Keep It Simple When Training Pitchers

In an age where technology prevails, we sometimes make things a little too complicated. We occasionally have to remind pitchers that their job is very simple. So, we have a few sayings to keep it in perspective.
There is always the debate about which is more important, speed or movement. The easy answer: “The purpose of speed is to force a batter to make a quick decision. The purpose of movement is to make them regret that decision.”
Which is more important, speed or accuracy? The easy answer is this. “If all parts of the body are firing in the most dynamic ways, in perfect sync, you will be faster AND you will be more accurate.” If speeding up the movement harms accuracy, your form probably needs serious attention.
Which pitches are best, up and down, or side to side? There are very successful pitchers in either category. See the strike zone as a box, sort of like they use on TV broadcasts of Major League Baseball. “Your job is to throw pitches that look like they will be in the box but suddenly move out of it, or throw pitches that seem to be outside the box but suddenly break into it.”
Are some kids naturally gifted with speed? “Speed is not always a gift, but it is the result of using your gifts in special ways.” Our research has revealed that many of the fastest pitchers discover certain movement patterns that allow them to move faster. Often the variables are very not obvious, even with video analysis. We have identified several small differences in the way they engage specific muscles in the legs and back that enhance speed dramatically. For slower kids, it takes a program of developing those patterns, and strengthening the appropriate muscles to make them more dynamic
Is speed an attitude? Yes. “Kids who want to throw fast usually throw fast.” If we meet a kid who has that burning desire to throw heat, all we have to do is make adjustments in her form that maximize that ability. She will do the rest. If she is not obsessed with speed, perfect mechanics will only produce limited results.
Finally, my favorite. “Before throwing the pitch, great pitchers focus on making very specific things happen. Weak pitchers just throw the ball and watch to see what happens. Your mindset going into the pitch usually determines what happens afterward.”
**Note: Denny will be in Bellmawr, New Jersey, with several of our Certified Instructors for a special event on March 14-15. We still have a couple of openings for students who have never worked with us before. Email us for more info.