It can be frustrating to start pitching. You watched a few kids do a pretty good job getting the ball over the plate and that looked like fun.
I train with the long term in mind. Its not about getting the ball across the plate this weekend, but becoming a dominant pitcher – next summer, in HS, or in college. The beginning sets the stage.
The dictum of habits take 3000 reps and old habits take 10000 to break is pretty much true. So is the “energy conundrum” – high energy movements revert to bad habits faster than low or medium energy movements.
Thus the imperative is learn it right the first time is the fastest path to success. Start to learn at lower energy and master movement, then add energy and sustain. And over and over until you are moving with maximum energy and proper technique or mechanics.
YES that can be boring at times. So what are the three absolute core movements you must master?
Posture: You need to stand tall front to back with a little lean back. You need to stand tall side to side usually with a little lean forward at release.
Arm Whip: Fast pitchers whip the ball from the elbow. Slow pitchers push the ball with their hand. Learning whip is absolutely critical to being fast.
Body Movement Sequencing or the fancy term – proper use of the kinetic chain. Fast pitchers sequence from stride toe, to a rotating hip, to rotating shoulders, to a whipping elbow, to the hand. Its not an opinion; watch the video, and read the radar.
Tall, Whippy and efficient energy transfer to the ball. Simple words, but never easy to master. Sometimes a kid is a natural and add some practice and boom they master the skill. Sometimes they are young and the concept of muscle memory is hard to apply when you don’t have any yet. Sometimes it means you need to get one muscle group or another to get stronger. Sometimes you need to train your brain and body to trigger in the right order. Its always a challenge with younger players to differentiate between “not paying attention”, silently not understanding a word you say, or in many cases their bodies just do not know how to do that movement yet. AND yes 3000 reps does not happen if you do not practice diligently.
So next lesson when they can’t seem to get any closer to the mound, and their “foot” drags crocked, or they are bent over looking for earthworms, and their throwing arm is straight as an arrow, breath deep. If they have the desire and support they will learn, and it will become automatic. Hopefully before the parent has a nervous breakdown.