PRO PITCHING INSTITUTE

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR GLOVE HAND!   Imagine you’re trying to use a slingshot to launch a pebble: Your hand not lining up with the slingshot pouch is like your glove arm starting with your front knee behind your front hip. Think of your glove arm as the pouch of the slingshot and, when you initiate the throw with your glove arm, your glove arm action also influences the position of your front knee. Starting with your glove arm prompting the knee slightly forward creates a more direct line for the core rotation to connect with your lower body, like a straight line in the slingshot allows maximum power transfer. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR GLOVE ARM! Imagine you're trying to launch a water balloon with a giant slingshot. If your foot strikes before your glove arm initiates the throw, you’re trying to launch the water balloon by stomping on the launch platform first. In a proper throw, like pulling back the slingshot arm, your glove arm initiates the motion, builds tension in your core and legs, and stores potential energy. As your front foot plants, when you whip your throwing arm forward, all that stored energy gets released smoothly and propels the ball with great accuracy and velocity. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE IS A SECRET ABOUT YOUR FOOT STRIKE! Imagine you're trying to launch a model rocket with a compressed air launcher. If your foot strike is sloppy, your weak launch platform throws off the transfer of power from your wind-up and leads to a loss of control, like an uncontrolled rocket launch going off course. On the other hand, a stable foot strike allows the wind-up’s force to be efficiently transferred upwards through your core and into your throwing arm. Your stable foot strike creates a solid base for this energy transfer and ensures an accurate release point for the ball. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR GLOVE HAND! Imagine you're trying to get a tuning fork to emit a fine tune. Like not striking the tuning fork cleanly, if your glove arm follows your lower body, the timing and direction of your throwing motion consistently leads to inaccurate or weak throws. However, when you strike a tuning fork cleanly, your glove arm ensures a smooth and efficient transfer of power from the legs to the core to the throwing arm. Just like the entire tuning fork vibrates when struck cleanly, your entire body participates in the throwing motion to achieve a successful pitch. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR GLOVE HAND! Imagine you're a sculptor wielding a giant chisel. Like gripping the chisel too far down the handle, you get pulled forward, throws you off balance, and you wouldn’t be able to get much power into your throw. When you think of holding the chisel closer to the end, your back is straight, you have better balance, and you can engage your core muscles. You unleash the full force of your body weight, and your core rotation delivers a powerful pitch. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR SHOULDER ALIGNMENT! Imagine you're trying to launch a model sailboat with a catapult. When your shoulders are misaligned, your crooked catapult frame leads to awkward movements in your core and throws off the entire pitching sequence. On the other hand, a perfectly aligned catapult frame allows your glove hand to move smoothly ahead of your front foot and achieve a consistent release point. Just like a properly aligned catapult launches the sailboat precisely, good shoulder alignment allows you to throw the ball with accuracy and control. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

Understanding the Pitcher's Mindset (An excerpt from our best-selling “NEW Fast-Track Strategies for Overcoming Pitching Challenges.”) Common Psychological Barriers Common psychological barriers significantly impact a pitcher's performance on the mound. These barriers often stem from the pressure to perform, fear of failure, and the inherent nature of the sport. Understanding these psychological hurdles is crucial for pitchers looking to enhance their game. By recognizing and addressing these barriers, pitchers can develop strategies to overcome them and improve their performance. One of the most prevalent psychological barriers is the fear of failure. Many pitchers experience anxiety about making mistakes, leading to a lack of confidence. This fear may manifest in various ways, such as overthinking pitches or hesitating to throw specific pitches. The pressure to meet expectations from coaches, teammates, and fans can exacerbate this fear, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy where the anticipation of failure contributes to poor performance. Overcoming this barrier requires a shift in mindset, where pitchers focus on the process rather than the outcome and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Another common barrier is the tendency to dwell on past failures. This ruminating thought process can hinder a pitcher's ability to perform in the present moment. When pitchers replay past mistakes in their minds, they may become overly cautious or hesitant, affecting their decision-making on the mound. To combat this, pitchers need to develop mental resilience. Techniques such as visualization, mindfulness, and positive self-talk can help pitchers focus on the current game, rather than getting trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts about previous performances. Expecting to throw strikes and deliver strong performances every outing can lead to stress and anxiety. This pressure can result in pitchers tightening up, which affects their mechanics and, ultimately, their performance. To manage this pressure, pitchers should learn to set realistic and attainable goals. By focusing on incremental improvements rather than perfection, pitchers can alleviate some of their psychological weight and create a more conducive environment for success. The fear of being judged or evaluated can lead to performance anxiety, causing pitchers to underperform in critical situations. To mitigate this, pitchers should practice under pressure in training situations that simulate game-like conditions. By familiarizing themselves with high-pressure scenarios, they can build confidence and develop coping strategies to manage anxiety during games. Recognizing that external factors are beyond their control helps pitchers regain focus on their performance and preparation... Coach Skip Fast “Command by Choice, Not by Chance” Pro Pitching Institute #ElitebyChoice                                                  Copyright © 2024

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR FRONT KNEE! Imagine you’re a sculptor using a giant slingshot to hurl a massive chunk of clay at a spinning pottery wheel. Think of keeping your front knee in front of your front hip as maintaining a perfect stance for using the slingshot. Any variation where your front knee goes behind your front hip is like having an unbalanced stance while using the slingshot. From this balanced position, your throwing motion becomes more automatic and consistent, like a skilled sculptor repeatedly hitting the center of the wheel. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR SHOULDERS! Imagine you're trying to launch a toy catapult. Like tilting your shoulders, having a lopsided catapult platform throws off the entire launching mechanism, makes it difficult to accurately aim, and increases the risk of injury. When your shoulders are level, your body is stable, you transfer power from your legs, like pulling back the throwing arm of the catapult, efficiently through your core and into the throw, like releasing the arm to launch the projectile. Your efficient power transfer leads to more powerful and accurate pitches. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248

FIX YOUR MOTION HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT YOUR GLOVE ARM! Imagine you're trying to launch a toy trebuchet. If your throwing hand fires the ball before your front foot lands, you’re trying to launch the trebuchet before the counterweight is in place, you throw off your timing, and the transfer of power. Moving your glove arm first initiates the sequence, your front foot landing acts like the counterweight at the back of the trebuchet and provides stability and leverage. When you throw, the energy from your lower body travels through your core into your throwing hand and you deliver the ball with accuracy and power. Go to the Pro Pitching Institute for more!!! Coach Skip Fast The Pro Pitching Institute “Velocity and Location by Choice, Not Chance!” https://lnkd.in/dbi9eM6 856-524-3248