Pitching Mechanics Analyses
and Video Clips

1/26/2010

This page contains links to analyses of video clips of the pitching mechanics of a number of major league baseball pitchers. I have put these analyses together in an effort to understand why some pitchers experience arm problems while others don't.
     If you are unfamiliar with what a pitcher's arm does as they throw a ball, before you look at these analyses you first might want to look at How Jeff Suppan (Actually) Throws The Ball since it explains exactly what a pitcher's arm (actually) does as they throw a ball. Also, you should know that I have written a couple of pieces on proper pitching mechanics and how I teach pitching mechanics, if that is your primary area of interest.
     Now, on to the analyses.

Flipbook Pitching Video Clip Analyses

For a number of reasons that I explain in more detail here, my pitching flipbooks are only available to my pitching clients and people who have purchased my Pitching Mechanics 101 DVD. If you are unfamiliar with my flipbook analyses, here is an example of one...

   - Baseball Pitching Analysis (Jeff Suppan)

High Definition Pitching Video Clips

I have in my video clip library a large number of high-speed, high definition video clips, like the video clip below that I use to explain how Jeff Suppan (actually) throws the ball, that I have shot myself and that show the mechanics of pitchers like Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Josh Beckett, Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, Roy Oswalt, and many others in incredible detail and clarity.

Jeff Suppan Throwing a Fastball

Because it takes me considerable time and expense to film and put together each of these clips, they are only available to people who have purchased my Pitching Mechanics 101 DVD.

Sd Pitching Video Clip Analyses

These are analyses in which I go through a video clip of the pitcher that I have slowed down so that what is going on is more obvious. I also illustrate my points by pulling out individual frames from these clips.

The Greats

Relatively injury-free pitchers who had long, successful careers, I believe due to a large degree to their superior pitching mechanics.

   - Roger Clemens
   - Bob Gibson
   - Greg Maddux
      - Detailed, Frame by Frame Analysis (High School)
      - 1997 (CF)
      - 2008 (CF 4-Seam FB 60FPS)
   - Juan Marichal
   - J.R. Richard
   - Nolan Ryan
      - 1B View
      - CF View
   - Curt Schilling

The Enigmas

Great pitchers who, despite having largely solid mechanics, experienced significant injury problems.

   - Sandy Koufax
      - High 3B View
      - High 1B View
      - 1B View

The Cream Of The Current Crop

Pitchers who I think have superior pitching mechanics and who I believe should have fewer injuries than average as a result.

   - Clay Buchholz
   - Cliff Lee
   - Lance Lynn
   - CC Sabathia

On The Bubble

Pitchers who generally have decent mechanics but who make me nervous for one reason or another.

   - Joba Chamberlain
   - Ian Kennedy
   - Tim Lincecum
   - Jason Motte
   - Johan Santana
   - Jess Todd
   - Justin Verlander

Pitchers With Problematic Mechanics

Pitchers with obviously problematic pitching mechanics and who I think represent significant injury risks as a result.

   - Jonathan Broxton
   - AJ Burnett
   - Aaron Crow
   - Jaime Garcia
   - Rich Harden
   - Luke Hochevar
   - Josh Kinney
   - Brandon McCarthy
   - Jake Peavy
   - Anthony Reyes
   - Ben Sheets
   - Stephen Strasburg
   - Barry Zito
   - Joel Zumaya

Mixed Bags

Pitchers who had significant success but whose careers were cut short due to problematic pitching mechanics.

   - John Smoltz

Trainwrecks

Pitchers who have poor pitching mechanics and multiple injury problems as a result.

   - Chris Carpenter
   - Mark Prior
   - BJ Ryan
   - Scott Williamson
   - Kerry Wood

Dr. Mike Marshall's Pitching Mechanics

Because there is so much controversy about, and interest in, the pitching mechanics that Dr. Mike Marshall advocates, I have prepared an analysis of a couple of clips that I have.

   - Dr. Mike Marshall Pitching Mechanics

Comparative Pitching Video Clip Analyses

Comparisons of injury-free and injury-plagued pitchers.

   - Mark Prior vs. Greg Maddux and Nolan Ryan

If you are interested in these documents, you might also be interested in the photographic pitching mechanics analyses I put together when I first started doing this. You might also be interested in the still photos I have collected of a number of pitchers as well as the pages I have put together that give examples of what to do and what not to do.