Sometimes referred to as America's Pastime, baseball is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. One of the most important components to building a competitive team is to have a solid pitching staff. Some are blessed with pure natural talent when it comes to throwing effectively while others may have to get by on lesser abilities. Regardless of the talent level, using good pitching mechanics can be an essential part of having a successful and healthy career as a hurler.
There are two primary reasons why pitching mechanics are important. The first is related to performance in that an efficient, solid delivery is likely to result in better command of one's pitches and can also help to generate more velocity. The second reason is related to injuries. Poor mechanics can increase the amount of stress on the body, particularly on the shoulder and elbow of the throwing arm, resulting in a higher chance of suffering an injury.
Evaluating a pitcher's mechanics takes a good bit of training as this is a complex task with many details that need to be taken into consideration. Professional pitching coaches have trained for years to be able to do this, but just about anyone can learn a few basics to get started in the right direction.
Many people will automatically think first about the position of the arm. This is obviously of paramount importance but there is no clear agreement amongst experts on what exactly constitutes perfection in this aspect. There is more agreement, however, on a few fundamental points that are a good place to begin the process of evaluation.
While throwing a ball is generally thought of to be performed with the arm, to be done well it must begin with the legs and trunk. Throwing mostly with the effort of the arm results in decreased effectiveness and a much higher risk of suffering an arm injury. On the other hand, good use of the legs and trunk to generate force that is transferred to the arm is a key in both throwing with more velocity and with less risk of arm injuries.
Another important point is balance. A pitcher who is falling off to one side is likely to have more problems with controlling his pitches than one who is balanced and minimizing lateral movement. Starting the motion in a balanced state and remaining this way throughout the entire process also relates to the previous point in that the legs and trunk can be used more and the arm can be used less.
How well the player is able to repeat the proper mechanics is of utmost importance. Variations in the delivery will lead to problems with command as well as potentially causing injury. It is essential, however, to be repeating the motion utilizing sound principles; repeating a poor motion is good for neither one's performance nor for the health of one's arm.
No two players are exactly alike and thus there is no one-size-fits-all answer for what constitutes perfect pitching mechanics. Despite this fact, these fundamental aspects can be useful for all.
There are two primary reasons why pitching mechanics are important. The first is related to performance in that an efficient, solid delivery is likely to result in better command of one's pitches and can also help to generate more velocity. The second reason is related to injuries. Poor mechanics can increase the amount of stress on the body, particularly on the shoulder and elbow of the throwing arm, resulting in a higher chance of suffering an injury.
Evaluating a pitcher's mechanics takes a good bit of training as this is a complex task with many details that need to be taken into consideration. Professional pitching coaches have trained for years to be able to do this, but just about anyone can learn a few basics to get started in the right direction.
Many people will automatically think first about the position of the arm. This is obviously of paramount importance but there is no clear agreement amongst experts on what exactly constitutes perfection in this aspect. There is more agreement, however, on a few fundamental points that are a good place to begin the process of evaluation.
While throwing a ball is generally thought of to be performed with the arm, to be done well it must begin with the legs and trunk. Throwing mostly with the effort of the arm results in decreased effectiveness and a much higher risk of suffering an arm injury. On the other hand, good use of the legs and trunk to generate force that is transferred to the arm is a key in both throwing with more velocity and with less risk of arm injuries.
Another important point is balance. A pitcher who is falling off to one side is likely to have more problems with controlling his pitches than one who is balanced and minimizing lateral movement. Starting the motion in a balanced state and remaining this way throughout the entire process also relates to the previous point in that the legs and trunk can be used more and the arm can be used less.
How well the player is able to repeat the proper mechanics is of utmost importance. Variations in the delivery will lead to problems with command as well as potentially causing injury. It is essential, however, to be repeating the motion utilizing sound principles; repeating a poor motion is good for neither one's performance nor for the health of one's arm.
No two players are exactly alike and thus there is no one-size-fits-all answer for what constitutes perfect pitching mechanics. Despite this fact, these fundamental aspects can be useful for all.
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