Premier Pitching and Performance

One of the biggest mistakes we see in performance training is celebrating a better metric without asking whether it actually improved performance.

Force plates are powerful tools. They help us quantify how an athlete produces, transfers, and applies force. But force production alone is not the goal. Performance is.

An increase in vertical force, propulsive force, or rate of force development may look impressive on a report. The real question is whether that change improved the athlete’s ability to organize movement, create efficient ball flight, and execute pitches at a higher level.

This is why single metrics should never be interpreted in isolation.

Force plate outputs must be viewed alongside strategy-based metrics that help explain how the athlete is creating those outputs. Are they improving force application while maintaining movement efficiency? Has the change altered timing or sequencing? Did pitch characteristics improve? Did command improve? Did velocity improve? Did workload tolerance improve?

The athlete who jumps higher on a force plate is not automatically a better pitcher.

The objective is not to maximize a number. The objective is to improve the entire system.

At Premier Pitching & Performance, force plate testing is one piece of a comprehensive assessment process that combines movement quality, biomechanics, ball flight, and strength & power data to determine whether a training intervention is producing meaningful transfer to the mound.

Because better testing doesn’t matter unless it leads to better performance.



Your training has to go next level before your game will. Train with our professional coaches to get an individualized training program that helps you reach your goals. In house and remote options available for all ages. 📧 [email protected] 📞 (636) 856 - 1107

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One of the most overlooked components of executing a high-quality breaking ball isn’t biomechanics—it’s visual focus.

Large breaking pitches require a unique blend of intent, conviction, and spatial awareness. While coaches often focus on grip, movement profiles, and release characteristics, the athlete’s focal point can have a significant impact on pitch ex*****on.

Many elite pitchers utilize consistent visual targets to improve command and shape. Common focal points include:

• The catcher’s mask
• The umpire’s chest protector
• The inside or outside batter’s box line
• A specific quadrant of the strike zone

These external cues help athletes organize movement and direct intent without becoming overly mechanical during competition.

The challenge is that there is no universally correct focal point.

A target that helps one pitcher create depth and sweep on a breaking ball may cause another athlete to manipulate the baseball or alter their release pattern. This is why coaching should extend beyond teaching mechanics and into understanding how each athlete perceives and solves movement tasks.

The best coaches aren’t simply prescribing cues—they’re studying the athlete.

What visual targets consistently produce the desired ball flight? What cues improve conviction? Which focal points allow the athlete to compete rather than consciously control movement?

The answer is often different for every pitcher and every pitch type.

When developing breaking balls, don’t just evaluate the movement profile. Evaluate the athlete’s focus strategy. Sometimes the difference between an average breaking ball and an elite one is simply where the athlete is directing their attention.

If you’re looking to build breaking balls with greater consistency, shape, and command, our Comprehensive Assessment Approach helps identify the individual constraints, movement solutions, and performance strategies that drive results.



Email: [email protected]
Call: (636) 856-1107
Learn more at premierpitching.com

Most athletes think they’re training hard.

The problem? They're often training the wrong things.

The non-negotiables for building an individualized development plan that actually works:

✅ Movement Quality
✅ Biomechanics
✅ Ball Flight
✅ Strength & Power

Our system analyzes all four using the most advanced tools available. Why?

Because two athletes can walk through the door with the exact same goal and nearly identical physical profiles—and need completely different solutions to get there.

That's the mistake most development systems make.

They prescribe before they diagnose or before they understand the diagnosis.

The only way to truly know what an athlete needs is through an in-depth assessment of every critical area of development listed above.

That's exactly why Power 4 programs and Professional organizations are using our system to build player development models that produce measurable results.

Stop guessing. Start assessing.

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