwing motion effectively.

Despite a natural landing and shoulder clearing, due to the imbalance, you force your release which leads to missing the target "over the plate."

Getting Lower Body Engaged

When you're balanced, your glove arm maintains balance and guides accurate pitches.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Accurate And Consistent Pitching through Proper Balance

When your front knee is in front of your front hip, you free up the rest of your body for the throw.

Inaccurate Throws

When your front knee goes behind your front hip, you’re out of balance and you disrupt your motion’s sequence.

Your throwing arm moves behind your body to regain your balance.

You end up "managing" the pitch location at the release point which leads to inconsistent and inaccurate throws.

Accurate Throws

When your front knee is in front of your front hip, you free up the rest of your body for the throw.

You land your stride, engage your lower body to power the throw, and create a more coordinated sequence.

Because your lower body controls the movement, your throwing arm stays in front of your body, and you deliver the ball with uncanny regularity.

Improved Command

Significantly missing the target indicates your throwing arm went behind your body.

Rather than trying to adjust at the release point rely solely on your lower body leading your arm.

You're more likely to consistently hit your target.

Getting Lower Body Engaged

Proper balance achieved through a correctly engaged front leg allows your lower body to power the throw and leads to more accurate and consistent pitching.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw with uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Foot Positioning Promotes Location

A balanced stance with your front foot even with your back foot allows for a smooth weight transfer, proper timing with the glove hand movement, and ultimately, greater control over the throwing motion.

The front foot is critical in achieving consistent location in your throws.

Improper Timing

Starting with your front foot too far forward ahead of your hip means, to compensate with an exaggerated stride to shift your weight forward, you disrupt the throwing rhythm and make it challenging to locate the pitch.

Better Direction

A balanced stance, having your front foot even with your back foot at the start, allows you to initiate the throw with even weight distribution and leads to better control over the ball's direction.

The Glove Hand Connection

The glove hand staying back creates tension and builds up potential energy.

With your front foot balanced, your glove hand allows for a smooth transfer of energy from the lower body through the core and into the throwing arm, resulting in a more controlled and accurate throw.

Balance is Key

A balanced stance with your front foot, even with your back foot, allows for a smooth weight transfer, proper timing with the glove hand movement, and ultimately, greater control over the throwing motion.

Your movement translates to the ball consistently reaching your target with pinpoint accuracy.

Getting Your Proper Back Knee Position

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you a foot position to prompt a throw uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Proper Back Knee Positioning Promotes Location

Your efficient power transfer allows your lower body to effectively pull your throwing arm into the throwing motion, facilitates a proper back knee position, and leads to more accurate throws.

Proper back knee positioning contributes to better balance, body control, and ultimately, a more accurate throw.

Improper Back Knee Position

When your back knee is ahead of or directly over your back foot, you disrupt your weight distribution and your body to tilts.

To adjust your body’s position mid-throw and regain balance, you change your head position as you lift your front leg.

Your tilts disrupt coordination between your upper and lower body.

You lose control of your glove work and lower body movement, and your lower body can't contribute efficiently to the throw.

You end up relying solely on your throwing arm to deliver the ball which leads to less power and accuracy.

Proper Back Knee Position

With your back knee is positioned slightly to the second base side of your back foot, your weight distribution remains centered, your body remains balanced, and you prevent tilting.

Your glove hand is in a ready position to initiate movement and the energy from your lower body through your core and into your throwing arm.

Your efficient power transfer allows your lower body to effectively pull your throwing arm into the throwing motion, facilitates a proper back knee position, and leads to more accurate throws.

Consistent mechanics translate to throws that hit your target with uncanny regularity.

Getting Your Proper Back Knee Position

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches your back knee position to prompt your throw, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Proper Footwork Promotes Location

When you lift your front foot for the throw, your leg movement positions your front foot to the home plate side of your front hip.

Two different footwork approaches in throwing mechanics highlight the importance of proper footwork for efficient power transfer and accuracy.

Wide Front Foot Drawbacks

Your front foot wider than your shoulders leads to your back knee being directly over or in front of your back foot.

When you lift your front foot for the throw, your unbalanced weight ends up over your back foot.

Balance is regained only when your front foot hits the ground, but your throwing arm is already isolated and acting alone to deliver the ball.

Your lack of connection with your lower body means you lose the benefit of efficient power transfer, and the target area expands significantly.

Back Knee Behind Back Foot Benefits

Starting with your heels together and your knees bent position your back knee behind your back foot.

When you lift your front foot for the throw, your leg movement positions your front foot to the home plate side of your front hip.

Your lower body movement through your front leg lift prompts your glove arm to initiate the throwing action.

The coordinated movement between your lower body and glove arm leads to throws that hit your target with uncanny regularity.

Getting Your Glove Hand Involved

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches your foot position to prompt your throw, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice