pitching coach | Pro Pitching Institute

Overcoming Psychological Barriers for Elite Performance

Understanding and addressing these barriers is key to enhancing a pitcher’s game and developing a healthier mindset.

Fear of Failure

Fear is exacerbated by the pressure to meet expectations from coaches, teammates, and fans, which can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of poor performance.

Fear leads to a lack of confidence, overthinking pitches, and hesitating to throw specific pitches.

Pitchers shift their mindset to focus on the process rather than the outcome.

Dwelling on Past Failures

A ruminating thought process where pitchers replay past mistakes, hindering their ability to perform in the present moment.

Pitchers become overly cautious or hesitant, negatively affecting their decision-making on the mound.

Pitchers need to develop mental resilience like visualization, mindfulness, and positive self-talk help them focus on the current game.

Fear of Being Judged/Evaluated

This fear leads directly to performance anxiety, often causing pitchers to underperform in critical, high-leverage situations.

Underperformance in critical situations due to anxiety over external judgment.

Pitchers train in simulated game-like conditions to build confidence and develop coping strategies.

Getting Better Results

This mental transformation not only fosters better performance on the mound but also contributes to a healthier mindset, allowing them to enjoy the game.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the mental resilience 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”
https://propitchinginginstitute.com
856-524-3248
skip@propitchinginstitute.com
#ElitebyChoice

The Three Pillars of Mental Toughness

Mental resilience enables pitchers to manage unique pressures and challenges inherent to their position.

1. Pressure Management and Performance Under Stress

Resilience allows pitchers to view high-stakes pressure as a challenge rather than a threat.

This shift in perspective helps them approach difficult situations with confidence, improving their ability to execute pitches under stress (where every pitch counts).

2. Bouncing Back from Adversity

Unlike other positions, a pitcher’s success is intensely scrutinized and closely tied to individual performance metrics, amplifying stress.

Mental resilience enables individuals to recover from poor performances or losses, maintain focus, and adapt to adversity, which in turn directly influences their performance and development.

3. Emotional Regulation and Composure

Resilience is closely linked to emotional regulation, which is crucial for maintaining composure in a competitive environment where emotions fluctuate rapidly (e.g., frustration after an error, euphoria after a successful outcome).

Emotional stability enhances decision-making and performance consistency, vital traits for any successful pitcher.

Getting Better Results

Mental resilience is the key to consistent performance, sustained development, and overall team cohesion.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the mental resilience 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

A Guide to Balance, Power, and Precision

The Importance of a Balanced Stance

A balanced stance, with heels close together, is crucial for a stable base, balances your body, and your weight is evenly distributed between your feet.

A balanced posture enables the efficient transfer of energy from your lower body through your core and into your throwing arm, which is essential for generating power and improving pitch accuracy.

Maintaining a balanced stance minimizes stress on your joints and muscles, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

The Role of the Glove Hand

The glove hand guides the hips to rotate, transferring this energy into the upper body, and then fires the throwing hand.

The glove hand guides the ball toward the target, ensuring the pitch is sent directly to its intended location.

Getting Better Results

Ultimately, a balanced stance leads to more precise targeting and enhanced accuracy.

A balanced stance and proper use of the glove hand work together to significantly improve a pitcher’s overall mechanics.

By making these techniques a part of every motion, you achieve more consistent accuracy and generate greater power in your pitches.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance and glove hand movement 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

The Case for Level Shoulders

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

The Heel-to-Heel Guide to Pitching

An excellent pitching motion is a heel-to-heel relationship, and the role of the glove hand is in maintaining balance and initiating the throwing action.

Heel-to-Heel

The core argument is that keeping the front heel close and even with the back heel at the start of the motion helps a pitcher stay balanced.

This “heel-to-heel relationship” keeps the front shoulder even with the front knee and prevents the pitcher’s weight from shifting and their head from moving prematurely.

The result is that the stride land and the throwing arm can deliver the ball in a fluid, coordinated sequence.

The Glove Hand

When the pitcher’s body is in balance, the glove hand’s motion naturally tips the pitcher’s weight, initiates the turn, and contributes to the entire throwing action.

The importance of the glove hand prompts the lower body to fire the throwing arm and this coordinated movement leads to consistent accuracy and increase speed.

Getting Better Results

In contrast, when the motion is out of balance, the pitcher lands their stride before the throwing arm is ready, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate throws, much like “throwing a dart at a dart board.”

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance 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

The Impact of Proper Shoulder Alignment

Shoulder alignment breaks down the role of alignment and the negative consequences of misalignment.

Proper Shoulder Alignment

When a pitcher’s shoulders are properly aligned with the target, shoulder alignment creates a stable foundation for the entire pitching motion.

Shoulder alignment allows the lower body to effectively engage and generate power, which is transferred up through the kinetic chain, initiating the throwing motion.

Proper alignment allows the glove arm to move freely and correctly, acting as a guide for the throwing arm and contributing to a synchronized delivery.

The Consequences of Misaligned Shoulders

Conversely, when a pitcher’s shoulders are out of line with the target, the mechanics of the delivery are compromised.

Misalignment prevents the lower body from properly engaging, forcing the pitcher to rely more on their arm for power, which leads to a less accurate and less powerful throw.

A misaligned upper body limits the glove arm’s movement, hindering its ability to guide the throwing arm and impacting the overall fluidity of the delivery.

Getting Better Results

Proper shoulder alignment is essential for a pitcher to achieve an efficient and powerful delivery, leading to improved accuracy and control on the mound

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the shoulder alignment 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

Lower Body Engagement

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

How to Pitch with Your Entire Body, Not Just Your Arm

The Problem

“Foot Strike, Then Throw” is initiated by a forward weight shift after the front foot has already landed.

This common approach is inefficient and prone to injury because the starting position is flawed, the front knee is behind the front hip, and the kinetic chain is disrupted.

The body is fighting against gravity and balance, forcing the throwing arm to “muscle” the ball to the target.

This leads to a loss of control, reduced accuracy, and a higher risk of throwing arm injury.

The Solution

By contrast, “Foot Strike and Throw” is an efficient and powerful delivery method where the foot strike and throwing action occur in unison.

The motion begins with a balanced weight position just in front of the back foot.

The glove hand initiates the stride, and the lower body initiates the throwing action.

This engages the kinetic chain, a simultaneous action of the foot strike, which allows for better timing and a more efficient transfer of momentum.

Pitch Smart

This organized, fluid motion results in a consistent and repeatable delivery, leading 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

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

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

Understanding the Concepts of Core Engagement

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