Results

The Case for Level Shoulders

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.Tilted Shoulders

A pitcher tilted-shoulder delivery starts with their feet too far apart, causes their hips and shoulders to tilt, and throws their body off-balance.

When the body proprioceptively tries to correct this imbalance, the shoulders level out, and the ball is put in a less predictable target area.

The result is that the ball ends up somewhere between your release point and the spot where you want your ball to go, making it very difficult to consistently hit your target.

Level Shoulders

By contrast, a pitcher with level shoulders begins with their feet close together and keeps their hips and shoulders very level throughout their entire motion.

With the hips and shoulders staying level, the throwing arm consistently releases the ball from the same location on every pitch.

The glove arm helps the lower body fire, which, in turn, ensures the throwing hand comes through the same spot every time.

Level shoulders lead to great consistency in hitting the target and allow the pitcher to locate pitches with uncanny regularity.

Getting Better Results

A tilted-shouldered delivery, caused by a wide stance, forces the body to make a mid-motion correction, which sacrifices control and consistency.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the shoulder position needed to prompt a throw with uncanny regularity, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

Coach Skip Fast
“Command by Choice, Not by Chance”
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

                                                  Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Lower Body Engagement

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

Throwing a baseball contrasts the results of throwing with and without proper lower-body involvement.

Key Principles of Lower Body Engagement

Engaging the lower body transfers kinetic energy up the kinetic chain to the throwing arm, allowing the pitcher to throw the ball with greater velocity.

When the front knee is in front of the front hip, you improve control and accuracy and prevent relying solely on the arm, which leads to erratic throws.

The glove hand plays a crucial role in initiating the lower body’s movement, propelling the throwing arm toward the target with consistency.

With Lower Body Engagement

Your Front knee is positioned in front of the front hip, which helps balance your weight over your back foot.

The glove hand activates the lower body, which then propels the throwing arm with improved power, stability, and accuracy.

Without Lower Body Engagement

The front knee is behind the front hip, and your weight is balanced over your back foot.

The throwing arm fires the ball independently, lacking power and accuracy.

Pitch Smart

Having your front knee in front of the front hip leads to superior velocity and command while significantly reducing the risk of throwing arm injury.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target via live or Zoom instruction, your instruction is FREE, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Proprioceptively Accurate Starting Positions”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Shoulder Alignment: The Key to Pitching Power, Accuracy, and Injury Prevention

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

Proper shoulder alignment is a conduit for transferring energy from the lower body to the throwing arm.

Direct Path to the Target

When a pitcher’s shoulders are properly aligned, they create a direct, efficient path for the throwing arm to follow towards the target, reducing unnecessary movement and enhancing accuracy and command.

Energy Transfer

Proper shoulder rotation allows for the efficient transfer of energy.

As the hips rotate, this kinetic energy moves through the core and into the throwing arm.

Aligned shoulders ensure that none of this energy is lost, contributing to a pitcher’s command and velocity.

Injury Prevention

Misaligned shoulders put undue stress on the shoulder joint, which leads to common pitching injuries such as shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tears.

Pitchers improve their shoulder alignment and overall pitching mechanics by strengthening the muscles around the shoulder joint, building a strong core, and improving their range of motion.

Connection to Lower Body

Shoulder alignment reinforces the kinetic chain, where every part of the body works in a coordinated sequence.

Pitch Smart

When the lower body and core are engaged correctly, the stage is set for proper shoulder alignment.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target via live or Zoom instruction, your instruction is FREE, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Proprioceptively Accurate Starting Positions”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Understanding the Concepts of Core Engagement

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

The lower body driving through the core and into the throwing hand optimizes pitching performance.

Balance is Critical

The position of the feet significantly influences the position of the front knee, overall balance, power, and accuracy.

The placement of the front knee in relation to the front hip is crucial for engaging the core.

Weight Distribution

Proper weight distribution is essential for core engagement.

As you stride, your weight shifts progressively to and through the core, creating a counterforce for upper body rotation, and is vital for generating torque and velocity.

Core Engagement

Legitimate core rotation occurs when the front knee stays in front of the front hip, and the lower body moves through the core to the throwing arm.

A strong core acts as the body’s stabilizer, preventing excessive rotation, maintaining postural control, and generating power and accuracy.

Legitimate rotation efficiently transfers energy from the lower body to the upper body, maximizing force production and promoting better balance, power, and a healthier throwing arm.

Pitch Smart

When your glove hand sets up for your lower body to drive your throwing action, you deliver the ball precisely where you want it.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target via live or Zoom instruction, your instruction is FREE, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Proprioceptively Accurate Starting Positions”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Foot Position and Command: Mastering Your Pitching Delivery

Your motion is profoundly influenced by where your feet make contact with the ground.

Precise foot positioning ensures stability, serving as the foundational element that promotes excellent glove work and exceptional command.

Conversely, when your foot positioning is off, your entire body moves out of balance, your glove work becomes a reactionary scramble, and your command inevitably suffers.

Poor Foot Position

When your heels are too far apart, your motion immediately loses balance.

This imbalance renders your glove almost ineffective, as your body struggles to compensate, and your command will undoubtedly suffer.

Good Foot Position

However, when your heels are in line with your target and approximately one baseball width apart, your motion stays in optimal balance.

This specific alignment enables your glove hand to actively promote your motion, resulting in command with uncanny regularity.

This precise foot placement maximizes your body’s internal sense of position, providing you with the consistent feeling necessary for efficient delivery.

Pitch Smart

When your foot position sets up for your lower body to drive your throwing action, your glove work becomes a powerful asset in delivering the ball precisely where you want it.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target via live or Zoom instruction, your instruction is FREE, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Proprioceptively Accurate Starting Positions”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Uncanny Accuracy: Glove Hand Precision

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

Your internal feel enables precise timing and control, which optimizes rotational energy transfer and ultimately enhances accuracy and velocity.

Consequences of No Glove Hand Control

Where there’s no glove hand palm movement, the front foot is positioned poorly behind the hip, and the pitcher’s shoulders aren’t in line with his target.

In this case, the glove hand moves in a passive, uncontrolled manner and acts primarily to maintain balance.

The lack of control over the glove-hand palm leads to a larger target area and reduced accuracy.

Your Glove Hand Palm Flip Prompts Accuracy

A well-timed glove-hand palm flip with the palm facing the target allows for a smaller target area and greater accuracy.

Where the pitcher’s body is in balance, the front foot is aligned with the back toes, the front toe is toward the target, and the glove hand naturally turns over palm toward the target.

By controlling the timing and direction of the glove-hand flip, pitchers achieve a smaller target area and significantly improve their accuracy.

Pitch Smart

The specific, seemingly small action of the glove-hand palm flip is a powerful indicator of proper pitching mechanics.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target via live or Zoom instruction, your instruction is FREE, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

The Key to Pitching Command and Glove Work

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.To improve command and glove work, a foot distance of one baseball width frees the throwing arm to focus on accuracy, enabling the glove hand to contribute effectively to the overall motion.

Foot Distance and Weight Distribution

A foot distance greater than one baseball width causes the pitcher’s weight to be primarily on the back foot.

Impact on Throwing Arm Engagement

The throwing motion then involves the throwing arm initiating the weight transfer from the back foot to the front foot and becoming less focused on command.

Glove Work and the Kinetic Chain

The glove arm reacts to the throwing shoulder’s movement and, as the throwing arm shoulder moves towards the target, the glove hand path follows, becoming a secondary and less effective movement.

Ineffective Glove Work

When glove work is a reaction to the throwing arm’s balance efforts, it does not actively contribute to stability, direction, or a clean transfer of energy throughout the pitching motion.

Pitch Smart

A wider-than-ideal foot stance compromises pitching command and glove work because it forces the throwing arm to prioritize balance over its primary function of delivering the ball accurately.

We’re so confident in our instructions that, if we can’t help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
“Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Your Feet Promote Lower Body Engagement

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

It’s the starting point that dictates how the rest of the kinetic chain functions.

Wide Stance

An incorrect stance leads to a less powerful, less consistent, and potentially more injury-prone throwing motion.

The sequence of power generation is disrupted. The hips and core don’t fully engage and lead the arm.

The arm and hand become isolated because the lower body isn’t driving the motion. The release point becomes inconsistent without the stable base and rotational force, leading to poor command and unpredictable results.

Balanced Stance

A more balanced stance allows for proper weight transfer and sets the stage for effective rotation.

The glove arm turns the hips, highlighting the kinetic chain’s essential sequence.

Your glove arm emphasizes that the legs and core are the primary source of power and direction in an efficient throw.

When the lower body leads the motion, the arm and hand follow more flexibly, leading to better accuracy.

Pitch Smart

Engaging the lower body through proper footwork is key to achieving better velocity, command, and overall pitching performance.

We’re so confident in our instructions that we offer a unique guarantee: if we can’t help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Crucial Role Of The Glove Hand

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

Balance at the start is fundamental for proper glove hand usage.

“Inactive Glove Hand”

“Inactive Glove Hand” results from an unbalanced start

Out-of-balance start -> Glove arm used for balance -> Loss of glove hand control -> No impact on pitch location.

An “Active Glove Hand”

An “Active Glove Hand” stems from a balanced starting position.

Balanced start -> Glove hand path triggers lower body -> Sends ball to target -> Automatic pitch location.

More On An “Active Glove Hand”

An active glove hand plays a critical role in initiating the lower body and directing the pitch.

The path of the active glove hand is key to initiating the lower body and achieving accurate pitch location.

The path directly links the active glove hand to automatic pitch location, freeing the pitcher to focus on other aspects like speed and movement.

The specific path of the glove hand is crucial for triggering the desired lower body movement.

Pitch Smart

When the glove hand and lower body work in sync, pitch location can become more automatic.

We’re so confident in our instructions that we offer a unique guarantee: if we can’t help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Pitchers: Get the Lower Body Involved©
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.

Better Command? It Starts With Your Back Knee

Pro Pitching Institute is one of the top 100 baseball blogs on the Internet.

Want to throw strikes consistently?

It’s simpler than you think: your back knee.

Your back knee behind your back foot keeps your weight back, makes your throwing motion natural, and channels your lower body’s energy straight to the target.

Check Your Back Knee!

Tired of wild pitches and missed targets?

You’re not alone.

Many pitchers struggle with command, and a common culprit is their back-knee position.

Starting with your back knee ahead of your back foot throws everything off.

The Back Knee Advantage

Want to take your pitching to the next level?

When you position your back knee behind your back foot, your back knee keeps your weight back for optimal power, promotes a natural and repeatable motion, and naturally channels your lower body’s energy directly to the target.

Pitch Smart

Stop fighting your mechanics. Start with your back knee behind your back foot.

We’re so confident in our instructions that we offer a unique guarantee: if we can’t help you get the ball to your target regularly, your instruction is free, no questions asked.

Coach Skip Fast
“Pitchers: Get the Lower Body Involved©
Pro Pitching Institute
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

Copyright © 2025, Pro Pitching Institute.