What is the most common error taught in pitching today? What are some others?
A. I think the most common error in pitching today relates to the follow through. Pitchers are taught every day that the follow through of the pitching hand comes straight upward, as if to touch the pitching shoulder. This motion presents problems on several fronts. A lot of velocity is being lost because the elbow is not being utilized correctly to help deliver the pitch. Also, it usually means the hips are not staying open long enough (if at all) in the motion. Remember; the pitcher should be completely sideways when striding at the catcher, on the arm’s downswing, the elbow should be bent as if it’s going to jam into the pitcher’s ribcage. As the elbow meets the ribs, the snap occurs at the elbow, wrist, then the hips. So, the actual follow through is somewhat diagonal, not straight up and down. This will give maximum velocity AND movement to the pitch.
