5 Common Pitching Mechanics Issues and How to Correct Them

Pitching is one of the most technical aspects of baseball, and even the smallest error in mechanics can lead to problems like decreased velocity, wild throws, and even injury. At Next Level Performance in Taylors, SC, we’ve helped pitchers of all ages and skill levels improve their mechanics and throw with more power, accuracy, and confidence. Today, we’re breaking down the five most common pitching mechanics issues and offering expert advice on how to fix them.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your pitching skills, this guide is for you!

1. Poor Balance and Posture

The Mistake: Many pitchers struggle with maintaining proper balance throughout their delivery. This can lead to inconsistent release points, reduced power transfer, and increased stress on the arm and shoulder.

The Fix: The first step in correcting poor balance and posture is identifying specific issues.  Poor balance and posture in pitchers can manifest as leaning too far forward or backward during windup, unstable landing after stride, hunching or arching the back, inconsistent release points or difficulty maintaining a straight line from head to ankle in the balance position.  By using video analysis and implementation of visualization techniques we can improve body awareness.  Once awareness is established, a comprehensive training program to strengthen the core and lower body and enhance flexibility along with balance specific drills are needed to resolve these issues. 

2. Improper Lower Body Mechanics

The Mistake: The power in a pitch should primarily come from the legs and core, but many pitchers fail to utilize their lower body effectively. This can result in reduced velocity, poor control, and increased arm stress as the pitcher relies too heavily on their upper body to generate power.

The Fix: Like balance and posture, the first step in fixing lower body mechanics is identifying specific issues.  Common issues include insufficient drive off the back leg, poor hip rotation, landing with a closed stance, inconsistent stride length, collapsing the back leg during delivery and improper weight transfer.  After assessment we begin resolution with body awareness using video analysis.  Incorporating lower body strength training 2-3 times a week and incorporating pitching specific drills to improve lower body mechanics (examples: towel drill, stride line drill, resistance band pitching) round out the approach to fixing these issues.

3. Inconsistent Arm Slot and Release Point

The Mistake: A consistent arm slot and release point are crucial for command and deception. Many pitchers struggle with maintaining the same arm path and release point across different pitch types. This causes varying pitch trajectories for the same pitch type, inconsistent break on breaking pitches and command issues, especially missing high or low. 

The Fix: Inconsistent arm slot and release point can be caused by poor body awareness, insufficient repetition of proper mechanics, fatigue leading to mechanical breakdown, trying to manipulate the ball too much or inconsistent lower body mechanics affecting upper body positioning.  Once the key causes are identified for you, corrective measures including body awareness exercises, strength training, flexibility work and pitching specific drills (examples: wall drill, pause drill, long toss) to improve consistency can be implemented.

4. Rushed Delivery or "Flying Open"

The Mistake: Some pitchers rush their delivery, particularly in the transition from leg lift to foot strike. This can cause the upper body to rotate too early, a problem often referred to as "flying open." When this happens, the pitcher's chest faces home plate too soon, leading to a loss of power and control. It can also put additional stress on the arm as it tries to catch up with the rest of the body.

The Fix: Flying open can be caused by a number of things including impatience to complete the pitching motion, poor timing between lower and upper body movements, insufficient hip and shoulder separation, weak core muscles unable to resist rotational forces or improper weight transfer during delivery.  Corrective measures include timing exercises, core strengthening, improving hip-shoulder separation and pitching specific drills to address the problem. Some examples include towel drill with pause and stair step drill.  

5. Improper Follow-Through

The Mistake: The follow-through is often overlooked, but it's crucial for pitch effectiveness and arm health. Common flaws include stopping the arm abruptly after ball release, falling off to one side, or not allowing the arm to decelerate naturally. Poor follow-through can reduce pitch velocity and movement, decrease accuracy, and significantly increase the risk of arm injuries. It often indicates that earlier parts of the delivery are also flawed, as a proper follow-through is the natural result of good mechanics throughout the pitching motion.

The Fix: Causes of improper follow through include insufficient lower body strength or stability, poor overall body control and balance, rushing the pitching motion, trying to overthrow to generate extra velocity, fatigue leading to mechanical breakdown and improper weight transfer during delivery.  Corrective measures include strength training to improve lower body strength and stability as well as core strength, and pitching specific drills (examples: follow-through focus drill, towel drill with extended follow-through).

Correcting these common pitching mechanics issues can significantly improve your performance on the mound. At Next Level Performance, we work with pitchers to refine their mechanics and develop a stronger, more accurate throwing motion using a comprehensive approach that includes video analysis for body awareness, strength and flexibility draining and pitching specific drills. Whether you’re looking to throw harder, improve control, or reduce the risk of injury, our expert coaches in Taylors, SC, are here to help. Book your pitching lesson today and start mastering the mound!

Want to pitch stronger and more accurately? Schedule your personalized pitching lesson at Next Level Performance in Taylors, SC, today and take the first step toward becoming a better pitcher!

How can I tell if my pitching mechanics are off?

If you're consistently struggling with command, feeling arm pain, or seeing a dip in your velocity, it's a good sign that your mechanics need work. A professional pitching coach can help identify and correct these issues.

Can I improve my velocity without risking injury?

Yes! By focusing on proper mechanics, especially leg drive and follow-through, you can safely increase your velocity. Our coaches in Taylors, SC specialize in helping pitchers build speed while reducing injury risk.

 How often should I practice pitching?

Pitching regularly is important, but overuse can lead to injury. We recommend 2-3 pitching sessions per week, focusing on quality over quantity. Always make time for rest and recovery.

Do you offer pitching evaluations?

Absolutely! At Next Level Performance, we offer pitching evaluations to assess your current mechanics and create a personalized improvement plan. Book a session with us today!