Customer Reviews

Art of Pitching

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tom Seaver completely breaks down the technical aspects of pitching. I've used the techniques explained in the book to improve little league players I have coached resulting in success.

It was my first book on pitching many years ago. Here is my conclusion as compared to other books. 3 points : 1) A balanced physical preparation is emphasized. The small weight training is explained and shown even if it is now commonplace in every pitcher program. 2) The description of fastball, curve and grip biomechanic... is far superior to and more complete than anything I have seen since then. More important, experiment is emphasized with great method. 3) Tom Seaver approaches the mechanic of pitching on a two-fold way : first it breaks classicaly the motion, giving a lot of tips and second it fills it with piching absolutes that give a frame for players and coaches. This principle of a limited number of biomechanical absolutes that rules the motion is now emphasized for instance by Tom House. However, this book remains insufficient on practice examples in term of quantification over a season, on tools to evaluate a pitcher and its improvement. A lot of live examples are given on pitching strategy but a summary table depending on the count and/or the hitter weaknesses would have been more useful. I think the same for pitching preparation (amount of aerobic exercices, abdominal training....?) where criterias on age and weight, on pitching volume, would have helped establish a program. A book to read as well as a pitcher or as a manager, not a practical tool for a pitching coach program.

Just because someone is a great pitcher does not necessarily make them a good coach. What many athletes say they are doing and what they in fact intuitively do are often quite different. Similarly what the eye thinks it is seeing and what pitchers actually do are also quite different. The ideas in this book have been largely refuted by newer scientific research using computer analysis and high speed video playback analysis. I am amazed that a book could still be in publication that continues to advocate the "dip and drive" hypothesis, and the idea that the glove arm should drive down. If followed literally this is the sort of misguided information with which coaches can ruin a good pitching talent, or even cause serious injury.
The book was good for its time but is now superceeded by more scientifically based ideas such as those advocated by Tom House.

The only interesting aspects of the book are those related to how to throw the curveball and change-up pitches. However the didactic lecture about the first and second most important pitches being the fastball was pendantic to a fault.

Here's a terrific book for young hurlers from high-school age on up. Seaver covers it all, from how to grip and throw five different kinds of sinker balls to proper communication with your catcher and how to field your position. Especially welcome are his tips on reading individual hitters and outthinking them, and on the importance and mechanics of pre- and post-game physical conditioning. Play ball!

Excellent book. Breaks down pitching at a level even a 10 year old can understand. Training plans and workouts are a great routine to follow to prevent permanent injury. Every potential youth baseball pitcher and parent should look through this book

This is the first time I've purchased a product from Amazon and can say that I am very satisfied with the experience. The product was shipped out within a few hours of my online purchase and was delivered within the time frame quoted. The product was received in great condition and my son is enjoying reading the book! Definitely would purchase from Amazon and this vendor again!

It's entirely a perfect, classic reference for a pitcher. Because my poor English, I can't express it well that how wonderful this book is. But after read this book, I got the most significant improvement not only technique but also mental enhancement, even more than what I learned in seven years of playing baseball before. Compare with what I learned from this book now, I feel I have wasted seven years before but learned nothing--or even much wrong. No matter you have been an All Star or just a beginner of pitching, you should read this book. I can say, this book will be the best pitching coach of you.

TOM EXPLAINS THE MOTION OF THE PITCHER EXCELENTLY.TOM SEAVER WITHOUT QUESTION HAD THE GREATEST WINDUP,PITCHING MOTION FOLLOW THROUGH IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME.HE SPECIFACLLY GOES OVER EACH PART TO ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FOUNDATION IS AND TO ALLOW YOU TO DEVELOP THE IDEAL PITCHING MOTION TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL ON ALL YOUR PITCHES.HE COVERS ALL THE PITCHES AND THE ARM ANGLES AND CONDITIONING.IT IS WHAT ALLOWED HIM TO LAST 21 SEASONS AND FINISH HIS CAREER WITH A 2.86 ERA 3,600 K'S

311 WINS A HIGH WINNING PERCENTAGE AND VERY FEW WALKS.THE DROP AND DRIVE STYLE OF PITCHING IS THE BEST OR I SHOULD SAY THE ONLY PITCHING MOTION THAT SHOULD BE USED.IT ALLOWS THE WHOLE BODY TO BE USED FOR MAXIMUM VELOCITY AND EFFECTICENESS.SEAVER'S KNEE TOUCHED THE GROUND AND THE FRONT LEG MUST BEND TO ALLOW ALL YOUR VELOCITY TO GO TOWARD THE PLATE,RYANS ALMOST TOUCHED THE GROUND.DISCIPLES ARE CLEMENS,RYAN,KOUFAX,CONE.IF YOU FOLLOW ANY OTHER STYLE YOU WILL NOT LAST AS LONG.MY FRIEND TOSHI IS WRONG THIS MOTION ALLOWS YOU TO PITCH WITHOUT,INJURY RYAN,CLEMENS
CARLTON.HE INSINUTATION THAT THIS WILL CAUSE INJURY IS RIDICULOUS BECASUE ALL THE PITHCERS THAT HAVE USED IT HAVE LASTED THE LONGEST AND PITCHED THE MOST.CLEMENS(281 INNINGS 1987 MOST SINCE CARLTON)RYAN CARLTON(LAST PITCHER TO THROUGH 300INNINGS 1980) BOTH PITCHED OVER FIFTEEN STRAIGHT YEARS OR LONGER WITHOUT EVER GOING ON THE DISABLED LIST.HE QUOTES TOM HOUSE BUT WHAT HAS HOUSE EVER DONE IN THE BIG LEAGUES,HIS BIG THING IS THAT HE WORKED WITH NOLAN;WELL NOLAN IS A DROP AND DRIVE PITCHER DUH!!!TOSHI ALSO TALKS ABOUT WHERE THE GLOVE HAND SHOULD BE AND SEAVER HAS IT CORRECT RIGHT ON THE LEFT KNEE.SEAVER CREDENTIALS ARE IMPECABLE AND HE USED THESE MOTIONS HIMSELF SUCCED NUFF SAID

Seaver gives a training program for an aspiring or experienced pitcher from A to Z.

The best parts of this book are the beginning and the end: He describes workouts at the beginning of the book, some of which I have used, but even better is his "join me" chapter at the end of the book. In this chapter, he takes the reader with him in a game against the Cards, shows how he pitched, complete with a chart, and shares with us his thought processes during the game. This last chapter was worth a star by itself.

However, there is one critical fatal flaw in the book: He did not describe what makes a pitch move (ball rotation and rotational direction).

I am a softball pitcher, and these chapters helped me as well.

This book has taught me a lot about ways to warm-up, exercise, and much more!