All About Rotational Pitching Mechanics

There is an alarming national trend among young baseball players. Parents are bringing their children into the sports-medicine clinic and inquiring about procedures such as Tommy John surgery. This is unacceptable.

Injuries in younger pitchers are much different than those observed in professional pitchers. This observation led us to believe that the pitching mechanics are also likely to be different. The Biomechanics Research Laboratory has published several papers on the pitching mechanics of Little Leaguers, and in conjunction with our professional pitching database, we were able to compare throwing patterns of developing young pitchers to successful mature pitchers. Although significant differences do exist, there are many more similarities.

Comparative Speeds

Little Leaguers only throw about 50-65 mph fastballs. However, given the shorter distance from home plate to the pitcher's mound, this translates into a professional-pitch-velocity equivalent of 80-95 mph to the batter. Our research has also shown that Little League pitchers actually execute the pitch sequence in a similar manner, with major differences from the pros being partly attributed to height, weight, and physical strength.

Why are the injuries patterns so different? This is likely due to the physical strength and the skeletal maturity of the athletes. As we mature, the tissues become more rigid and able to withstand higher forces. Young players (as early as 13 years old) need to have proper techniques taught to them. These kids are already developing pitching mechanics that they will carry into adolescence and adulthood. Also, the unique aspects of the developing skeleton make their bodies more susceptible to a variety of injuries not commonly seen in adult pitchers.

One such injury is Little League elbow, in which the force applied to the upper arm during the pitch could play a role in these athletes during puberty and in the increase in injuries seen in the throwing arms of professional pitchers. Although these injuries may be due to the musculoskeletal changes occurring during growth, they may also be, at least in part, due to pitching techniques. Since the trunk can be utilized to create enormous power and increased ball speed, it may be that the differences we observed in trunk motions between the youth and professional baseball pitchers also may explain the differences in patterns of injuries between these two groups.

Trunk Rotation - (Rotational Pitching Mechanics)

The Steadman-Hawkins team investigated the rotation of the trunk during the pitching motion between youth and professional pitchers. The peak rotational velocities of both the upper trunk and pelvis were greater in youth baseball pitchers than in professional pitchers. Youth baseball pitchers control their trunk motion in a less efficient way than elite pitchers. Peak pelvis-rotation velocity occurred near the time of stride-foot contact in the professionals, while it occurred much later in the youth pitchers. Proper timing of pelvis and upper trunk rotation are necessary to effectively transfer energy from the trunk to the throwing arm. Therefore, increased trunk rotation speed may be a compensation for improper timing of segment rotations or insufficient muscle strength in youth pitchers. Improper energy transfer from the trunk to the upper extremity may lead to the increased shoulder internal rotation and elbow-extension velocities in youth pitchers compared to the professionals.

Easier to Correct Mechanics at a Young Age

Understanding injury mechanisms in this group is fundamentally important, but what we really want to do is utilize this information to make evidence-based recommendations for youth-league coaches about safe pitching techniques and limits, a true grass roots effort to reduce injuries in these kids. We now believe that many injuries experienced by the professional pitcher may be related to pitching mechanics that are promoted at a young age. And it is much easier to teach correct mechanics to a young pitcher than attempt to retrain a seasoned professional pitcher.

Dr. Torry is the Director of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory at the Steadman-Hawkins Research Foundation in Vail, Colorado. Dr. Shelborne is Senior Staff Scientist. The article below was adapted with permission from Dr. Torry, Dr. Shelburne, and the Steadman-Hawkins Research Foundation.