“Contact me if you have trouble hitting your target!” – Coach Skip Fast. 

The relationship between head movement and injury risk is essential for performance and injury prevention. A stable and controlled head position helps maintain proper spinal alignment and an efficient release. Excessive or erratic head movement throws off this alignment, increasing strain on the neck, shoulder, and arm.

You want an injury-resistant motion that sends the ball right to your target

Full Body Engagement and Reduced Injury Risk – Your Kinect Chain

Pitching is a kinetic chain activity, meaning energy is transferred sequentially from the ground to the body.
  • The kinetic chain starts with the starting position of the feet.
  • The front foot lift uses this position to keep the weight back.
  • The glove arm moves across the body to create tension in the core.
  • The tension is released, and the ball goes to the target.
Kinetic Chain:
  • When the entire body is involved, force is generated from the ground up, transferring through the legs, core, and, finally, to the upper body.
  • This “kinetic chain” distributes the workload across a more extensive network of muscles and joints, reducing stress on individual components.
  • A prime example is throwing a baseball with proper hip rotation and leg drive.
  • The benefits include increased power and efficiency, reduced stress on individual joints, improved stability and balance, and decreased risk of overuse injuries.

Proper biomechanics emphasizes using the kinetic chain. Efficient force transfer is essential for generating power and minimizing injury. A strong core stabilizes the spine and transfers force from the lower body to the upper body. Using your whole body in motion is generally safer and more effective than relying solely on your upper body.

The “head down before forward” suggests a more controlled, efficient delivery, allows for better energy transfer, and is essential for accuracy and control.

The head influences the spinal alignment, facilitating a smooth energy transfer from the ground to the throwing arm.

  • The starting position and front foot lift create a back knee position ready to respond to the motion.
  • A controlled back knee collapse occurs as the glove hand moves across the body.
  • The throwing arm delivers the ball to the target with uncanny regularity.
The motion helps you utilize the kinetic chain more efficiently and helps maintain better visual tracking of the target.

You don’t want an upper-body dominant motion

Your Head moving forward and promotes Injury

Upper Body Dominance and Injury Risk:
  • As the same muscles and tendons are repeatedly subjected to high forces without the support of larger muscle groups, rotator cuff tears result from isolation and overuse injuries.
  • Throwing a baseball with just your arm relies heavily on the upper body, shoulder, and wrist and places excessive stress on smaller joints and muscles.
  • Smaller muscle groups are not designed to handle large amounts of force alone. Repetitive strain can lead to inflammation and tissue damage. Lack of core and lower body engagement reduces stability and control.

Because the body tries to compensate for the imbalance, excessive forward head movement puts extra strain on those joints,  disrupts the timing of the pitching motion, and leads to inconsistencies and decreased control.

  • Poor lower body mechanics often cause the head to move forward, a symptom of a more significant mechanical issue.
  • If the head moves forward, the body is most likely out of balance; the body has to compensate to regain balance, which can cause injuries.

Excessive forward head movement disrupts the timing of the pitching motion, increases stress on the arm and shoulder, and decreases accuracy and control.The starting position creates a “leak” or disruption to the motion.

  • The body’s drive to stay balanced makes the motion land the body in balance.
  • The throw depends upon the way the body lands.

This motion indicates poor lower body mechanics, overcompensation with the upper body, and lack of control in the pitching delivery. It increases the likelihood of excessive stress on the arm and shoulder, leading to potential injuries.

Your Kinect Chain

Disruptions in this chain, such as improper head movement, lead to excessive stress on certain joints, particularly the shoulder and elbow.

  • Head movement is a vital indicator of overall pitching mechanics.
  • A stable and controlled head position is essential for performance and injury prevention.
  • Addressing improper head movement often involves correcting underlying mechanical issues in the lower body and core.

Coach Skip Fast uses your responses to recreate your motion—the motion in which you send your pitches to your target.

Discover a Much Anticipated Motion Today …

Unleashing Lower Body Power Through Proprioception | In-Person, South Jersey Pitching Instruction