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The Interplay of Footwork, Glove Work, and Balance

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

By focusing on these aspects, Pitchers develop a more comprehensive understanding of their mechanics and make targeted improvements to their game.

Footwork

Foot positioning is foundational to balance, glove work, and command.

Proper heel positioning means your Heels are slightly apart and aligned with target and is crucial for maintaining balance and facilitating smooth glove work.

Incorrect heel placement leads to imbalance, poor glove work, and decreased accuracy.

Glove Work

Glove work generates power and accuracy in throws.

By going Glove Hand Palm facing your target to a flip so your Glove Hand Palm faces your target, your Glove Hand initiates lower body movement, leading to a powerful and accurate throw.

Effective glove work is essential for transferring energy from the lower body to the upper body and ultimately the ball.

Balance

Balance is the key to consistent and effective movement.

Proper foot positioning creates a stable platform for all subsequent movements.

The connection between footwork, glove work, and throwing motion is essential for generating power and accuracy.

Maintaining balance throughout the entire movement allows for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

Getting Better Balance

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw 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

Your Glove Hand Palm Flip Prompts Accuracy

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

Importance of Glove Hand Palm

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

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 way and acts primarily for balance.

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

Benefits of Ideal Glove Hand:

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

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

Getting Lower Body Engaged

When you’re balanced, your glove hand flip maintains balance and guides accurate pitches.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw 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

Proper Balance Prompts Uncanny Accuracy

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

The glove arm plays a crucial role in maintaining balance during the pitching motion.

In Balance Mechanics

When you’re balanced, you throw the ball with uncanny regularity and fluid velocity.

Your center of gravity is directly over the back foot instep and your base is stable.

With proper balance, you set the direction for your throw by your glove arm moving across your body.

As the stride finishes, the glove arm’s palm naturally turns upward and guides the throwing hand into a smooth release precise release.

Out of Balance Mechanics

Conversely, your throwing arm commands inaccurate throws, and forced velocity.

An overactive front knee finishes behind the front hip and throws off your center of gravity.

Due to the misplaced front knee, your weight gets transferred entirely to the back foot.

Since you’re trying to regain balance, the glove arm can’t contribute to the throwing motion effectively.

Despite a natural landing and shoulder clearing, due to the imbalance, you force your release which leads to missing the target “over the plate.”

Getting Lower Body Engaged

When you’re balanced, your glove arm maintains balance and guides accurate pitches.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw 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

Accurate And Consistent Pitching through Proper Balance

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

Inaccurate Throws

When your front knee goes behind your front hip, you’re out of balance and you disrupt your motion’s sequence.

Your throwing arm moves behind your body to regain your balance.

You end up “managing” the pitch location at the release point which leads to inconsistent and inaccurate throws.

Accurate Throws

When your front knee is in front of your front hip, you free up the rest of your body for the throw.

You land your stride, engage your lower body to power the throw, and create a more coordinated sequence.

Because your lower body controls the movement, your throwing arm stays in front of your body, and you deliver the ball with uncanny regularity.

Improved Command

Significantly missing the target indicates your throwing arm went behind your body.

Rather than trying to adjust at the release point rely solely on your lower body leading your arm.

You’re more likely to consistently hit your target.

Getting Lower Body Engaged

Proper balance achieved through a correctly engaged front leg allows your lower body to power the throw and leads to more accurate and consistent pitching.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you the balance to prompt a throw 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

Foot Positioning Promotes Location

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

The front foot is critical in achieving consistent location in your throws.

Improper Timing

Starting with your front foot too far forward ahead of your hip means, to compensate with an exaggerated stride to shift your weight forward, you disrupt the throwing rhythm and make it challenging to locate the pitch.

Better Direction

A balanced stance, having your front foot even with your back foot at the start, allows you to initiate the throw with even weight distribution and leads to better control over the ball’s direction.

The Glove Hand Connection

The glove hand staying back creates tension and builds up potential energy.

With your front foot balanced, your glove hand allows for a smooth transfer of energy from the lower body through the core and into the throwing arm, resulting in a more controlled and accurate throw.

Balance is Key

A balanced stance with your front foot, even with your back foot, allows for a smooth weight transfer, proper timing with the glove hand movement, and ultimately, greater control over the throwing motion.

Your movement translates to the ball consistently reaching your target with pinpoint accuracy.

Getting Your Proper Back Knee Position

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you a foot position to prompt a throw 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

Proper Footwork Promotes Location

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

Two different footwork approaches in throwing mechanics highlight the importance of proper footwork for efficient power transfer and accuracy.

Wide Front Foot Drawbacks

Your front foot wider than your shoulders leads to your back knee being directly over or in front of your back foot.

When you lift your front foot for the throw, your unbalanced weight ends up over your back foot.

Balance is regained only when your front foot hits the ground, but your throwing arm is already isolated and acting alone to deliver the ball.

Your lack of connection with your lower body means you lose the benefit of efficient power transfer, and the target area expands significantly.

Back Knee Behind Back Foot Benefits

Starting with your heels together and your knees bent position your back knee behind your back foot.

When you lift your front foot for the throw, your leg movement positions your front foot to the home plate side of your front hip.

Your lower body movement through your front leg lift prompts your glove arm to initiate the throwing action.

The coordinated movement between your lower body and glove arm leads to throws that hit your target with uncanny regularity.

Getting Your Glove Hand Involved

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches your foot position to prompt your throw, 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

Consistently Hit Your Bullseye

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

Just like a balanced archer consistently hits the target, proper throwing mechanics allow you to deliver the ball with accuracy and control.

Stance & Nocking the Arrow

During your front leg lift, keeping your front knee in front of your front hip is like nocking the arrow onto the bowstring. Your stable stance allows for proper “glove work”.

Drawing & Releasing

Your glove work “fires” your lower body, which then drives your throwing arm.

This sequence is similar to drawing the bowstring (using your back muscles) and then releasing it to launch the arrow.

Precise Aim

Like a skilled archer consistently hitting the target, when your front knee finishes ahead of your front hip, your glove work fires your lower body, and drives the ball into the target with “uncanny regularity.”

Control & Focus

Your front knee staying in front of your front hip allows you to direct your glove work to fire your hips and initiates the power transfer.

Your entire throwing motion becomes automatic, just like a skilled archer can release the arrow almost instinctively and still hit the target.

Unbalanced & Inefficient

Any variation is like an unbalanced stance in archery. You throw off your aim and makes it difficult to nock the arrow properly.

Get Help

The Pro Pitching Institute uses the same skills to offer a course to allow you to throw with power, accuracy, and deception.

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

Your Shoulders Guide Produce Exceptional Location

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

The Role of Level Shoulders

Maintaining level shoulders at the peak of your front leg lift allows your throwing hand to follow the path guided by your glove hand and ensures smoother and more controlled movement of the throwing hand.

When your throwing hand follows a well-defined path due to level shoulders, you gain greater “command” over the throw which translates to better control and placement of the ball.

Impact of Uneven Shoulders

If your shoulders are not level at your front leg lift, your body compensates for the tilt and often manifests as adjustments in your throwing arm.

The adjustments made by your throwing arm to compensate for uneven shoulders disrupt its natural throwing motion and significantly impacts on the consistency and accuracy of your throws.

Benefits of Level Shoulders

Maintaining level shoulders allows for a consistent and well-defined path for your throwing hand to follow which is guided by your glove work and leads to throws that consistently hit your target area with “uncanny regularity.”

Overall takeaway

By ensuring your shoulders are level at the peak of your front leg lift, you empower your glove hand to guide your throwing hand, leading to throws that consistently hit your target.

Better Shoulder Work

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you to begin your motion with your shoulders level … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

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

Narrow Footwork Builds Command

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

Footwork plays a crucial role in setting the stage for good glove work and exceptional command.

Wide Footwork and Balance Issues

When your foot distance is too wide, most of your weight stays on your back foot. Your throwing arm “pulls” you forward to maintain balance and takes away focus from controlling the throw.

With your arm busy with balance, your glove work becomes reactive rather than proactive, follows the path of your throwing arm, and loses its ability to guide the throw precisely.

Narrow Footwork and Glove Control

By narrowing your foot distance, you establish a proper center of balance right in front of your back foot. You create a stable base freeing your throwing arm to focus on generating power and delivering the ball accurately.

Now, your active glove work can take charge. The glove initiates the throwing motion, guides your throwing arm along a predetermined path, and leads to a more controlled and precise throw.

Benefits of Proper Footwork

A stable base and efficient power transfer from your lower body to your throwing arm allows you to generate maximum velocity, resulting in a fastball with a good zip.

When your mechanics are sound and your glove work guides the throw precisely, the grip you use on the ball becomes the primary factor dictating its movement (curveball, slider, etc.).

Better Balance

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you to begin your motion with your Feet close together, or your instruction is free … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

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

Good Foot Positions and Glove Hand Movements

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

Don’t Do This

When your Foot Positioning is off, your Body moves out of balance, your Glove Work is reactionary, and your command suffers.

Your Foot Position

Your motion depends on your Foot Positioning.

The correct Foot Positioning promotes great Glove Work and exceptional command.

With your Heels in line with your target and one baseball width apart keep your motion in balance, your good Front and Back Heels promote your Glove Hands and give you good posture.

Your Glove Work

Your Glove Hands maintain your balance, and your balance produces your location.

Your Glove Hand moves out and in from your body and, most importantly, your Glove Work causes your Lower Body to open and land your stride.

Your Throwing Action

Your Glove Hand action shifts your Lower Body energy through your core into your throwing arm, you land your stride, and you deliver the ball to your target.

Your Lower Body drives your Throwing Action, and your Throwing Action takes the ball directly to your target.

Need Your Foot Positioning?

If you want your Body to be in balance and drive your pitch, the Pro Pitching Institute can do this for you.

The Pro Pitching Institute teaches you to manage your Lower Body … No questions… No hassles… and no hard feelings.

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