Inside this post we’re going to review the dramatic changes seen with Lucas Giolito’s arm action and how the smallest, teeniest tiniest adjustments are the ones that create the biggest changes.

In fact…

You’re going to discover a much deeper layer behind pitching mechanics and how the body and brain are one when it comes to making any sort of change that sticks.  In fact… It’s going to force you to question everything you know about pitching mechanics.

Here’s a sneak-peek of what we will cover: 

1. Why the kinetic chain starts with the brain, if you want permanent changes to stick.
2. How weighted baseballs force the arm to take the path of least resistance.
3. How the lower-half influences the upper-half for better or worse.
4. Why The Arm is at the mercy of the hips.

And a whole lot more.  Ready?

Here we go…

Just the other day I was watching the highlights of Lucas Giolito’s near no-hitter because he was one of many MLB pitchers who trained daily with The Core Velocity Belt.

Disclaimer:  I do not know Lucas, nor have I ever worked with him.  But, I’ve got to say he definitely is a smart guy and surrounds himself with forward thinking people.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

BIG thanks to @lantzwheeler25 for hooking it up with the #corevelocitybelt 🔥 I’m very excited to be adding this to my offseason routine! Also thank you to my guy @ethankatz8 for introducing me to the product!

A post shared by Lucas Giolito (@lgio27) on Dec 6, 2018 at 12:31pm PST

Right away I noticed a dramatic change in his arm action.

 

Lucas Giolito, 2018 vs 2019 overlay/Arm Action change.

2019 compact/2018 long arm action. pic.twitter.com/VZm7by06fU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2019

Instantly, it reminded me of another MLB pitcher Neil Ramirez, who did the same thing in less than 3 weeks back in 2014.  In the video on the left he’s 93 in early June and 97 3 weeks later with a cleaned up arm action.

Crazy thing is… This change occurred without even trying.  It was natural.

So, naturally…

I started digging up info on Lucas and this was the first thing I read….

“While he’s hoping the latest iteration of his delivery will serve to make his interviews a lot less interesting, the big change in Giolito’s delivery this offseason wasn’t a purposeful one. (referring to changes inside his arm action.)

———

“Naturally from doing that, early in the offseason my arm action started to shorten up. It went from stab out, behind my back, long, bring it back up to a more compact just out of the glove, up and fire.

The results have been great. It feels better, I feel healthier. It’s a more clean action. I feel like I’m much more consistent getting on top of the ball, especially my fastball. I notice my fastball spinning better, more efficiently, the data backs that up. I’ve been looking at the Rapsodo stuff we have. More consistent, commanding better. It just feels better.”

———

Weighted Balls

Lucas attributed the change in arm action to his weighted ball throwing program, and it’s partly true. I’ve seen it myself and I think Kyle Boddy has done a wonderful job bringing weighted balls into the world of development.

And you’ll notice in this video how Lucas has changed the position of his forearm at the starting position and the path at hand-break, which both can be attributed to weighted balls.

 

Just like The Core Velocity Belt, a weighted ball is simply another tool which enhances a FEEL for the task.

It improves movement quality of the arm by

1. Increasing proprioception
2. Heavier weighted balls force the arm to take a more efficient path.
3. Strengthens the shoulder and elbow joints and tendons.

But a weighted ball program by itself, won’t be enough to make changes like the ones I see with Giolito.

I know there’s a lot of you out there that are going to say weighted baseballs are dangerous.

So my advice to you is never pitch in the early morning when there’s dew on the field because you’re throwing a weighted ball. 

Where was I?  Sorry, got off track.

Oh yeah.  Like most pitchers, coaches and observers it only makes sense to think arm action would change because of something you were doing with the arm, right?

But… When it comes to pitching mechanics, “Everything affects Everything” . (Paul Nyman www.Setpro.com)

——

The Kinetic Chain Starts At The Brain

But the mistake most make when attempting changes to their arm action is the fail to realize:

1. The kinetic chain starts with the brain.
2. The arm is at the mercy of the hips.

In other words…

Most pitchers and coaches waist the majority of their training time focusing on the position of the arm with the use of pitching drills and connection balls.  By doing so, they constantly find themselves picking up the fallen dominoes over and over because they never addressed the problematic domino causing the rest to fall.

Truth is…

The biggest changes occur from the teeniest-tiniest adjustments. 

And Lucas simply found a way, starting with his brain, to become more efficient at transferring kinetic energy.  Here’s one of my favorite clips, the now World Famous Pitch-a-Palooza, featuring Wes Johnson, (Pitching Coach with the Minnesota Twins)

So, how did Lucas make these changes to transfer his kinetic energy more efficiently?

Based on everything I read, Lucas was like so many pitchers who are obsessed with becoming a better pitcher…

1. He was over-analyzing every move he was making.
2. He was guilty of over-thinking every position.

In other words…

His computer was running slower because he had way too many tabs open.

———

And here’s how he closed those tabs…

“A lot of mental stuff,” Giolito said. “I did a – it’s called a neurofeedback program where basically they read your brain waves. You work to build better neural pathways. Everyone is different.

“For me, it was about focusing on breathing, being confident at all times, just things like that where I kind of put it all together on the mental side. Always have that confidence, always feel good when I’m out on the mound, compete and kind of let everything else take over.”

—–

Like I Said… The Kinetic Chain Starts With The Brain!

It’s why it’s the first place we start inside my 3-Day Core Velocity Programs.

Here’s three things I want you think about: 

1. The loudest performances are orchestrated by the quietest minds.
2. To get the body to move faster, the mind must move slower.

Breathing is the Invisible bridge between the mental and physical game.

Hopefully, you’re starting to understand what I said earlier about the science of pitching mechanics being a dynamic, chaotic system where everything affects everything.

And it all starts with the brain.

If you’re having to think about every move you make, obviously you’re not going to move very efficiently.   

Fortunately, Lucas started there first instead of jumping straight into pitching mechanics and drills.

——–

Pitching Mechanics

Truth is…

Most of the “highlighted positions” pitching coaches strive for to increase velocity and improve pitching mechanics, are merely bi-products of efficient movement.

1. Hip/shoulder separation
2. Longer stride
3. Arm in the correct position at landing
4. Bracing the front leg

Each of those should happen naturally when a pitcher is moving efficiently, and should never, ever be the primary goal of your delivery.But unfortunately way too many pitchers and coaches get caught up with pitching mechanics, and fail to realize the body works as a dynamic system and fail to realize…

Inefficient movement anywhere will affect the quality of movement everywhere!

I heard Paul Nyman say this years ago..

“The body wants to match, it craves equals and opposite.”

Hunter Bledsoe calls this phenomenon, “Matching the hands and the feet”.

But the problem is…

We attempt to coach a rotational sport using linear cues!

And because of that…

We often disconnect what the body/brain would naturally do.  It’s why I’m always saying…

Most Mechanical Flaws are Man-Made!

Here’s a few examples of both hitters and pitchers taking advantage of how the body naturally craves symmetry.

Hunter Bledsoe calls this, “Matching the hands and feet.”

Hanley Ramirez: Notice how as the front leg raises, the hands drop. As the front leg moves forward, the hands move back. (Body is maximizing the storing of energy and stretch effect of fascial tissue.)

Kershaw and Papelbon: Same thing seen here with 2 MLB elite. Notice how the front leg action mirrors the path of the arm leaving the glove with both.

Why is this so important to athletes inside a rotational sport?

1. Because the body’s #1 goal is to protect itself so by balancing out both sides it keeps your head from crashing to the ground. (Crazy but true!)
2. By mirroring the opposite sides of the body, it keeps the middle in the middle.
3. It maximizes the stretch reflex and fascial tissue to store up and release kinetic energy.

 

Here’s the biggest differences I see with Lucas Giolito’s mechanics between 2018 and 2019:

 

• Video 1: Much faster tempo at hand break.  (This forces the arm to take a cleaner, faster and more efficient path.)
• Video 1: Position of forearm angle in the setup creating a more efficient path.
• Video 1 & 2: Hand break path matches front leg’s timing and path.
• Video 2/3: He went from an inefficient front-hip dominant action in 18 to a back-hip dominant action this year.
• Video 4:   He maximizes the angle of the mound by “Riding the Slide” to connect his body and create a better angle to throw down hill with greater extension at release.

Overall, a much faster tempo from start to finish. (See that below) 

“All Roads Cross Through The Middle of The Body.”

He’s changed his lower-body patterning and timing to become back-hip dominant in 19 compared to an inefficient front-hip dominant action in 18′. 

(Video 2:  Lower-Body Review)

“The Back Hip Opens The Front.”

Here’s a better view of what I’m referring too on the difference between a front-hip dominant lower-half versus a back-hip dominant action of the lower body.

Video 3

Rides The Slide – Mirrors the Slope

Video 4: Ride the Slide Comparison

Isn’t it crazy how it works?

1. Learn to control the center part of your body and suddenly everything looks different.
2. Even the smallest rotary change in the middle of the body (pelvis/hips)  will drastically impact the arm.

What’s really important to know is this:

The type of lower-half changes he’s made were of a product of learning to move through the middle of his body.  To do so, you’ve got to begin by FEELing the movement and from there, challenge it.

This level of change didn’t happen with pitching drills.  Nope.

No Drill Will Resolve Poor Movement – Most Pitching Drills Screw Mechanics

The Arm is at the Mercy of the Hips

Watch the bi-products of his delivery after making changes with the movement of his pelvis in the video below.

1. Greater extension at release
2. Better direction to serve as axis of rotation.
3. Rotates into foot-plant (Back hip dominant)
4. Corkscrews front hip increasing the efficiency of the follow-through.
5. Better “down-hill” angle due to mirroring the slope of the mound with his hips.  (Ride the Slide)

 

Video 5: Lower-Body Review

Quick Question:

Do you know why it’s not typical to see most taller guys, especially a guy 6’6, to see this sort of efficiency with his pelvis and hips?

Because he’s probably been told his entire life to stay tall.  Throw down-hill.  Whenever that’s the goal, you’re going to see pitchers with very passive lower-bodies and most FEEL as if they’re throwing the ball with all arm.

Crazy to think Lucas got greater extension and more efficiency by throwing like a midget.  

Think about it…

Ever seen a short pitcher who doesn’t maximize the use of his legs? 

Why?

Because short pitchers are never instructed to stay tall so they naturally get more from their lower-half. 

That’s why I’m always saying…

Most mechanical flaws are Man-Made, the body would never organize itself in that manner had it not been confused. 

———

The Core Velocity Belt

So, how did Lucas maximize his lower-half?

For one, he spent time training with The Core Velocity Belt to increase core stability and better FEEL his lower-half working to enhance his FEEL for the lower-half and transfer the so called “muscle memory” to the mound.

 ——–

“Basically what it does is it gives you that real feel of getting into your hip, getting into the back side of your leg and feeling that drive down the mound, which is something I feel like I’ve always been searching for. I feel like I’ve been that tall-and-fall guy, not really using my legs to the fullest capabilities. It’s a tool that really helps create that muscle memory for it.”

So, it’s like creating that exaggeration of that feeling which is what I’m always searching for. I’m doing drills where I’m exaggerating this feeling. When I take it off, it’s, ‘Oh, the feeling is right there.’

“My lower half is working much better, much cleaner,” Giolito said. “I’m staying over my back side better.”

Giolito says he’s seen immediate results with his new workouts

 

Next thing you know…

1. You’re starting over.
2. Over-analyzing every move you make.
3. Over-thinking every single thing you do.

But here’s a little brain science behind the transformation and how it all works together as a system.  (I’ll let the Director of Neur0-surgery at Vanderbilt Medical Center, Dr. Allen Sills explain more.)

 

Without proprioception, coordination doesn’t exist.

Next, he heightened his kinesthetic awareness of his hips: (Here’s Dr. Allen Sill, the director of Neurology at Vanderbilt U and featured speaker at Pitch-a-Palooza

So, here’s the gist of it and why I believe The Core Velocity Belt played a major role in Lucas seeing changes with his arm action…

Because he increased his awareness of his hips, his coordination of movements inside the lower body began to sync up into his overall pitching motion. Here’s a video showing that in full effect.

Watch How Lucas Rides the Slide and Mirrors his hips to the slope of the mound compared to years past

 

And because he was able to:

1. Become aware of his center, he took advantage of gravity and total body connection.
2. He began moving his middle more efficiently, faster.
3. Because he had better FEEl for his lower-half he mastered the subtle sub-movement required to put in motion, such as the corkscrew and riding the slide.

Because of higher levels of mind-muscle connection this happened…

—–

“The results have been great. It feels better, I feel healthier. It’s a more clean action. I feel like I’m much more consistent getting on top of the ball, especially my fastball.
I notice my fastball spinning better, more efficiently, the data backs that up. I’ve been looking at the Rapsodo stuff we have. More consistent, commanding better. It just feels better.”

—–

In the end…Both pitchers paths to changes are very similar.

1. Un-Thinking pitching mechanics.
2. Increasing the proprioception of his hips which led to more coordinated movements.
3. Due to his increased motor control of his hips, he was able to Peer-Pressure his arm into believing it was running out of time.
4. Finally, he learned to put it all together when Riding the slide (Mirroring his hips to the slope of the mound).

And I had a pretty good idea, Lucas did the same… And I think I was right?

Lucas Giolito:

1. Started with his brain and learning how to breathe and convey confidence. (You become what you believe.  Talent is everywhere but belief in oneself is much harder to find.)
2. Increased the FEEL for his hips by using The Core Velocity Belt which in turn helped him to move more efficiently through the middle of his body.
3. And pretty much followed the same path Neil followed in 2014 when he saw changes.
4. From there, the arm and body connected due to the enhanced mind-muscle connection allowing his body to move faster and more efficiently.

And the best part about this story?

He did all this without ever Over-Thinking or Over-Analyzing his pitching mechanics. Unfortunately, most pitchers and coaches never address the brain. Instead they go straight to the body and before you know it… We’ve got pitcher after pitcher Over-thinking and Over-analyzing every single move.

The real key is learning how to put your pitching mechanics on auto-pilot and that’s exactly what Lucas Giolito did.

There’s a lot to be said of reaching higher levels of performance, once you learn to…

Trust What You FEEL!