You Can’t Go Where You Already Are

Why Moving Through Range Matters More Than Having It

In today’s baseball world, “getting into positions” is heavily emphasized. We talk about horizontal abduction, thoracic extension, hip-shoulder separation, pelvic rotation. All important. All necessary.

But here’s the truth:

Positions don’t create velocity. Movement through positions does. Range is only valuable if you can move through it.

If you’re already there, you can’t go there again. And that’s where many pitchers lose energy.

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The Delivery Is About Timing Range

At its core, the pitching delivery is simple:

Get the front foot in the ground at maximum horizontal abduction, rotate violently, block, and let the torso vault forward. The goal is forward motion via rotation. But when you move into certain ranges matters more than the fact that you can reach them.

At foot strike, a pitcher should be stacked. Torso centered over the pelvis, balanced, loaded, ready to rotate. This stacked position gives the pelvis something to deliver forward when it rotates, and consequently something for the torso to vault from.

When pitchers leak forward during their linear move, the torso drifts in front of the pelvis before rotation ever happens. Once that stack is lost, rotation can’t do its job.

Why?

Because you’ve already moved into the range you needed later. You burned it early. And once it’s gone, it’s gone.

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Burning Range = Burning Energy

Think about it this way:

If the torso is already forward at foot strike, pelvic rotation has nothing left to drive. The vault is gone because the torso is already there. Energy transfer relies on sequencing. If one segment moves too early, it eliminates the opportunity for another segment to accelerate later. It’s inefficient and destructive to velocity.

This principle shows up everywhere in the delivery.

Thoracic Extension

If you extend your thoracic spine early, you have nowhere left to go when rotation peaks. This prevents a pitcher from leaving their arm behind and leveraging the reflexive properties of the fascial system. Late extension creates whip. Early extension creates drag.

The Leg Lift and Hinge

If you collapse into your backside immediately at leg lift, you burn the depth that gravity could have accelerated you into. If you’re already sitting, you can’t drop more. If you can’t drop more, you lost the potential ability to accelerate your COM.

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Staying Stacked Is Staying Dangerous

This is why I constantly preach staying stacked. Sometimes it feels like “holding back.” Sometimes it feels like “staying centered.” In reality, it’s controlled positioning that allows violent release.

One cue I use often:

Nothing goes forward until everything goes forward.

No torso leak. No early extension. No premature collapse. Stay centered so you can unload all at once.

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Mechanics Aren’t About More — They’re About Better

A lot of athletes chase more:

More range.

More side bend.

More separation.

More movement.

But more only helps if you can control and move through it at the right times. The goal isn’t to get into extreme positions. The goal is to create positions you own. Positions you can control. Positions you can enter and exit explosively.

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The Takeaway

Velocity isn’t about how much range you have. It’s about how well you sequence it.

Hold leverage.

Stay stacked.

Unload late.

Range is potential. Movement through range is power. And in the throw, timing is everything.