The Pro Pitching Institute

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

The Archer's Secret to a Pitcher's Bullseye

Archery is a fantastic and easily understandable way to explain the critical roles of proprioception and the kinetic chain in achieving consistent pitching accuracy.

Stance & Nocking the Arrow

Just as a consistent nocking of the arrow ensures a predictable release, a stable stance and controlled leg lift set the stage for a consistent pitching motion.

While keeping the front knee in front of the front hip, the pitcher creates a solid foundation for their balance and weight distribution.

Drawing & Releasing

The energy generated in the legs and hips (drawing the bow) is transferred through the core and torso to the arm (releasing the arrow).

The timing and coordination between the glove work and the lower body is crucial for efficient energy transfer and accuracy.

Precise Aim

When the front knee finishes ahead of the front hip, a more complete and efficient transfer of energy through the lower body and into the throwing motion allows the pitcher to direct their power more accurately towards the target.

Control & Focus

Through repetition, the pitching motion becomes more ingrained in the pitcher's muscle memory, allowing them to execute it with less conscious effort, like the archer's instinctive release.

Pitch Smart

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Archery Simplifies Pitching

An archer hitting the target consistently explains the importance of stance, glove work, lower body engagement, and accuracy.

An archer effectively simplifies and explains complex pitching mechanics.

Stance & Nocking the Arrow

Keeping the front knee in front of the front hip during the front leg lift is compared to nocking the arrow, keeping the body balanced, and setting up the power.

Front Knee Ahead of Hip Leading to Accuracy

Relating to pitching, the front knee finishes ahead of the front hip, the glove work effectively engages the lower body, and the ball hits the target.

Drawing & Releasing

Analogous to drawing the bowstring using back muscles, glove work initiates the power from the lower body, which in turn drives the throwing arm.

Front Knee Position Directs the Glove Work and Power Transfer

Like an archer's instinctive release, the front knee ahead of the front hip directs the glove work to initiate hip rotation and power transfer, leading to a more automatic and controlled throwing motion.

Unbalanced & Inefficient

Any deviation from proper mechanics is compared to an unbalanced archery stance, throwing off aim and making it difficult to execute the initial steps correctly.

Pitch Smart

An archer hitting the target consistently explains the importance of stance, glove work, lower body engagement, and accuracy.

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Key to Pitching Command and Glove Work

To improve command and glove work, a foot distance of one baseball width frees the throwing arm to focus on accuracy, enabling the glove hand to contribute effectively to the overall motion.

Foot Distance and Weight Distribution

A foot distance greater than one baseball width causes the pitcher's weight to be primarily on the back foot.

Impact on Throwing Arm Engagement

The throwing motion then involves the throwing arm initiating the weight transfer from the back foot to the front foot and becoming less focused on command.

Glove Work and the Kinetic Chain

The glove arm reacts to the throwing shoulder's movement and, as the throwing arm shoulder moves towards the target, the glove hand path follows, becoming a secondary and less effective movement.

Ineffective Glove Work

When glove work is a reaction to the throwing arm's balance efforts, it does not actively contribute to stability, direction, or a clean transfer of energy throughout the pitching motion.

Pitch Smart

A wider-than-ideal foot stance compromises pitching command and glove work because it forces the throwing arm to prioritize balance over its primary function of delivering the ball accurately.

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Maintaining Balance and Producing Location

Proper positioning contributes to a stable base, which in turn supports the glove hand's role in maintaining balance and encourages velocity and accuracy.

A pitcher's starting position influences their proprioceptive awareness and the subsequent sequencing of their kinetic chain.

Your Foot Position

The pitcher setting their feet one baseball width apart sets the foundation upon which their entire delivery is built. Correct footwork is essential for a smooth and efficient motion.

When the feet are properly aligned, the glove hand can work effectively, contributing to balance and leading to better command of the pitch.

Your Front Foot Lift

The front knee stays in front of the front shoulder, the front heel lines up with the back toes, and the front toes point toward the target.

Your Glove Work and Throwing Action

The glove work causes the lower body to open and land the stride, highlighting the pitching motion's integrated nature, where the upper body (glove arm) helps drive the lower body movement.

The movement initiated by the glove hand helps to transfer the power generated by the lower body, through the core, and into the throwing arm.

Pitch Smart

Proper positioning contributes to a stable base, which supports the glove hand's role in maintaining balance and encourages velocity and accuracy.

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Proprioception and Your Kinetic Chain Unleashes Your Lower Body”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Your Kinetic Chain And Your Starting Position

A pitcher's starting position influences their proprioceptive awareness and the subsequent sequencing of their kinetic chain.

Proprioception and Starting Position

When the front leg is behind the hip, the leg is forced to initiate movement, suggesting a lack of proactive proprioceptive control.

The hand is trying to compensate for the body being out of sync, rather than being an integral part of a coordinated movement initiated from a balanced base.

Your Kinetic Chain and Starting Position

A balanced starting position (front leg even with the front hip) allows for a more efficient transfer of energy.

The glove hand then engages the core and lower body in a more synchronized way, leading to a more powerful and controlled throw.

Its movement helps to create the forward motion in a controlled way, allowing the throwing hand to follow through with consistent speed and release.

The glove hand's action, when timed correctly, helps to orchestrate the entire body's movement.

Pitch Smart

A balanced starting point allows for a more natural and coordinated movement, initiated by the glove hand, leading to better balance, command, and consistent pitch delivery.

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Stride Length and Shoulder Alignment

This is an excellent explanation of how stride length and glove-hand action influence shoulder alignment, ultimately affecting pitching accuracy.

Stride Length and Shoulder Alignment

Optimal stride length: Allows the shoulders to be aligned at foot strike, creating a direct line towards the target for efficient energy transfer.

Too long a stride: Leads to an "open" shoulder position (front shoulder pulled away from the target), often due to the body over-rotating to compensate for the excessive forward momentum.

Too short a stride: Leads to a "closed" shoulder position (front shoulder still pointing towards the catcher), often because the lower body hasn't fully engaged and rotated.

Proprioception's Role

Proprioception, the pitcher's sense of their body's position and movement, is crucial for developing and maintaining the correct stride length. Through practice and feedback, the pitcher learns the "feel" of a stride that allows for optimal shoulder alignment, their weight is distributed correctly, and their body is in a balanced position to rotate effectively.

Misaligned shoulders at foot strike disrupt the kinetic chain. The energy generated by the lower body cannot be efficiently transferred through a misaligned torso, leading to decreased power and inaccurate throws as the arm tries to compensate.

Pitch Smart

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Beyond Arm Strength: Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Unlock Fastball Command: Focus on Your Front Leg Lift

Without A Balanced Front Leg Lift

Your foot plant is gravity-driven.

This suggests a lack of control over the intentional placement of the feet.

When the ball is delivered, it lands within your target area, but not consistently into your target with the desired precision.

With A Balanced Front Leg Lift

Fastball command originates from a combination of a balanced front leg lift.

Balanced front leg lift is the starting point, providing stability and control for the subsequent movements.

A well-managed glove-hand action contributes to balance, direction, and initiating the kinetic chain.

A well-timed throwing arm trigger synchronizes the upper body's throwing motion with the power generated by the lower body drive.

The throwing arm action is a secondary function to this foundational balance.

Fastball Command

The initial stages of the pitching motion, particularly the balance achieved during the front leg lift, are the primary determinants of fastball command.

A stable, controlled lift sets the stage for more precise and repeatable delivery.

In contrast, an imbalanced lift leads to a less controlled, gravity-dependent foot plant and consequently, less accurate pitches.

Pitch Smart

We're so confident in our instructions that, if we can't help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.