Invented in the U.S. over 150 years ago, baseball has been woven into the fabric of countless players’ and fans’ lives. Simply put, baseball is a game of two primary skills: Hitting and pitching. Both of which tend to be very important. However, as significant as hitting is, learning how to pitch effectively and efficiently via proper pitching workouts is more important. As proven time and time again in the annals of championship baseball lore, great pitching almost always wins more championships than good hitting. And so, the goal of this article will be to outline some of the best strategies being used to help develop the fabric-weaving pitchers of today and tomorrow.
One of the more-common misconceptions regarding modern pitching workouts is that in order to gain more velocity –along with better control– young pitchers need to use weights and other strengthening methods to build arm strength. The reality is that pitching is not a talent of strength but rather of explosive movement. So by building specific, arm-muscle strength, in essence, the body is training to slow down. It’s true the arm is important, but it is the ENTIRE pitcher’s body that creates good and effective pitching. Pitching is a whole-body motion and thus overall body flexibility and movement should be the center of any pitcher’s training regimen. This is why methods for solid pitching workouts need to focus on a balanced fitness strengthening program –requiring all the body’s muscles to react with greater flexibility and motion. solid pitching mechanics are important, however should not inhibit momentum; which is what creates increased velocity and movement, two of a pitcher’s best companions.
Dick Mills offers coaching on pitching mechanics
Since the body’s central muscles –the abdominals and the lower back muscles– are the basis for the body stability, strengthening and conditioning them are crucial. Good movement, and the resulting good flexibility, starts with a solid core. And as a result all effective pitching exercises should include a core-muscle, strengthening regimen. If these muscles are in good condition, proper posture and balance return thus allowing the body to utilize its full range of motion and flexibility.
Another excellent development in pitching workouts has been the emphasis placed on momentum instead of fixed-mechanics pitching. Basic physics indicates that higher momentum (created by better flexibility and movement) results in greater speed. This is the reason such an emphasis is now being placed on pitching methods utilizing a quicker, less static-based, and longer method of throwing the ball. This type of method has been the “secret” of many of the greatest pitchers of the past and must therefore continue to be taught.
The training rooms and doctor’s offices are often-filled with pitching-related injuries created by too many ill-focused training regimens and implementations. By using more-balanced, complete-body-based, core-stabilized, and momentum-producing pitching workouts, pitchers of any age can develop greater speed and control, and suffer fewer injuries while playing their game.
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