Baseball pitching drills are a great way to improve mechanics and techniques

The Bucket Drill is one of my favorite Baseball Pitching Drills.

This drill is great to help with balance and generating power out of the lower body.

Start with the pitcher in the set position.

Place a bucket 12-18 inches in front of the pitcher.

The pitcher achieves his balance point.
Taps the bucket with his foot.
Then he brings the leg downward before striding to the plate.
After his release and during his follow through the back leg should go over the bucket.

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Baseball pitching drills work well if they address one or more of the following criteria.

2. Improving command of all pitches (Accuracy)

3. Increases velocity

4. Improves off speed pitches

The best way to avoid Tommy John surgery or rotator cuff surgery is to properly strengthen and maintain your arm.

Jobe exercises (named after Dr. Jobe-pioneer of arm surgeries) are great for strengthening and conditioning the rotator cuff.

Working out with "tubing" or surgical band is another way to keep the arm healthy.

Adhering to a rigorous off season throwing program along with doing your favorite baseball pitching drills will prevent injuries during the season.

Pitch counts have become a "hot button" topic for coaches.

In working with coaches I see the "old school" approach as well as the new way of thinking.

In a discussion with Leo Mazzone I remember him saying...

"If he is getting hitters out leave him in...if he isn't take him out".

Too often coaches use this method with their star pitchers only to wear their arm out prematurely.

On the other hand I have seen coaches that make decisions based on a pitch counter and have taken some of the instincts to battle out of the equation. Certainly pitch counts can reduce arm injuries.

However, proper baseball pitching mechanics and arm conditioning drills will go much further in preventing arm problems as well as developing pitchers.

Just like in real estate it is all about location, location, location. Just ask Mark Wohlers.

Wohlers was a dominant closer for the Atlanta Braves until he "lost it". The it was command of his 95+ mph fast ball. In a very short amount of time he went from a premiere closer to out of baseball because he lost command of the baseball.

Baseball pitching techniques along with proper baseball pitching grips are ways to improve command of not just the fast ball but of all of your pitcher's pitches.

Especially at the younger ages in baseball, pitching velocity is placed above proper pitching techniques and pitching control.

Velocity is an important aspect of pitching. Scouts would not tote around radar guns if it wasn't important to them. Working out with baseball specific condition programs will help improve velocity but do not neglect the advantage of taking speed off of the ball.

Teaching your pitchers a change-up can be as simple as showing them different baseball pitching grips.

1. The balance point drill

2. Thumb to thigh knuckle to the sky

3. "T" to "L"

4. Separation drills

5. The towel drill

6. The dollar drill

7. Chair drill

Each of these baseball pitching drills focus on a particular aspect of pitching development.

You may find that some pitching coaches stress one aspect of the pitching delivery to the point of discrediting other drills that address a different aspect of the delivery.

It has been my experience that you may want to steer clear of those resources.

Remember you are looking for well rounded information and drills that address the three main concerns of successful pitching:

1. Keeping the pitchers arm healthy

2. Improving command of all pitches (Accuracy)

3. Velocity...Ability to increase and decrease speed of pitches

More information on these baseball pitching drills

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