Breaking Pitches Are Easy To Teach …each one is thrown the same
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Actions and Pace of the Delivery
The video below is a layering of five videos on top of each other. Former Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is pitching to Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels.
In each of the layered videos he is throwing a different pitch. Initially it looks like a kinda blurry video of a pitcher throwing to a batter. That is until he gets to his Release Point.
Regardless of which type of pitch is thrown the release point, actions and pace of the entire delivery (including follow through - acceleration down through release point) remain the same. This is important for any coach or parent working with a young player to understand.
How Does a Pitcher Throw Different Types of Pitches?
While the actions of the delivery always remain the same, there are two adjustments a pitcher makes to throw different types of pitches:
Grip
Release
Regardless of the type of release, the action of the wrist/hand is always down. There is no type of pitch that involves a ‘turning’ action of the wrist.
Our First Objective
This writing is not to describe the grip and type of release used for different pitches. The objective is to establish the understanding that the actions of the delivery are consistent regardless of pitch type. As youth coaches, if we can help a player develop a sound, consistent pitching motion, we are establishing a solid foundation from which they can add new pitches to their repertoire as they get older and stronger.
In other writings and information resources developed by Baseball Positive, more detail is shared regarding the teaching of the pitching delivery and throwing different pitches. Of course, there are plenty of additional pitching resources at your fingertips.
The few points shared in this article are intended to serve as a basis from which to build your understanding of teaching pitching to kids. …and the video is cool to watch :)