Holiday Pitching Camps

Always enjoy the Holiday Pitching Camps and helping pitchers reach higher levels of performance. I instructed last week in a Kansas City camp working with Steve Foster, KC Royals Bullpen Pitching Coach at a great instructional event. This morning I work with Jay Lehr and Drew Storen at the Roundtripper Baseball Academy in Indianapolis at the PPD Pitching Camp. Also instructing with professional pitchers Ryan Tatusko and Lance Lynn at Roundtripper. It will be another great week helping young pitchers to improve their skills on the mound. Then back to Winning Pitchers Academy in Boston to instruct one on one lessons at weeks end. Happy Holidays and the best for a great 2011!

Introducing the Softball Power Drive

The creators of the Pitchers Power Drive introduce the Softball Power Drive.


The Softball Power Drive is the training choice of collegiate and professional players! Check it out at www.softballpowerdrive.com

Pitchers Power Drive Update!

I know that it has been a while since I last wrote, I have been so busy over the last few months that I just couldn't find the time to sit down for an update...so here it is!

First the PPD would like to congratulate both the Giants and Rangers on all of their 2010 success. We were so excited to see two teams that use the Pitchers Power Drive in the World Series this year!

We are also very excited to announce that over 100 colleges and universities, including Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Cal Berkeley, University of Tennessee and the Univeristy of Louisville to name just a few, are now using the PPD. We have sold units to schools in 40 states and are getting requests from new states everyday.

Just a few weeks ago the coaching staff at Wright State University in Ohio reached out and asked if I could come out to Dayton to instruct them how to use the PPD properly. So I flew out for the day, it was a blast to meet with the team and help them learn to use the PPD.

In October I went to two Perfect Game events, one in Ft. Meyers and one in Jupiter Flordia. Ft. Meyers was an under classmen showcase and Jupiter was for the upper classmen showcase. Check out our booth...

Jupiter was crazy with all of the golf carts roaming from field to field!

Here is a picture from my booth at Jupiter!

Also in October I went and sat down with the Vanderbilt pitching coach, Derek Johnson, for an interview. He explains his theory of "Defining Gravity" and why he likes to use the PPD. Check it out http://www.pitcherspowerdrive.com/why.html and http://www.pitcherspowerdrive.com/clients.html.

Like I said before these last few months have been super busy for the Pitchers Power Drive and things aren't looking like they are going to slow down anytime soon! Check back for more news and updates about the PPD!

Pitchers Power Drive TV Ad For Little League World Series

Little League World Series ad to run on ESPN and ESPN2

will be in east cob

the Pitchers Power Drive will be in GA at east cob for the next 3 week at the Perfect Game USA World Wood Bat Association National Championships

congratulations Drew Storen First Major League Career Win

Congratulations Drew Storen on Major League Debut

Pitchers Power Drive Training Aid Announces New Turf Models

The new Pitchers Power Drive Turf model eliminates the need to change from cleats to turf shoes when using in stadium bullpen areas. This allows Professional, Collegiate and High School pitchers to wear cleats during their live bullpens on the Pitchers Power Drive.

Boston, MA (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 19, 2010 -- The Pitchers Power Drive training aid that increases pitchers velocity potential announces a new turf model to allow pitchers to throw practice bullpens with their baseball cleats on. The turf model joins the popular metal model which received a US Patent in February 2009.

Pitchers Power Drive Turf Model

"We are excited to have a new turf model for pitchers to use with their baseball cleats on. Last fall we had several request from professional and collegiate coaches for a turf model to use in their stadium bullpen area", said John Miller, president, of Pitchers Power Drive. We were already testing a turf model at Perfect Game USA Tournaments and Showcases. Miller said at these events the Pitchers Power Drive was in the bull pen area and allowed the pitchers to use the training device with their cleats on. This testing went on for a 6 month period. The field test was with pitchers throwing the full 60’ 6” distance with their normal momentum delivery to down catchers”. Miller added this allowed real world testing with the top high school pitchers from the USA and other countries. We found the durability excellent and the pitchers really liked the turf model.

The professional teams are now requesting exclusively the turf model and college programs are ordering both turf and metal. Having the turf model eliminates the need to change from cleats to turf shoes and many pitchers like to use the turf model in their live bullpens. We also are seeing the warmer climate high school teams and pitchers ordering turf models since they are outside a lot more than the colder regions.

We are excited to have a new turf model for pitchers to use with their baseball cleats on. Last fall we had several request from professional and collegiate coaches for a turf model to use in their stadium bullpen area

The Pitchers Power Drive metal and turf models operate the same, weighing 21 pounds both give pitchers solid foot contact because they lay solid to the ground. This allows the entire back leg and hip to move the pitcher’s body powerfully away from the rubber into landing. The training device helps the pitchers body kinetically feel their hip lead. Then pitchers hear an auditory metallic click when their hip lead drops the plate as seen in the videos on web site. This multi sensory learning gives instant feedback and creates a powerful training aid that pitchers like to use. Miller says “the Pitchers Power Drive are to pitchers what the hitting tee is to hitters”.

The Pitchers Power Drive turf model comes in two colors, green shown in the picture and clay brown. They are priced at $245 and may be purchased directly from Pitchers Power Drive.

About Pitchers Power Drive

Pitchers Power Drive is based in Holliston, Massachusetts. They are the developer of the US patented Pitchers Power Drive Professional / Collegiate / High School Edition. The design of the Pitchers Power Drive comes from their extensive experience working with and training pitchers at the Winning Pitchers Baseball Academy. Pitchers Power Drive is a trademark of Pitchers Power Drive. To learn more about Pitchers Power Drive visit the Pitchers Power Drive website at www.pitcherspowerdrive.com

The Pitchers Power Drive increase pitchers velocity by teaching hip lead

New Pitching Velocity Training Aid, the Pitchers Power Drive Increases Velocity Potential

The Pitchers Power Drive increase pitchers velocity potential by teaching hip lead with their knee positioned over foot to set pitchers weight back. This device increases lower body power by training this hip lead from knee lift. Already in its first year there are 7 professional teams, 70 colleges, hundreds of High Schools and Baseball Academy’s training pitchers with the Pitchers Power Drive.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) April 12, 2010 -- The new Pitchers Power Drive increases pitchers velocity potential by teaching hip lead with their knee positioned over foot to set pitchers weight back. This device increases lower body power by training this hip lead from knee lift. This can be done because the pitchers foot is in solid contact on a 21 pound training device braced against the rubber. This allows the entire back leg and hip to move the pitcher's body powerfully away from the rubber into landing. The pitching velocity training device has been used with great success for over four years at the Winning Pitchers Baseball Academy in Boston with thousands of lessons. Already in its first year there are 7 professional teams, 70 colleges, hundreds of High Schools and Baseball Academy’s training pitchers with the Pitchers Power Drive.

Pitchers Power Drive Teaches Hip Lead to Increase Velocity

The picture shows this hip lead used by professional pitchers. All Professional Pitchers with above average velocity shift their weight this same way for which the Pitchers Power Drive teaches. The picture shows a high school pitcher at 90-93 mph using the Pitchers Power with his knee positioned over his back foot while his back hip shifts away from the rubber driving the Pitchers Power Drive down. This is back side power initiation taught by the velocity training aid.

The Pitchers Power Drive offers pitchers solid foot contact because it weighs 21 pounds and lays solid to the ground. This device helps the pitchers body kinetically feel their hip lead. Then pitchers hear an auditory click when their hip lead drops the plate as seen in the videos on web site. No drill, video or book can make the body feel what the Pitchers Power Drive does. It is not a substitute for what the body feels because you can throw 60 feet 6 inches to a catcher at 100% effort and the body can truly feel the power.

The Pitchers Power Drive also teaches proper weight transfer. It prevents any early shift of weight to inside of foot as the foot is anchored with the pitchers entire weight. The picture shows this solid foot contact. It actually keeps the pitchers weight back forcing a correct hip lead to drive plate and not falling down the mound with front side. This prevents common faults of early hip rotation. Pitchers learn to keep their weight back with the knee positioned over the back foot while the back hip leads away from the rubber. This allows pitchers the ability to use their entire leg and back hip to produce full leg drive and extension to a closed landing. See live video of pitching 60’6" at full speed on the Pitchers Power Drive atwww.pitcherspowerdrive.com The video demonstrates all of the above teaching strengths of the Pitchers Power Drive.

Many highly qualified coaches and trainers recommend the Pitchers Power drive as a good training aid that pitchers like and are getting positive results. The training device can help pitchers improve their pitching performance and velocity. Thousands of individual pitchers have used this training aid and improved in learning the correct way of using their legs. To see professional and player testimonials go to client page on web site.

Pitching Velocity Training Aid The Pitchers Power Drive Increases Velocity Potential

Pitching Velocity Training Aid The Pitchers Power Drive Increases Velocity Potential

This device increases lower body power by training pitchers to lead with their hips from knee lift. This can be done because the pitchers foot is in solid contact on a 21 pound training device braced against the rubber. This allows the entire back leg and hip to move the pitcher’s body powerfully away from the rubber into landing. The pitching velocity training device has been used with great success for over four years in a baseball academy with over 8,000 lessons documented. See live video of pitching 60’6” at full speed on the Pitchers Power Drive at www.pitcherspowerdrive.com

Ryan Tatusko

Ryan Tatusko, Texas Rangers text me last week and said he is hitting new highs 91-95 mph on radar gun up from 88-93 and having a great spring training with the Texas Rangers. He said the Pitchers Power Drive has really helped him.

During the winter months while back home….Ryan reviewed video and talked with his Texas coach Danny Clark and local pitching coach Jay Lehr at the Roundtriper Baseball Academy in Indianapolis. Jay Lehr trains pitchers on the Pitchers Power Drive and recommends it to his pitchers. Jay made it part of Ryan’s training regimen in helping him to feel and learn backside initiation to help stay back in delivery. Ryan was so happy with the Pitchers Power Drive he wanted to own one. We shipped him a metal one and he now has a turf model at spring training in Arizona. When we communicated via email during the winter….I pulled up a video from the internet of Ryan pitching last year and saw from reviewing the video that his back foot was off the ground before he was throwing the baseball. I sent him an email letting him know what I saw and he said that was exactly what they had seen. He said that Jay and he were working on lengthening his stride to fix it. I mentioned that continued training on the Pitchers Power Drive with Jay would teach a hip lead which will allow staying on the back side and pitching with his weight behind the baseball thus getting the stride he needed.

Here is part of a recent interview that Ryan had with Jason Cole of LoneStarDugout.com on March 23^rd, 2010:

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Looking to gain more consistency and get more out of his 6-foot-5 frame, right-hander Ryan Tatusko went to the video for answers in the offseason. Lone Star Dugout spoke with the pitcher about the changes he made and his first two outings of Spring Training.

Cole: What exactly were those mechanical adjustments that you implemented over the offseason?

Tatusko: Staying back. I came to find out that, through video and talking with DC and my pitching coach at home, that my back foot was completely off the ground before I was even releasing the baseball. That was completely taking all of the power out of my legs. I was just throwing strictly arm and shoulder.

Once I found that out, I talked to DC a little bit and talked with the pitching guy back at home. I really worked on just riding out my back side. I never really understood what that meant. Former pitching coordinator Rick Adair would always tell me that, too, and it never really clicked with me until I saw myself on video for the first time. All I really tried implementing was staying on my back side as long as I can and then exploding and not being too quick to the plate.

Cole: How long did it take you–when throwing bullpens or whatever–before it clicked and you were able to do that consistently?

Tatusko: It probably took me a couple of months to do it. Starting out, I’d get really frustrated. I would do it a couple times and then I’d go back to the same habit. I started to kind of feel myself rushing a little bit. I noticed a little bit of zip being taken off on my fastball.

Probably about the end of December or January, I started really getting behind the ball. The ball had a different feeling coming out of my hand starting in late December or early January. Every once in awhile, I’d catch myself rushing a little bit. And even still now, I’ll do it every once in awhile, but now I can feel it. That feels wrong now, and staying back and behind the ball feels right. It probably took me a couple months to figure it out.

Cole: At first, when you did it right, did it feel a little weird?

Tatusko: It felt really weird because I’ve never thrown like that before. It felt that I was leaving all of my power on my back foot and I wasn’t transferring through the ball. It felt effortless, and I’m not used to throwing that way. I was always maximum effort while trying to get the ball to the plate. That is kind of how I thought everybody felt throwing. Now everything felt effortless and I felt like I was leaving all my weight behind. Through throwing more and more, I started to feel that this is how you’re supposed to throw the ball–this is how you get behind it.

Cole: Going back to studying the video for a second, when you started looking at it, did you know that you were going to find something? Were you looking for anything in particular?

Tatusko: It was more that I just wanted to see if something was wrong. It just didn’t feel like I was getting enough out of my body. I talked to DC and some pitching coaches, and everybody said that there was more in there. I felt like, even myself, there was more in there. When I was younger–probably my sophomore year in college–I was 91-94. And then all the sudden I dipped. And I couldn’t figure out why.

I knew there was something in there, so I had to go to the video just to see if there was something there. And one day I was sitting down with a pitching coach back at home named Jay Lehr, and he found it. He called me up one night and said, ‘Hey, tomorrow morning, I want to show you something.’ He was the one that originally showed me. We went back to previous videos of me and I found the same thing happening in every single video. He really, truly found it for me. It clicked.

Jon Lester

The week of march 10-12 i spent in Florida visiting some spring training camps and games. While I was there I hooked up with Billy Leavitt inventor and owner of Chilly Billy the best ice therapy product on the market. Jon Lester’s endorses the product. The Chilly-Billy web site is http://www.chilly-billy.com/ . Billy met with Lester while there and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to introduce the Pitchers Power Drive to Jon. He said he liked it and was timely as he is currently working on that mechanical part of his pitching motion, so Jon Lester now has a Pitchers Power Drive.

photo of me with Jon Lester

Spring training trip to Arizona  On my trip to Spring training in Arizona…I was able to meet with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim  and the Arizona Diamondbacks.  I am very happy to say both teams will be using thePitchers Power Drive this year.  Michael Dana Butcher, Pitching Coach for the Angles said he will be using it with Scott Kazmir.  I am excited to have the Angels using the Pitchers Power Drive and to see the results. The Arizona Diamondbacks strength and conditioning coach will be using with the pitchers in the weight room.  They will be working med-balls and balance exercises on the Pitchers Power Drive. I was so able to see my good friend Steve Foster, the bullpen coach for the KC Royals.  The Royals have two new Pitchers Power Drives…turf models. There are now five MLB teams using the Pitchers Power Drive the Tigers, KC, Marlins, Angles and Diamondbacks.  There are also several upcoming professional pitchers training with the Pitchers Power Drive.

spring training day 2

just a few photos from today at spring training 

Pitchers Power Drive Straight Facts

"Straight Facts about the Pitchers Power Drive"

➢ Books and DVD's offer valuable training but nothing replaces live pitching where you can feel and hear results during your delivery.
➢ We have been doing video analysis for 10 years and measuring results
➢ When comparing pitching styles on video, instructors should always compare pitchers at the same point of delivery…for example….not one pitcher at knee lift and the other at landing
➢ Pitchers have certain styles. You cannot cookie cutter evaluations of photos and video…especially at different points of delivery.
➢ Still photos used on our web site are of pitchers that all throw over 88 MPH with their live delivery.
➢ We do 2,000 lessons a year and have used the Pitchers Power Drive for over 4 years now. This represents 8,000 lessons and we have seen and measured the results.
➢ Pitchers Power Drives are operating as good as day one in training facility
➢ Pitchers love training on the Pitchers Power Drive as it teaches them to lead with their hips with instant feedback. Coaches are hearing the same thing from professional and college pitchers.
➢ Hundreds of coaches and baseball academy's are training with the Pitchers Power Drive and have absolutely seen the results and are recommending the device to others.
➢ Coaches with teams on our web site are professionals and understand pitching…there are many qualified pitching coaches and trainers in this great country….who are focused on game results and are on the diamond day after day.
➢ Trainers and coaches across the USA are training back side initiation with hip lead. This is what the Pitchers Power Drive teaches while throwing live and with instant multisensory feedback.
➢ We are glad to see and support other trainers teaching hip lead down the mound with their DVD’s, You Tube videos and books....this supports the use of hip lead training on the Pitchers Power Drive. The DVD’s and videos show the same motion that drives the Pitchers Power Drive plate.
➢ We hope all trainers get a chance to actually see and use a Pitchers Power Drive so they can really understand and help young pitchers reach higher levels of performance.


With the Pitchers Power Drive you can pitch live to a down catcher with your normally momentum delivery with a hip lead and hear the solid auditory click feedback. This device was designed by purpose to be very low to the ground with no springs to hold back your naturally delivery. Built with the right plate weight and mechanism to let your naturally hip lead drive the plate down by normal gravitational force. No springs to assist or resist your natural delivery. Spring resistance would cause pitchers to push incorrectly or with their foot and knee instead of using their hip. The plate was also designed to move both directions with no stop on the back side. This is to challenge pitchers balance as it is a very important part of the delivery. It allows coaches and the pitchers to identify mechanical balance faults when pitching. For example a pitcher that is on the back edge of their foot at knee lift would drop the plate back first and then forward losing balance and stability to lead with their hips. The pitcher learns that solid foot contact is the most athletic to balance and drive from.

The Pitchers Power Drive was designed for pitchers as a valuable training device to put in their training toolbox. As Jerry Weinstein now with the Colorado Rockies advised me in my early years of training…..”Put as much into your training tool box as you can to work with and improve your skills”. There is not one pitching coach or instructor, book, DVD or training device that will teach you everything. Keep an open mind to learn new things and never think you know it all from experience, reading, viewing DVD’s, training or scientific research.

Train with the original US Patent "Pitchers Power Drive" as it was designed to allow a natural fluid delivery with a hip lead. The Pitchers Power Drive is the choice of Professional, Collegiate, Youth and High School pitchers.

The Pitchers Power Drive we have had on the market now for one year. Check out are web site to see all the pro and college teams that are using the Pitchers Power Drive

http://www.pitcherspowerdrive.com/

How It Works

the “Pitchers Power Drive” teaches pitchers to start their delivery from knee lift towards home plate by initiating the starting force with their back hip pushing their front hip out in front of the lead shoulder, This loads their weight back over the rubber for a solid standing foot contact. This weight transfers into the back thigh, knee and ball of foot to allow a back side initiated power drive. This initiates the kinetic power chain of throwing a baseball thus creating more power into landing. This backside power initiation with weight back creates more force at pitch landing by speeding the hips, torso and arm speed creating a more explosive pitch delivery.

The pitchers proper hip move forces down the “Pitchers Power Drive” plate and produces an audible click on the tee striker plate when the pitchers weight transfers down the mound from knee lift position. This device teaches proper hip lead; weight distribution and transfer of weight from the pitchers knee lift position with immediate auditory feedback. You can have your normal momentum delivery off the device to a down catcher.