Pitching beginner help

It's too difficult and cumbersome to convey by text. My suggestion is find a high quality pitching coach in your area. It sounds like you have tremendous ARM strength hat now needs to be developed and harnesssed.

Yes I think my problem is my mechanics. I topped out at 81 mph yesterday but I know I can at least throw 85. I will try to look for a good pitching coach in my area.

Great arm speed!

Can you throw strikes? What other pitches can you throw?

Work on mechanics first before you dig into different pitches. Make sure your fastball mechanics are sound first.

Here is a video you may find helpful. It's about pitching mechanics and throwing strikes!

Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H3_Hr1e6U&NR=1

quote:

Originally posted by The Pitching Academy:
Great arm speed!

Can you throw strikes? What other pitches can you throw?

Work on mechanics first before you dig into different pitches. Make sure your fastball mechanics are sound first.

Here is a video you may find helpful. It's about pitching mechanics and throwing strikes!

Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H3_Hr1e6U&NR=1

Nice video, and most of the "you will see this in Little League” is so true. Well put together instruction.

Mechanics should be practiced without a ball 100 xs a day. If you are serious. This counts weekends. You need to do shoulder excersices (aka jobs) to build strength and keep from breaking down. Pitching requires this 3xs a week.

mechanics101
Draw a line in the dirt from your throwing arm side toward the catcher...line should be where your rightfoot starts if you are a righty...
Keep head still through wind up
Small step back for rythm, pivot back foot...next steps are the crucials
Keep your balance over the rubber and remove your hands from the glove before you start toward the catcher....hands should seperate thumbs down...push hard with your back leg...landing should be comfortable and left foot should end on or 4 inches from the line in the dirt.
Your landing can tell you what you are doing wrong sometimes...
If you are missing high...balance longer and seperate over the rubber

missing low rushing the delivery or holding onto the ball too long...missing outside front shoulder is opeinging too soon. all over the place...start wind up and at the balance position hold it and see if you fall forward.

Keep fingers on top of the baseball and try to spin it as many times as you can before it gets to the catcher.

This is for a right handed pitcher. Of course there are books written on this but this has worked for me.

So you're in the middle of your freshman year? You're in great position in terms of your development.

I totally agree with Goosegg et al. that the best thing to do is get some instruction. Shop around a little if it's possible--if there are a couple of different pitching coaches available to you, give each a couple of work outs.

Secondly, 91 from the outfield is a pretty good barometer in terms of your arm strength, so, as difficult as it may sound and as counter-intuitive as it may sound, forget about velocity right now. Instead, concentrate on mechanics and developing a change-up (it's never too early!!). Try not get hung up on mph--it's early and indications are that you have a chance to be a hard thrower. But if you can't consistenly get the ball over the plate or hit your spots, then who cares?

Agree with what others have said here LE1996 about getting some personal instruction. I would add however to find out what style of pitching a local person might teach. I say this because I believe there are many permeations of two different styles; 1) stay tall (straight stationary leg)and bring arm over the "top" at some angle that the elbow stays at least shoulder high or 2) (which I do not know much about and have a little trouble describing) is to drop your torso as you move forward in the delivery by bending your stationary leg as you drive forward in the delivery. Both styles teach to keep your head and chest pointing forward to the plate. These two styles or techniques are so different that once you learn one I believe it is very difficult to change to the other.

This will probably start a discussion about different pitching styles, NOT MY INTENTION. Just suggesting that you determine which style is best for you and your body before you start lessons.

quote:

Originally posted by LE1996:
Hello,

I am 15 years old and I have been clocked throwing 91 mph from the outfield this summer at a Perfect Game event. I have never pitched in my life (not even in little league) but I have decided to start pitching so please tell me everything you know about pitching that you think can help me become a competent pitcher. I know I will have the velocity but I'm looking with help in term of mechanics.

I would really appreciate you help.

I don't know how far you are from Ron Wolfarth. If you're reasonably close to his facility, I strongly recommend working with him.