How to Improve Pitching Strength

The basis of pitching in baseball is accuracy and speed of the pitches. If a player does not have proper pitching strength he can neither throw the baseball with velocity nor control. With the right and properly performed exercises and advice, any pitcher can improve his pitching strength thereby, increasing the speed and accuracy of a pitch.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use weighted baseballs or stretch cords to increase pitching strength. The weighted baseballs help the pitcher concentrate on increasing the strength of the specific muscle in pitching that a weight lifting routine may not cover in totality. Stretch cords or surgical tubing exercises are another excellent way to mimic the proper pitching motion and increase pitching strength.

2. Strengthen and stretch the pelvic region on the body. If you are flexible and strong in this region of the body, it increases pitching strength because it gives the pitcher better acceleration and balance on a pitch. Some good exercises for the pelvic region are the groin stretch and hamstring curl weight lifting exercise.

3. Perform workouts that strengthen the lead leg of the pitcher. The lower body is a primary source of pitching that begins with the lead pitching leg. Some exercises that can help improve this area and improve pitching strength are leg curls, lunges, squats, calf raises and the leg press.

4. Improve the strength of the shoulder muscles and joint. Shoulder injury is one of the most common and the shoulder is an area of the body the makes a person a stronger pitcher. Some of the exercises that can increase the shoulder's strength are the seated row, bench press and dumbbell fly workout.

5. Execute torso workouts to improve your pitching strength. A flexible and powerful torso rotation help a pitcher maintain maximum pitching strength. Medicine ball and abdominal workouts are the best ways to increase the torso's rotational power.

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[Sabio]

on 9/28/2008 Continue...

However, pitching uses the entire body and a smart pitcher will develop his entire body, making sure to keep muscular balance with a head-to-toe regimen.

4)Here is the worst advise. A pitcher does need to develop strong shoulders and arms. But the most important area is the rotator cuff and "presses" of all kinds can be dangerous and lead to many shoulder problems for a pitcher. Keep presses to light weights and high reps and concentrate more on the "Jobes" exercises with light dumbbells.

5) Finally, this article gets this right. The torso (core) does need to be worked and must be an important aspect of a pitcher's game plan. But once again, it needs to be part of an overall smart exercise regimen geared towards the pitchers needs and not a weight lifting program for a football player or bodybuilder.

This article uses the word strength throughout...recogni

[Sabio]

on 9/28/2008 This is the most "ignorant" article I have ever read on pitching. Let's deal with the points one by one.

1) The exercises to do are the "Jobes"...the use of "weight balls" is not conclusive, just like the "overload/underload" concept. Weight balls come in different weights and can be quite harmful if thrown by younger kids without adult supervision.

2)Yes the "core" is very important, as well as dynamic and static stretching...but you need to know how and when to use each. There are far better exercises with medicine ball to produce strength and flexibility of the "core"...it's important to have a well-rounded program, so as not to create imbalances...the core comprises a lot more than just the pelvic and mid-section.

3)Yes the legs need to be strong, but the notion of working the "lead" leg is nonsense. Both legs needs to be worked and worked hard. However, pitching uses t

[Sabio]

on 9/28/2008 This is the most "ignorant" article I have ever read on pitching. Let's deal with the points one by one.

1) The exercises to do are the "Jobes"...the use of "weight balls" is not conclusive, just like the "overload/underload" concept. Weight balls come in different weights and can be quite harmful if thrown by younger kids without adult supervision.

2)Yes the "core" is very important, as well as dynamic and static stretching...but you need to know how and when to use each. There are far better exercises with medicine ball to produce strength and flexibility of the "core"...it's important to have a well-rounded program, so as not to create imbalances...the core comprises a lot more than just the pelvic and mid-section.

3)Yes the legs need to be strong, but the notion of working the "lead" leg is nonsense. Both legs needs to be worked and worked hard. However, pitching uses t