When most people observe a baseball game, one of the first things that catches their eyes is the pitcher. Since the pitcher is the center of the action, everyone focuses their initial attention on him. Everyone is watching to see how hard the pitcher throws and what sort of sound the ball hits when it reaches the catchers mitt. While velocity might be impressive, it is not the most important aspect of being a successful pitcher. There are plenty examples of successful pitchers who did not throw exceptionally hard. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are two modern examples. Both pitchers relied on changing speeds, pinpoint pitch location, and slight adjustments in pitch movement to be successful on the mound. The other key component that Maddux, Glavine, and other successful pitchers have in common is fluid, repeatable pitching mechanics. From the first step back on the mound to the follow through at the end, their pitching mechanics are smooth and efficient, putting very little undue strain on the pitchers arm.

Two of the most important aspects of pitching mechanics are the smoothness or fluidity and the ability to consistently repeat the proper mechanics. Rough or herky-jerky mechanics can aid in deceiving a batter and upsetting their timing, but long term likely lead to injury. Throwing a baseball is not a truly natural motion and puts some strain on the shoulder muscles as well as the elbow. Pitching mechanics that either add to the stress on the muscles or dont properly utilize the lower half of the body increase the likelihood of serious injury. Whatever pitching mechanics a pitcher uses, they need to make sure they are not putting themselves at greater risk for injury because they are rushing through their pitching mechanics.

Pitching mechanics that arent smooth from start to finish are also much more difficult to repeat properly pitch after pitch. Pitching mechanics that involve a lot of head and arm movement can cause the body to be rushed ahead and leave the throwing elbow dragging behind. This will cause a decrease in velocity and increase the risk of injury. Any pitcher should be able to repeat their pitching mechanics on a consistent basis. This is imperative for being able to control where the ball goes, maintaining peak velocity, and reducing the risk of injury. Without repeatable pitching mechanics, a pitcher will struggle to throw strikes, much less command the ball within the strike zone. Velocity will also fluctuate since the mechanics are different each time, some producing more velocity (and possibly more stress on the arm) while other times, the velocity drops.

Pitching mechanics are the foundation on which pitching success is built. Without proper pitching mechanics, it is very difficult for a pitcher to succeed on a consistent basis. The pitcher is also placing himself at risk for serious injury by using mechanics that put additional stress on the fragile joints in the throwing arm. Proper pitching mechanics lead to a reduction in injures as well as long term pitching success. Without proper pitching mechanics, the person on the mound is just a thrower, not a pitcher.

Learn more about pitching and pitching mechanics at Baseball Pitching

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