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The Complete Guide to Pitching
A great pitching coach not only helps his players improve but also prepares them for success at the next level. Derek Johnson, named college baseball’s National Pitching Coach of the Year in 2004 and National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010, led Vanderbilt University to the College World Series in 2011, led by eight players who would later be selected in the Major League Baseball draft. More than 25 of Johnson’s past pitchers have been drafted, including David Price, Sonny Gray, Grayson Gravin, and Casey Weathers. Entering his first year as the minor league pitching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs, Johnson continues to carve out a name for himself as one of America’s top pitching coaches.
In The Complete Guide to Pitching: Enhanced Edition, Johnson offers the expertise that has helped him put together several other tremendous pitching staffs—with numerous other pro prospects—in a special book perfect for pitching coaches and dedicated pitchers from the club level to the minor leagues. Its 60 drills are complemented by 226 full-color photos and 50 video clips. Coverage includes technique, conditioning, and psychological aspects of pitching. Johnson also details the seven principles of successful pitchers that help create the mind-set and mentality of a champion.
Featuring drills, exercises, and Johnson’s personal insights as part of his overall plan for pitching, this book shows pitchers how to refine their mechanics, develop new pitches, improve physical conditioning, recognize a hitter’s weaknesses, and shut down a running game. Packed with guidance on nearly every aspect of pitching, The Complete Guide to Pitching: Enhanced Edition makes for the most complete pitching resource available.
In The Complete Guide to Pitching: Enhanced Edition, Johnson offers the expertise that has helped him put together several other tremendous pitching staffs—with numerous other pro prospects—in a special book perfect for pitching coaches and dedicated pitchers from the club level to the minor leagues. Its 60 drills are complemented by 226 full-color photos and 50 video clips. Coverage includes technique, conditioning, and psychological aspects of pitching. Johnson also details the seven principles of successful pitchers that help create the mind-set and mentality of a champion.
Featuring drills, exercises, and Johnson’s personal insights as part of his overall plan for pitching, this book shows pitchers how to refine their mechanics, develop new pitches, improve physical conditioning, recognize a hitter’s weaknesses, and shut down a running game. Packed with guidance on nearly every aspect of pitching, The Complete Guide to Pitching: Enhanced Edition makes for the most complete pitching resource available.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2012
41 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 19, 2015
Ive been trying to learn how to pitch for a long time
this book is the only way I learned.
I've read four books that was supposed to teach me how to
this is the only one that had taught me.
this book is the only way I learned.
I've read four books that was supposed to teach me how to
this is the only one that had taught me.
June 26, 2017
I haven't really completed this, but not because I don't want to. Been a lover of baseball since the forties in Chicago, and can lay legitimate claim to being a Cubs fan, as Wrigley Stadium was just a short elevated ride from home. I mostly watched the games on TV, though.
I never had any serious expectations of being able to play myself, even though I practiced throwing a tennis ball against the front porch steps for hours at a time during the summers. I couldn't even make the C teams in Little League. But I'm interested particularly in the technique of throwing certain pitches and being able to recognize them. Even more, I'm interested in understanding the strategy of pitchers, knowing that such-and-such a situation calls for a low, outside breaking ball rather than a high inside fastball for instance. This book explains that.
The problem is, we recently changed our TV service when DirecTV raised its price on the package we have. We don't watch much TV to begin with. So my wife just decided to cut the program and take the next cheaper package. (She handles the finances.) The result is we no longer get the channel that most regularly shows local ball games, so now all I get is an occasional weekend game, which is infuriating and hugely disappointing, but that's how it is for now, at least probably for this season. Therefore I have less motivation to read the book. So what I'm going to do is leave it by my chair in the family room and will pick away at it periodically for the rest of this season with games in the background. I don't have any need to know all the techniques for winding up and starting positions, and all the exercises the pros need to improve strength and flexibility, much of which I've already read. Just pitches and strategy. I may even watch the DVD that comes with the book.
It does appear to be a very good and thorough for anyone who's looking for authentic training advice, including the technical stuff.
I never had any serious expectations of being able to play myself, even though I practiced throwing a tennis ball against the front porch steps for hours at a time during the summers. I couldn't even make the C teams in Little League. But I'm interested particularly in the technique of throwing certain pitches and being able to recognize them. Even more, I'm interested in understanding the strategy of pitchers, knowing that such-and-such a situation calls for a low, outside breaking ball rather than a high inside fastball for instance. This book explains that.
The problem is, we recently changed our TV service when DirecTV raised its price on the package we have. We don't watch much TV to begin with. So my wife just decided to cut the program and take the next cheaper package. (She handles the finances.) The result is we no longer get the channel that most regularly shows local ball games, so now all I get is an occasional weekend game, which is infuriating and hugely disappointing, but that's how it is for now, at least probably for this season. Therefore I have less motivation to read the book. So what I'm going to do is leave it by my chair in the family room and will pick away at it periodically for the rest of this season with games in the background. I don't have any need to know all the techniques for winding up and starting positions, and all the exercises the pros need to improve strength and flexibility, much of which I've already read. Just pitches and strategy. I may even watch the DVD that comes with the book.
It does appear to be a very good and thorough for anyone who's looking for authentic training advice, including the technical stuff.
May 24, 2018
Good enough to make a 40+ year old man believe he can still throw the curve.
July 25, 2019
A good how-to by one of the best minds out there. Now only if mr strom would put his thoughts on paper,,,
January 17, 2014
The whole key to this pitching masterpiece is the word "FUN". --the highlight of this improvement book was the accountability it holds the pitcher too--calm down, mechanics, breathe, motion, mental and physical toughness and so on. The art of pitching as the author describes is getting better and better with proven stretches, weight training and the understanding of how to hold the ball correctly. Knowledge is a must in the wold today, we must continually maintain a thirst for knowledge and this book is a clear, proven example as too how to improve the pitcher. 5 stars for moms, dads, athletes and of course coaches and the athletic director.
March 31, 2014
An awesome read for pitching Coaches on the college level. I have used these drills and concepts with my staff with great reviews. Most have book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews