When Coaches Change Mechanics Without Changing Preparation: The Breakdown in Pitcher Development

This blog examines how changes to a pitcher’s mechanics don’t just affect how they throw—but how they recover, prepare, and perform. Brannon Snead’s story reveals how a shift in arm slot impacted not just his pitch movement, but his body—and how soreness and strain followed because no one adjusted his training process to match.

FROM TRAINING TO TRIUMPH - WHAT MILITARY AND SPORTS TEACH ABOUT LEADING, WINNING, AND GROWING IN LIFE

Coach Leo Young

4/12/20252 min read

A New Arm Slot, But the Same Workload?

It’s easy to think of mechanics as just a technique—but in reality, mechanics affect everything: timing, recovery, soreness, and even mental preparation.

In this continuation of insights from Brannon Snead, a former college pitcher, we explore what happens when coaches change a pitcher’s arm slot—but forget to change how that pitcher prepares.

Brannon was transitioned from over-the-top delivery to a three-quarter arm slot, with the goal of increasing movement and conserving energy. But while his mechanics were changed, his training system wasn’t.

And his body noticed.

“I was never sore in high school. I was sore every day in college doing that.”

This happens all too often: coaches alter a pitcher’s delivery without adjusting conditioning, mobility, recovery, or throwing workload. The result? The kinetic chain is disrupted, and athletes get hurt—even if the new mechanics are technically sound.

Have you ever experienced more soreness after a mechanical change? Did your training adjust—or were you left to figure it out yourself? Drop your answer in the comments on this video — we’d love to hear your story:

When you change a pitcher’s motion, you shift the timing of:

Muscle engagement
Joint sequencing
Load distribution
Pitch release points
Recovery cycles

Even small changes to mechanics create ripple effects through the body. And unless a coach is prepared to re-teach preparation and build a new physical rhythm, the athlete ends up sore, fatigued, and exposed to injury risk.

What Coaches Need to Know

It’s not enough to say “throw from here instead of there.” If you change how a pitcher throws, you must also:

Change how they warm up
Change their strength and mobility prep
Adjust post-throw recovery
Monitor how their body responds

Otherwise, a change intended to help the pitcher may do the opposite.

At Sore to Soaring, we train coaches to understand the relationship between biomechanics and recovery, so that mechanical changes are introduced with care—and paired with a full-body training strategy.

Key Takeaways

Changing arm slot alters the timing of the entire pitching sequence
Coaches must adjust recovery and training systems alongside mechanical changes
Soreness is a warning sign—not a badge of effort
Small changes in mechanics can create major shifts in body stress
Pitching development must include strength, mobility, and rest strategies

Watch the full-length podcast episode:

https://youtu.be/MR4_0ZXtL0M

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Disclaimer:

The views shared are those of the guest and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. This content is for informational purposes only and not medical or training advice. Always consult a qualified professional before starting any exercise or throwing program. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned

If you wish to learn more about Brannon Snead’s work, visit Peter Boulware Toyota at: peterboulwaretoyota.com.