Baseball is a game that is widely played throughout the world today. It's virtually impossible to field a competitive team without having a quality pitching staff. Natural talent is obviously a key factor in how effectively one is able to get hitters out, but the knowledge and use of good pitching mechanics has become more important in recent years. A less talented player with better mechanics may in some ways perform at a higher level than one with more natural ability but poor technique.

The first thing to understand is why pitching mechanics are even important. There are two main answers to this: performance and durability. Those with solid, efficient mechanics are likely to have better velocity and command of their pitches than those with poorer technique. This latter group will also be more likely to suffer injuries to the shoulder and elbow due to excess stress on these joints that is created by flawed techniques.

The movements associated with throwing a baseball from the mound are extremely complex and include innumerable details. Because of this, it could take years to learn to properly evaluate a pitcher's mechanics. However, it doesn't take a professional pitching coach to learn to recognize a few key components to a good delivery.

Many people will automatically think first about the position of the arm. This is obviously of paramount importance but there is no clear agreement amongst experts on what exactly constitutes perfection in this aspect. There is more agreement, however, on a few fundamental points that are a good place to begin the process of evaluation.

The parts of the body that should be used to generate the majority of the force needed for a pitch are the legs and trunk. When the arm and shoulder are used too much in this regard, the result is decreased velocity and, all too often, a debilitating injury to the pitching arm. Conversely, good leg drive and use of the trunk results in faster pitches and less stress on the shoulder and elbow, which in turn means a lower risk of injury.

Closely related to this point is the need for balance. A balanced, controlled delivery will lessen strain on the shoulder and elbow, two main locations of major injuries for pitchers. Lateral movement should be minimized with nearly all the motion being in the direction of home plate. When starting the windup and when landing the front foot, the body should be in as balanced a position as possible.

The ability to repeat one's delivery time after time is essential as well. A pitcher whose delivery is consistent with every pitch is much more likely to have good control than one whose motion varies considerably. Of course, it's important that the motion that is consistently repeated consists of proper mechanics as repetition of poor technique is asking for arm problems.

Watching video of successful major league pitchers will make it apparent that there is no one right way when it comes to pitching mechanics. The details of this depend on each individual player but the basics are the same for everyone.