Baseball Instructional Video
Author: Baseball Bob
Baseball Pitching Instruction & Tips
To throw a baseball effectively and efficiently, one must understand the components of backside balance, front-side balance, direction, rotation, and arm path. If there is no comprehension of these, then pitching a baseball becomes extremely difficult.
Players must understand that in throwing or pitching there is a chronological pattern of movement with a sequential transfer of energy, power and speed.
When throwing a baseball, have balance on the back leg first. This means for a right hand pitcher will step back with the left foot, with the weight on the right leg. This step should be linear and straight, approximately four to five and half foot lengths of the pitcher’s shoe size. The weight on the back leg enables the pitcher to harness power. As the ball is thrown, the left foot lands directly at the target, with the left shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and head all aligned with the target.
Next, weight transfers onto the left leg, with the leg softening and bending at the knee. At this point, the transfer of balance is shifted to the front-side leg (left leg). During this balance transfer, from back to front, the pitcher is moving linear or forward, directly at the target. This is called direction, or simply put, aligning the head, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle toward the target.
Over the last 30 years of instructing pitching, I have seen direction that is not emphasized in throwing and without understanding of direction, there is a loss of ball placement or control skills, from little leagues to major leagues. To achieve direction when throwing or pitching, it is necessary to turn the pivot foot completely in order to enable the direction side of the body, (the left side for right handed pitchers) to align with the target. (This also true for throwing a baseball from all positions on the field, whether a catcher, infielder, or outfielder).
The rotation process is simply follow-though or finish. The back-side then replaces the front-side, with the back leg and hip turning or rotating so that the body squares up or faces the target.
In the arm path part of throwing a baseball, it is essential to learn down, back, and up, extend and finish.
This sequential movement of the hand and arm is designed to minimize stress and strain on the arm and shoulder, and to maximize arm and hand speed, which results in increased ball speed. The first step in achieving the correct arm path is for the hand to be placed in the glove properly. The fingers and hand are on the ball, and the ball is placed in the glove, not the hand then the ball. A good rule to follow is that when the ball is in the glove, all four knuckles of the hand should be visible. When the ball and hand separate from the glove, the hand comes out of the glove facing home plate. The hand and arm then move back and up with the fingers on the top of the ball. At the point where the arm comes forward, the elbow should be equal or above the shoulder. At release, the hand and the arm should continue to extend or reach forward. This extension is extremely important for maximizing speed.
In the final phase of throwing, the pitcher must have shock absorption to protect the muscles of the shoulder. This occurs when the arm finishes on the opposite side of the body.
A great way to maximize throwing and pitching skills and develop speed and control (ball placement), while minimizing arm and shoulder injuries, is to play catch. Play a good old fashioned game of catch for 15 to 20 minutes, five days a week to reinforce the proper throwing and pitching techniques explained above.
Have fun and enjoy this great game of baseball.
About the Author
Bobby Woods breaks down the process of hitting and provides clear and detailed instruction that is easy to follow, even for those with little or no knowledge of the game with little league baseball and fastpitch softball pitching videos.
Baseball Hitting Instructional Videos – Rear Hand Drill
|
|
Little League Coaching:Backyard Baseball Drills [VHS] $9.98 From The Youth Sports Club The producers of the best selling videos, “The 59 Minute Baseball Practice” and “48 Championship Basketball Drills”,”Championship Soccer Drills” and “Winning Baseball Strategies” comes our newest video: “Backyard Baseball Drills”. “Backyard Baseball Drills” has taken over two years to complete. This creative video is geared for all parents and kids who love baseball or s… |
|
|
Baby Pro: Let’s Play Ball: Baseball- Basketball- Soccer Sports $13.66 BabyPro Let’s Play Ball DVD For your aspiring lil slugger, the BabyPro Let’s Play Ball DVD is a vibrant, stimulating instruction to baseball, basketball, and soccer. Most sports imagery is quick-paced and features many players, a format which is difficult for babies to follow. BabyPro uses bright, vivid sports imagery and slow-motion action sequences to depict the progression from baby to pro. L… |
|
|
Mickey Mantle Playball [VHS] $4.20 Baseball Beyond the Basics Play Ball with Mickey Mantle Featuring Gary Carter & Tom Seaver How to Video that provides special drills and ways to practice Dated 1987 CBS Fox Company… |
|
|
Instructional Baseball Defense DVD: Defensive Skills by Position $21.95 Baseball Defensive Skills DVD: Part of the only series approved by Little League, Pony, Dixie Youth and The National Association of Highschool Athletic Coaches. Five basic defensive baseball drills. Executing infield & outfield plays. Cut-off and relays. Catcher & Pitcher defense skills. “I’ll tell anyone, if you only buy one video on defensive baseball, Defensive Skills by Position is all you nee… |
|
|
Baseball World’s Defensive Drill Video (A Proven Baseball Training Program) $31.00 A proven training program that dramatically improves arm strength, running speed, practice organization, infield and outfield skills, and quickness and agility. Developed by Pro Scout and Instructor Tom Emanski. Based on the same drills featured at Baseball World’s Training Center in Orlando, Florida. Baseball World’s school trained teams have won back to back to back AAU National Championship tou… |
|
|
Baseball the Ripken Way DVD 3-Pack $23.87 Three-disc set includes “The Fundamentals of Defense,” “The Fundamentals of Pitching,” and “The Fundamentals of Hitting.”… |
|
|
Baseball Coaching:The 59 Minute Baseball Practice $17.99 During more than a decade of coaching youth baseball teams, Marty Shupak realized that he kept seeing coaches and teams put hour after hour into practices that became so repetitive that they served only to bore the Little Leaguers forced to endure them. He sought to remedy the problem by devising practice routines that can take less than an hour, and which consist of drills that the kids will not … |
|
|
Baseball the Ripken Way: Fundamentals of Hitting $7.98 Cal Ripken, Jr. and Bill Ripken teach the aspiring ball player how to keep their eye on the ball, in this fun and educational program filled with footage of pro ball players in action and the wisdom of legendary coach and manager Cal Ripken. 51 min. Soundtrack: English…. |
|
|
Instructional Baseball Pitching DVD: Fundamentals of Pitching $21.95 Baseball Pitching DVD: Part of the only series approved by Little League, Pony, Dixie Youth and The National Association of Highschool Athletic Coaches. Five phases of a proper delivery. Understand complimentary components in the delivery. A safe and effective curve. An easy and effective change. “My son is throwing harder with more strikes.” —Brad Poole, Houston, TX “I’ve watched many baseball … |
|
|
Instructional Baseball Hitting DVD: Fundamentals of Hitting $21.95 Baseball Hitting DVD: Part of the only series approved by Little League, Pony, Dixie Youth and The National Association of Highschool Athletic Coaches. Understand the elements of a sound swing. Drills to maximize baseball practice time. Visual aids to understand and execute a proper swing. Tips for selecting the proper baseball equipment. “My son hit 200 pts. higher and made the All-Star team afte… |