Baseball is a game that is widely played throughout the world today. It's virtually impossible to field a competitive team without having a quality pitching staff. Natural talent is obviously a key factor in how effectively one is able to get hitters out, but the knowledge and use of good pitching mechanics has become more important in recent years. A less talented player with better mechanics may in some ways perform at a higher level than one with more natural ability but poor technique.
The primary point to be made is why pitching mechanics are an integral ingredient of success in this arena. Performance level and durability are the two main answers to this. Better, more efficient technique can allow one to throw with greater velocity and control as well as minimizing the risk of injuries, particularly to the vulnerable shoulder and elbow regions. On the other hand, poor mechanics may limit the command of one's pitches and expose the player to a greater risk of injury.
The movements associated with throwing a baseball from the mound are extremely complex and include innumerable details. Because of this, it could take years to learn to properly evaluate a pitcher's mechanics. However, it doesn't take a professional pitching coach to learn to recognize a few key components to a good delivery.
The proper positioning of the throwing arm throughout the entire motion is not easily defined. In fact, there is no complete consensus as to what exactly are the best positions in this complex process. Before moving on to such a difficult aspect, one needs to have a basic understanding of some fundamental points that are more agreed upon.
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.
Closely related to this point is the need for balance. A balanced, controlled delivery will lessen strain on the shoulder and elbow, two main locations of major injuries for pitchers. Lateral movement should be minimized with nearly all the motion being in the direction of home plate. When starting the windup and when landing the front foot, the body should be in as balanced a position as possible.
One often overlooked aspect is repeatability. Using perfect mechanics on one pitch and poor ones on the next is not much better than always using poor ones. A good pitcher or coach knows that the more regular and consistent the movements associated with the throw are, the better the pitcher's control will be. And if these movements are in the range of what is considered to be proper, the greater the chances of remaining healthy and able to pitch.
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.
The primary point to be made is why pitching mechanics are an integral ingredient of success in this arena. Performance level and durability are the two main answers to this. Better, more efficient technique can allow one to throw with greater velocity and control as well as minimizing the risk of injuries, particularly to the vulnerable shoulder and elbow regions. On the other hand, poor mechanics may limit the command of one's pitches and expose the player to a greater risk of injury.
The movements associated with throwing a baseball from the mound are extremely complex and include innumerable details. Because of this, it could take years to learn to properly evaluate a pitcher's mechanics. However, it doesn't take a professional pitching coach to learn to recognize a few key components to a good delivery.
The proper positioning of the throwing arm throughout the entire motion is not easily defined. In fact, there is no complete consensus as to what exactly are the best positions in this complex process. Before moving on to such a difficult aspect, one needs to have a basic understanding of some fundamental points that are more agreed upon.
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.
Closely related to this point is the need for balance. A balanced, controlled delivery will lessen strain on the shoulder and elbow, two main locations of major injuries for pitchers. Lateral movement should be minimized with nearly all the motion being in the direction of home plate. When starting the windup and when landing the front foot, the body should be in as balanced a position as possible.
One often overlooked aspect is repeatability. Using perfect mechanics on one pitch and poor ones on the next is not much better than always using poor ones. A good pitcher or coach knows that the more regular and consistent the movements associated with the throw are, the better the pitcher's control will be. And if these movements are in the range of what is considered to be proper, the greater the chances of remaining healthy and able to pitch.
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.
About the Author:
Our unique web page at www.pitchharder.com features important information you need to know about pitching mechanics. To receive further details, review the main website by clicking on the link http://www.pitchharder.com today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment