Momentum Pitching...How To Instantly Boost Velocity By Moving Faster Into A Long Stride

[jovanb101]

This can effect your control

[yankees1234577]

Momentum creates velocity, but impulse creates momentum. Impulse = change in momentum = (force)(time). The further distance the body moves, the longer it will be applying force, which leads to more impulse.

[yankees1234577]

I like how the description of this video makes it seem like Dick Mills discovered momentum.

[Joshf360]

lame.

[wogdoggy]

A lost art indeed in today's youth..the step back or rocker move builds great momentum and stretch to the plates..its like having the advantage of a crow hop from 60 feet.good vid Dick.

[RDoctorD]

Bad form... For most reasons explained below... But also long delivery time would make this easy to steal on

[destrore12]

@RDoctorD u dont go out of the windup when a guys on base...just saying

[ThumperOne]

i bet this pitcher has control problems pitching like this... omg...

[staples216]

If while batting force=mass(acceleration) which is more important?

[yahbud]

my foot always drags and i always rip the toe out of my kleat every year :/

[tgmskater11]

this form is not used in the pro's as a matter of fact you rarely see it, and for a good reason, moving that fast simply doesn't allow you to control your pitches as you are more focused on Velocity. what is the point of throwing hard if A you can't locate it, and B hitters just adjust by the 3rd inning. Learn how to pitch and i mean really pitch not throw harder, learn how to use different pitches to get batters out

[vaporkillz]

i completely understand, but that delivery is just ugly

[hitmanguido]

Also with the elongated stride the pitchers momentum is haulted and the power is pushed upwards through the pitcher rather than down through the pitcher towards the plate. A shorter stride would allow pitcher to completely come through.

[RaZesnipers]

The problem with this style of pitching is that it is very hard to control...Control is more important than velocity.

[CJCnumber17]

Do you know how fast that kid is throwing now? I just started using the step back in my mechanics too.

[waa33]

cant do that from the stretch

[tatoforever]

Good pitchers throws like this. Not exactly the same way but shares lots of common/important things. Like, explosive/long stride to the plate.

I throw like this every time. My fastball is in the 80-81mph range, but i can trow an entire game without pain. Without any workout, no weight lift, no drills, no long toss.

Only explosive body movement to the plate. If you gonna make some extra workout, work on your legs. Strong legs are key to develop faster and longer strides.

Dick Mills is 100% right.

[ThumperOne]

Can you point out any Major League pitchers who pitch like this?

[vtleaffan1]

@ThumperOne

Roy Halliday

[ThumperOne]

@vtleaffan1

Yes, I just took a look at a video of him and you are correct. He is a dang good pitcher too. Thanks for pointing him out. My son liked seeing the video too.

[wcucatssssss]

Old school!

[letsgoplayers15]

@jaredskater but if you lose enough power from the stretch people are just gonna clobber you after they get one man on base and people will get on base no matter how good you are i think its be better just to get the "normal" mechanics and be able to maintain power from the stretch and the wind up

[letsgoplayers15]

so what happenss when he throws from the strech? he loses all of his power? good ideaa

[jaredskater]

@letsgoplayers15 you can still generate power from the stretch...change up your timing to the plate on runners and you can still bring the leg back and explode out without runners going on you. You lose some velocity from the stretch but thats the price you pay for letting runners on.

[oostoneroo]

he might have cause i kno i fresman for a rival team that throws 91mph

[dirt657]

I don't understand this, momentum pitching does speed up velocity, but control is lost because of overstriding. Everybody always talks about VELOCITY when the most important thing is COMMAND. Anyone can throw hard, not everyone can pound the corners consistently.

[dblazesr]

@dirt657 lol at command, you dont get looked at without VELOCITY

[Longfellow321]

you got me

[thndrct218]

He steps too far back when he starts his wind-up; Sure he's going to get away with it on this mound because its flat, but if you put him on a mound thats properly built and therefore has a slope behind the rubber, and hes going to have balance and control problems

[SimpleStuff31]

actually proper mounds are supposed to have flat behind the rubber

[Longfellow321]

but they dont

[SimpleStuff31]

yea they do.

[dirtberry]

Unfortunatly, all momentum comes to a complete stop before the ball actually starts forwards movement when it counts, just as in all traditional deliveries like this. Nothing is gained from forwards movement of body mass and the farther you stride only makes this mechanic more difficult to rotate fully.

Maybe if you used high speed video, this would become apparent to you and then you can design a mechanic with a short stride to actually attain and conserve this initial momentum.

[Longfellow321]

thats why you're supposed to bend your knee so you can do something with the momentum

[TDinda22]

you may gain velocity, but it is not very beneficial because the mechanics are very inconsistent

[magnificantbastard1]

lomonaco33 you are lying there is no way a 14 year old could throw 84 and that a 15 year old could throw 91 unless u juice

[RAWRAMPAGERANDY]

i can tell you havent seen talent!! my freshman year in high school i was clocked at 82 at the tryout and the following year i was throwing in the high 80s....felix hernandez was throwing 90 as a 14 year old but couldnt be signed until he turned 16!!! in countries like dominican republic and venezuela, kids are scouted from a very young age. theres no college ball over there. its either you have it or you dont by age 17. juice? LOL that will not help u throw harder!! BELIEVE ME!!

[Longfellow321]

i believe you but i dont believe felix hernandez was throwing 90 when he was 14

[werabout20]

@Longfellow321 You must be joking

[lomonaco33]

yea im 15 i was throwing 84 last year and now im hitting 91

[Suaveincorporated1]

no balance point, when you move from you balance point to your step in your stride, it is still the motion moving forward. he has no balance point, he doesnt stop moving forward. why even lift your leg if you arent going to balance.

[leftyDM]

In order to maximize momentum and velocity pitchers should move as fast and explosively as possible down the mound and obviously under control. Balance is simply the ability to stay upright and not fall to one side or the other. The body knows how to stay balanced...if not you fall down.

Dick Mills

[tennisbutts]

@leftyDM way too much movement and he has no balance point.... his pivot foot at one point is half on and half off the rubber and I think that he gets lucky that is pivot foot eventually falls off the rubber and gets to the front side of the rubber. terrible video in my ex-pro pitcher opinion....no decent pitcher in high school, college or pro ball would have this type of delivery in the modern game.

[jow43]

theres different ways to start momentum in pitching and to much isnt good because then you wont have any balance and ur ball will just stay up

[tjmeyer518]

hmm i dont think Mr. Mills or Dr. Rushall have heard of the stretch haha

[chiz981]

i guess it doesnt matter how your delivery is as long as your pushoff foot is on the rubber...

[GotHeat55]

I understand momentum. = mass x velocity. But after that big step back, his velocity almost goes to zero as he starts forward. So isn't all them momentum from the step back wasted? Therefore, what good does it do?

[Syrian1019]

although the instant velocity is 0, the virtual velocity, the stored velocity, will be greater. the potential energy will be greater and therefore translates to a higher kinetic energy when used correctly. KE = .5mv^2. That means, the faster you move, the more kinetic energy you have.

[RickKing12]

What happens to these mechanics when the pitcher has to throw out of the stretch?

[a7xslipknotBFMV]

these mechanics are crap!

but i guess whatever works for someone, look at tim lincecum.

but in my opinion this guys balance would be terrible, with that big stride back, it looks like something out of a little league game.

[SimpleStuff31]

no these are excellent. nice and smooth no balance point to slow down and kill velocity nice long stride

[Adderlyduran]

there are players here so good, that ive seen with my own two eyes radar gun's showing 85- 84 mph.. with 15 year  old's .. those are ridicules numbers for a kid so Jung .. and ive seen them...

[Adderlyduran]

ohh,. and by the way... dick mill's training methods are true... i do them, and thanks to them im as hard as i can be.... so guys.. dont criticize his stuff.. he has scientific studying behind  all his advice

[Adderlyduran]

if you really want to get your A-game. go to Dominican republic... thats were real men train.. and thats were i live

[hydejing]

how about minor league??

[Adderlyduran]

what do you mean......... minor league.... if your referring to me, then yes i am in a minor league... in Dominican republic, there are no high school teams, just individual teams that play in baseball terrains... if your good enough.. like me, you cant get paid to  pitch in important games... but you have to be at a master level...

[Adderlyduran]

dude.. im going to be strait up with you... American pitchers like you dont trow hard... by the time you finish high school most of you pitchers dont even trow 85.. and don't say thats not true cuz it is.. and i just turnd 17 and trowing 88 tops.. so.. i still have a hole year to gain 3 or 4 mph.. and trust me.. with your american training metods i dought that you will yrow at 90+ mph at 18...

[SimpleStuff31]

im american and there is no difference between you and me. you just worked your ass off at a skill that will get you far in life and that is very respectable. I just turned 14 and throw around 72, is that good?

[hydejing]

no

depends on ur height

and arm length

if u are not tall 72 is good

if u have 190 cm with 16 years old

u can throw at least 90

[SimpleStuff31]

Im 5'11"

[hydejing]

im 5'6 can throw 75

so if u r 5'11

if u keep working on ur body and arm

u can throw at least 80

[SimpleStuff31]

how old are you

[SimpleStuff31]

maybe but im only 14

[ZeppelinFreak13]

yup same with me. i think its pretty good atleast.

lol in one of my games we played a highschool for a scrimmage and this 16 year old walked up and i srtuck him out lol

[TheMetsfan1986]

thats preety good how tall are you and how much do you weigh ? im 15 i can throw 80-83

[SimpleStuff31]

im 6'0" and 145.

[TheMetsfan1986]

-__- then thats noo good lol your 14 6'0 feet tall and weigh 145 pounds ? you need to be at least hitting 80mph

[SimpleStuff31]

im lenky as shit tho

[TheMetsfan1986]

ehh still not a good i know kids who are 115 pounds and throw in the high 80's i recommend you do alot of push ups thats how i gained arm strength i do 6 sets of 15 or more push ups every 5 days

[SimpleStuff31]

well im sitting 73 and gained 11mph since last august which is tremendous and i hope to gain just 5 mph a year for the next 4 years which will put me at 90 at the end of high school

[TheMetsfan1986]

question have you every been on a real mound like 60feet 6 inches and thrown and clocked it with a gun

[SimpleStuff31]

yes and last year it was 62 now 70 - 75

[alaestia]

you gained 11 mph because of growing and developing, you will sure gain some more mph but not 5mph every year during 4 years, unless you get in a program that increases velocity.

[alaestia]

a 115 lb kid throwing high 80s???? wow that kid is as wired and stupid as a kid on youtube that commented on a video that there was a kid who threw high 80s weighting 115. another thing push ups wont help you throw harder you need to strengthen your whole body, and what are you referring as arm strength? how many mph arm strength is equal to. you need to know how to talk and provide good reference points, arm strength is not a good one, tell us how many mph you improved.

[TheMetsfan1986]

You need to strengthen the legs . Im 15 i throw 80 mph . & my motion is mostly legs

[Alexxxjv23]

tim lincecum drags his back foot like that and he doesnt take a huge step back. this is just a way for young pitchers to ruin mechanics.all you need to do is work out and build your legs and core and you can throw faster. the step back is ridiculous.

[Adderlyduran]

dick mills advice is very good,. i my self am doing it,. and with 17 am trowing 85-88mph

[Alexxxjv23]

i just turned 15 without this stupid method i can get up to 78. your 2 years older throwing 10 mph faster... not very good then

[MIAdolphins54]

OK we get that you can throw 88 MPH you said it 3 times ( i myself doubt you can) maybe not 88 at 17 but possibley 80 MPH

[Adderlyduran]

hey.. im not just saying random numbers... i have participated in many professional try-out's and i consistently trow at 88-87MPH... maby in your high school pitchers trow at 80mph. but here players  think in sighing at a Jung age.. and so, to do that, players here train hard and do extra hours... thats why dominican baseball players are so good in the big leagues

[MIAdolphins54]

ya i guess your right

dominican republic players dominate MLB

[SPRTNGamingTV]

well, 88 isn't unattainable. It's just above average. Most highschool pitchers around here throw between 80-85. I think he throws 88-87. I'm also 17 and I throw 88-87 consistently and sometimes reach into the lower 90s. (Have the gun records to prove it) I don't really agree with this guys mechanics. Mine are completely different. Relax your body until front foot contact and pull through. This is being taught to me by a former MLB player and his Pro son.

[scitchrcoe]

The whole idea that stepping back adds momentum is ridiculous. Watch the video and you'll see that as he rotates his foot, all forward motion stops. You can see it from every angle. As he rotates the foot and brings the knee up, his upper body comes to rest. The energy from the back step is completely lost in the transition. Any additional speed that he is getting out of this back step (which I highly doubt) is out of comfort, balance, or bias.

[chupalambestaki]

Dick Mills was not talking about the dragline until Tom House first talked about it.

[mattvorwald]

My point is that you are clearly introducing the requirement of more angular shouder and body movement to get to the same balance point with this windup. By adding more motion into the movement, you make it less repeatable. In addition, I doubt that it produces any material increase in the pitcher's ability to accelerate forward from the balance position, which you state is the key to creating velocity.

[leftyDM]

If distance moving the body has no affect on momentum then why do javelin throwers, broad or long jumpers do a run up? Would a javelin thrower be able to throw as long from a stationary position. Why don't they first step to the side before throwing the javelin?

Dick Mills

[buckfever32123]

That is a really good point.

[themetalgod21]

@leftyDM how about the shot put they rotate instead of running up.(excluding the old shot putters) and the implement their throwing is much heavier.

[raahr]

@themetalgod21 There are two different styles for shot put. This max guy could have more rotational, but his direction to the plate is phenomenal. Obviously, TIMMAY has all those pieces. which is one of the reasons he throws about 15 mph harder than MAX. It's also a real bitch to get that release point with the extra hip rotation. This is good place to start for anyone pitching.

[tennisbutts]

@leftyDM because javelin throwers are throwing for distance!!!!!! a pithcer is throwing for velocity and control!!!!!! we want outfielders to use momentum by using a crow hop because they have a longer distance to throw.

[wogdoggy]

@tennisbutts if you are in the wind up position whats the difference? read ted williams the science of hitting and how many times he uses the word pendulum ?

[leftyDM]

More momentum is created by moving the body faster from a further distance. Thus why a step back has a mechanical advantage. This is why long jumpers or javelin throwers or cricket bowlers have a run up. Why don't they step to the side first or hit a balance position? Nolan Ryan did not step to the side nor did Koufax, or Bob Gibson...all Hall of Famers and exceptionally hard throwers. Dick Mills

[mattvorwald]

You are confusing distance with momentum. Moving from a further distance does not affect momentum in any way. Once a speed is reached, that speed at any given point in time is a variable of momentum. Distance traveled is not. So once again, if you have proof that stepping back allows for a greater achieved acceleration, then great. If not, you are simply teaching something that sacrifices control with no benefit. Prove me wrong.

[leftyDM]

Why is a short step to the side helpful instead of a step back? Why is a balance position helpful. What are the mechanical advantages? Tim Lincecum throws hard because he moves faster and has a longer stride than most pitchers. Stepping to the side provides no advantage. Force on the ball comes from the size and the acceleration of the pitcher. The faster he moves the more force gets to the ball if his timing is correct. Stepping to the sideor to balance is a slowing action. Dick Mills

[Cyanogenrocks]

"Force on the ball comes from the size and the acceleration of the pitcher". Have you seen Tim Lincecum ? He's average size...he has no size advantage to him. Its all in his hips and the way he whips them through his target. His arm is like the end of a catapult, and his hips are the base and weights that propel the arm... its all physics. And balance is very important.. it doesn't matter how fast a pitcher throws if he has no control.

[mattvorwald]

If you pause at 1:31, you will notice that the pitcher reaches (essentially) a balanced power position. It is from that point that his true acceleration towards the plate begins. The error with this rushed motion is that it makes it more difficult to reach this position consistently at the same point in delivery. Getting to this position in a more controlled manner (i.e. - stretch, side-step, etc) is your best bet, and it does not sacrifice your ability to accelerate towards the plate.

[mattvorwald]

I find it fantastically ironic that you cite Tim Lincecum as an example of how pitchers should move...

You are aware that he takes a short step sideways in his windup... right? That's in direct contradiction of what you're saying should happen. And yes, he throws gas!

Pitching is about repeatability. This rush to produce momentum by sacrificing controlled movement and repeatability is counter-productive.

[pjayman93]

Lincecum throws hard because of the freakish way he whips his torso around. hes practically leaning backwards and then like a sling shot propels his body forward into the throwing motion. nothing about his first step.

[mattvorwald]

I never claimed his velocity had anything to do with their side step. Quite the contrary. I am saying that there is no remarkable impact on velocity based on the direction of a pitcher's first step (side, back, no step, etc.) However, when you introduce additional rotational movement (as this video is implementing) you introduce a greater difficulty in a repeatable motion = less accuracy. As stated before, distance traveled has no impact on momentum. Momentum equation: P=mv.

[rw5791]

there has to be a high leg lift and a gathering in of oneself,ready to pounce.I can't see any benefit to your move.

[hydejing]

i suggest too all pitchers

do not purposely drag ur right leg

jus pitch most of the power

ur right leg will automatically drag

[tmart43]

if less is more than look at stephen stratsburg, he has a huge stride and throws 103

[mattvorwald]

Strasburg has a controlled stride, and reaches perfect balance in his leg lift before driving to the plate. Directly contradicts this video. As does Lincecum, Zumaya, and most other power pitchers' motions. Nobody pitches like this. Nobody steps straight back and then rushes to move the body in a wild dash toward the plate. Why? It's erratic, uncontrolled, and unrepeatable. In short, it's bad for pitching.

[leftyDM]

Why is this too much movement? Only because that is your belief from what you have learned. But there is no evidence to support your belief. If you understand scientifically that more momentum is created by moving the body from as far away from the plate as possible then a short step to the side or back will produce less velocity. The key is moving the entire mass of the body as fast as possible into a long stride. That along with proper timing is what produces more velocity. Dick Mills

[hydejing]

to have a long stride

the key is left leg will bend between 90 to 110

so the right leg will stride

[mattvorwald]

Dick, you make a critical error in your assumptions here. You make the assumption that MORE momentum can be produced this way. Do you have scientific proof to back up your claims that MORE momentum can be produced by stepping backward first in comparison to a standard windup (balance point, then drive to plate like Lincecum/Strasburg)? I doubt you do, but I'll give you the chance to cite it. If you don't, your logic here falls flat.

[Adderlyduran]

hey mills,. im a pitcher from Dominican republic... and i have got to say.. you have helpt me a lot, i have your book on the art and science of pitching, and i cant express how much this information has help' t me.. im 17 and topping at 88mph, im thinking of going to a college in the states ones i finish high school, by then, i hope to trow 90, if i don't get any injury, by then ...and well... i deeply want to thank you for all your information

[JOEYINGARRA]

less is more! this is obviously too much movement

[hydejing]

this guy has a good pitching merchanics

[1l1k3t0sk4t3]

will they call a balk for that???

[prokid84]

this sorta makes sense to me, but what do you do when your going from the stretch? you obviously cant do that

[jake5jeckel]

you gana do that from the stretch?? we todd ed

[kritickids]

isn't that a balk? i thought you had to always stay in contact with the rubber?

[abfive]

I see you have a lot of pitching pointers and comments on youTube. Are you a instructor or do you pitch? If so, do you have any videos of yourself or should we just take your word that you know what your talking about.

[SovietskiiSniper]

I did demonstrate each point I support everywhere at least once. If you are so interested in me, see what I answered.Giving importance to the number of person thinking something or the name they hold is primerly stupid and an error of logic as you assume to be perfectly right what you don't know to be.I have no pretention to be right, but unless one can show me I made a logical error, I will be forced to consider myself right and others wrong. I write to see if I am wrong, not to show I'm right.

[abfive]

Dude; deep very deep. SovietskiiSniper, sounds like a gamer tag. You play Call of Duty?

[brewmark]

plus advice.

[christiannolte38]

who is this dude

[BronxBaseballPlayer]

wow nice i gotta start pitching like this! :-)

[Metxtremecodglitcher]

if u watch tim lincecums mechanics they are the same as this they just dnt look so stupid

[basins39588]

the comment about this being an injury waiting to happen is laughable. This style is old school Sachel Page through Whitey Ford... we have alot more injuries today with all the babying of pitchers...pitch counts and slow & controlled deliveries than they every had before...

[BillyBow68]

I don't understand his position on the rubber at 0:49. Setup seems off and a long way to go to get his pivot in front of the rubber. Not the same setup he had earlier.

[smithboba]

hey, this momentum pitching looks good.

is it ok if i do momentum pitching without buying the DVD b/c its too expensive? i tried pitching this way, moving by body faster and my velocity jumped a bunch. at least 10 mph, just from watching this vid. very good dick mills

[melhorn14]

he isnt even pitching as hard as he could even using this "momentum" pitching, he isnt keeping his head back and he isnt pushing off to his full potential. thats one of many flaws...

[KillaCamBaby]

guarentee he strikes out ur shitty ass

[terrence77477]

AGREED!!!

[irtubboftw]

what about if he gets a runner on base then he wont be able to use momentum as much because he'll have to pitch from a set position, unless he wants to go from a windup with a runner on base. and if he pitches from the set the velocity will decrease abit from the windup

[TPatton22]

In my opinion this whole setup looks like an arm injury waiting to happen because he isn't using his legs at all, I guess that's what momentum pitching is which is stupid.

[steven4412]

I see how the delivery could increase velo but i think it has to much movement to keep consistent throughout the game.

[bearman1210]

dick,

when should he break his hands

[bearman1210]

Dick

no i don't know why its too long also I don't see him swinging out and around could you elaborate?? he looks like to me he is bring it up out to the plate?????

I see where lincecum swings it back towards 2nd base but I don't see Max doing that!

Also are you working with max to correct his issues!??

thanks

Steve

[leftyDM]

Max is not perfect. Like Lincecum he has too much lateral movement with his lead leg. In other words he straighens it and then swings it out and around. That slows him down. He also breaks his hands too early. His stride is actually about 6" too long. Do you know why?

Dick Mills

[bearman1210]

Dick, Do you like the rest of max's delivery??

Any issues with the rest of it??

Thnaks

steve in jupiter fl

[herbiesnerd]

Dick, do you teach a momentum variation from the stretch in your DVD pack?

[leftyDM]

It is quite clear that Tim Lincecum has the fastest tempo moving away from the rubber as any pitcher in the big leagues. Because of creating such momentum he also has the longest stride to height ratio of any major league starting pitcher. Thus a big reason for his high velocity. And he involves his arm very, very late in the delivery.

Dick Mills

[Jay21328]

Well it's not what Tim Lincecum does, and he should not be used as a model for it's not what lincecum focuses on in his motion.