The reason most pitchers struggle to improve leg drive is simple… They focus on the legs instead of the hips.

And with all the information out there and pitching mechanics breakdowns available, I can see why you’re confused as hell. Most pitchers are sadly taught to:

1. Load the hips
2. Stay tall
3. Push off the ground versus push INTO the ground.
4. Get triple extension

 
And that’s a major problem for several reasons.

• Their focus is on the legs, not the hips.
• Because their focus is on the legs, and not the hips, they’re very quad dominant. (Meaning, they push their body as one piece instead of segmenting rotation and it’s why they can’t separate their hips and shoulders.)
• They tend to focus on mechanics versus what actually matters most, which is movement.

 

Watch the changes this pitcher made after learning to Corkscrew his Hips versus “Loading the hips”.

Video 1: Vertical Shin/Stable Foot vs Back knee inside foot and unstable foot:
 

 
Video 2: Notice how he’s hinging on the right versus squatting on the left. (The HINGE is the GodFather of pitching drills)
 

 
The truth is, the ability to control the middle of your body is what separates 85 mph from 95 mph.

Think about it this way…

The hips/pelvis are the fuse box which connects the lower-half to the upper half. You’ve heard the old saying, you’re only as strong as your weakest link, right? Well, the same goes for movement.

Poor movement quality anywhere affects the quality of movement everywhere.

Truth is… I’ve seen pitchers with tree trunk sized legs throw 70 – poop because they were unable to control and move through the center of their body.

With that said, here’s what we’re going to cover inside this post:

1. How to corkscrew your hips
2. Why a vertical shin matters
3. How to get the most from the ground.

 
Plus, I’m going to share with you a few Core Velocity Belt drill progressions to improve your ability to Corkscrew the Hips.

First things first… Hitting and pitching are almost identical.

Really the biggest difference is the hitters’ surface is flat versus a pitcher throwing from a mound. Take a look at the video below.
 

• On the right is Bryce Harper (Switched to a RHH)
• On the left is Lance McCullersNotice how both corkscrew the hips.

 

 
Here’s what I want you look for:

1. See how the back knee turns out.
2. How the back shin remains vertical
3. The rear foot remains plugged into the ground.

 

Now, let’s watch the video below and after watching, I’ll share some training tips and Core Velocity Belt drills to help you see results pretty quickly.
 

 
Here’s how I’d suggest you begin:

1. Face the wall with the cords connected at the top and bottom.
2. Anchor your eyes to a spot on the wall.
3. Anchor your feet flat on the floor.

 
Next up, is the Core Velocity Belt Corkscrew Progression…
 

 
Now that you’ve got a basic understanding of how to corkscrew the hips, it’s time we increased the level of difficulty by moving to a singe leg progression.
 

 
Before we go, there’s one more video I’d like to share with you.

Here’s the #1 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Casey Mize, sharing one of the progressions he likes to use.
 

 
If you’d like my personal help, check out my 3-Day Core Velocity Belt Training Programs..

Trust what you FEEL!