Parents, here’s the truth: no matter how much success your son is having on the field, there may still be flaws in his pitching delivery—flaws he can control.
Over the years, both as a player and now as a coach, I’ve seen countless pitchers. Every one of them throws a little differently. Some succeed because of sheer repetition, others because of raw strength. But here’s the hard part: just because a pitcher is getting results doesn’t mean he’s doing everything right.
Maybe little Johnny throws harder than anyone in town. That doesn’t guarantee good mechanics. Maybe little Jimmy pounds the strike zone. Same deal—he could still be doing it wrong. The challenge is convincing parents (and pitchers) that something is off when the scoreboard says otherwise.
Remember this: every wrong action can work if the timing lines up. But in the long run, bad habits catch up.
What Parents Should Do
Here are a few simple, practical steps parents can take to help their pitchers improve:
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Film the Four Throws
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Record your son doing these: crow hop, no stride, slide step, and normal stretch.
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Watch for differences in the upper body across each throw.
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Review Together
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Sit down and study the video.
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Look closely for inconsistencies—does the arm action change? Does the finish look different?
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Seek Honest Advice
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Ask a trusted friend who’s been through the same experience.
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Or better yet, get feedback from a professional instructor. (If it’s not with us at Locked In, that’s okay—just make sure you pay attention to what the coach says and doesn’t say.)
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Focus on Key Mechanics
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Arm speed out of the glove.
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Timing from hand break to front foot landing.
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Body control once the stride foot lands.
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Align Goals
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Understand that your son’s goals might not match yours. He may want to throw harder. You may want him to throw more strikes. Both goals matter—but they must be built on the same foundation.
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Encourage the Process
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Pitching development takes time. Results aren’t immediate. Effort in equals improvement out.
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Keep in mind the 3 objectives of pitching:
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Throw hard.
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Control the body.
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Throw strikes
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The Right Order
Pitching success is built step by step:
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Arm speed out of the glove + timing forward.
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Body control when the front foot lands.
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Strikes as a result of #1 and #2.
Get the first two right, and strikes will follow.
Final Thoughts for Parents
Enjoy watching your son play—through the successes and the failures. Don’t expect instant results, and don’t pressure him with unrealistic expectations.
If he buys into the process and puts in the work, he’ll get better. If he doesn’t, he won’t. It’s that simple.