Every coach has said it. Every pitcher has heard it.
“You’ve got to throw strikes!”
“It’s all in your head.”
“Just focus harder.”
And maybe the most frustrating one of all:
“You’ve got to be more consistent!”
Well, here at The Florida Baseball ARMory, we have a different perspective. One that isn’t rooted in wishful thinking, outdated clichés, or generic sports psychology.
Here’s the truth:
Command isn’t just a mental problem. It’s a movement problem.
Let me say that again, louder for the folks in the back:
Command inconsistency is more often caused by flawed or unstable movement patterns than by mindset alone.
If your body can't reliably get your hand to the right place at the right time – even if your intention and focus are perfect – you will miss. And if you do hit your target, it will often be a coincidence, not a repeatable process.
So let’s dig into the real reasons why pitchers struggle with command – and more importantly, how you can fix it.
The Illusion of Repeatability
Most pitching coaches talk about command like it’s the result of perfectly repeating your delivery.
But here’s the kicker:
You can’t repeat your delivery. Not exactly. Not ever.
The human body isn’t a machine. Even at the highest levels, movement variability is inevitable.
The goal is not identical repetition. The goal is functional similarity – finding a window of consistency that allows you to deliver the ball with the same release conditions (timing, orientation, location) despite subtle changes upstream.
So if you want consistent command, you don’t need to eliminate variability, you need optimize it.
You need to build a body that can adapt – one that can self-organize under the constraints of each pitch, each mound, and each situation.
That starts with better movement.
The Hidden Power of the Pelvis
In a video I recently shared (you can watch it here), I talked about one of the most underrated pieces of the command puzzle:
Pelvic control. 
At The ARMory, we’ve found that holding an isometric hinge during the load and ride phase gives the pelvis a chance to stay tilted and stable just long enough for the arm and trunk to make small but critical adjustments.
Why is that important?
Because when the pelvis flattens too early, you lose that stability. The hand arrives late. The ball leaks arm-side and up. And now you’re 2-0 with your coach glaring at you from the dugout.
By holding the hinge for a few extra milliseconds, you create a buffer zone for adjustments. You give your body just enough time and tension to coordinate the rest of the sequence and get your hand where it needs to be.
But it doesn’t stop there.
The Front Door Must Close
Let’s talk about something I covered in detail in this blog: Authentic Extension and the Secrets of the Pelvis.
We discovered that another major cause of command issues (especially glove-side misses or “yanks”) is the failure to stop the front of the pelvis in the transverse plane after foot plant.
Translation:
If your lead hip doesn’t stop rotating, your trunk can’t rotate around it effectively.
And if your trunk can’t rotate, your arm can’t get to authentic extension – the holy grail of command, velocity, and arm health.
Authentic extension isn’t just reaching out at release. It’s a full-body phenomenon built on proper pelvic control, isometric tension, and trunk rotation.
If you can’t stop the pelvis, you can’t rotate the trunk.
If you can’t rotate the trunk, you can’t consistently find the release point.
If you can’t find the release point, you can’t command the ball.
Simple as that.
Stop Nibbling. Use the Middle.
Now, let’s talk about approach. Because even with perfect movement, your strategy matters.
A dear friend of mine – an MLB pitching coach – ran a deep-dive analysis of their team's Hawkeye data. What he found was nothing short of revolutionary:
Pitches thrown in an 8″x8″ square dead-center in the strike zone yielded an 88% positive outcome for the pitcher.
Let that sink in.
Almost 9 out of 10 pitches right down the middle worked out in the pitcher’s favor.
The reason? Hitters aren’t as good as you think. They take. They foul off. They miss. And when you're ahead in the count, the odds tilt even more dramatically in your favor.
So why are we still trying to paint the black like it’s 1998?
It’s time to stop nibbling.
Aim for the middle.
Move better.
Let your body make the micro-adjustments it needs.
And trust that if you miss, you’ll still land in the zone – or on the edge.
And if you hit the middle?
You still win 88% of the time.
The Confidence-Command Feedback Loop
Here’s what most pitchers get wrong:
They think they need to “feel confident” before they can command the ball.
Wrong.
Confidence is the result of good movement and positive outcomes. Not the prerequisite.
When you train your body to move efficiently, to stabilize the pelvis, to hold the hinge, and to organize a release that creates authentic extension—you give yourself the physical tools to command the ball.
That’s when confidence shows up.
And when you use a smart strategy – aiming middle, not perfect – you start to see the results.
Confidence goes up.
Command goes up.
Velocity often improves, too.
How to Fix It
Here at The Florida Baseball ARMory, this is what we do every day.
We don’t just “work on command” by playing catch or throwing bullpens until our arms fall off.
We assess movement.
We test timing, sequencing, force application, and joint alignment.
We use motion capture, force plates, and years of biomechanical expertise to identify exactly what’s holding you back.
Then we build a plan – hand-crafted to your unique needs – to fix it.
Whether you're 14 years old or a professional pitcher, the principles remain the same:
- Stabilize the pelvis.
- Hold the hinge.
- Rotate the trunk.
- Train authentic extension.
- Aim smarter.
- Trust your body.
Your Next Step
If you're tired of walking guys, missing arm-side, or yanking glove-side…
If you're sick of people telling you it’s “just mental”…
If you want to fix your command, once and for all…
We can help.
Join us at one of our four premier programs:
- SAVAGE Weekend Camp – The perfect intro for new clients.
- Extended Stay SAVAGE Summer Training – 2 to 10 weeks of immersive, transformational development.
- One-on-One Precision Strike – Elite, personalized training with direct hands-on guidance.
- SAVAGE Satellite Remote Training – Get the same great programming from home.
Conclusion
Command is not just about your mind.
It’s about your movement.
It’s about your strategy.
It’s about your ability to adjust—on the fly, in real-time.
If you’re serious about becoming a better pitcher, stop chasing perfect repetition.
Start chasing authentic extension.
Start chasing intelligent adjustments.
Start chasing the middle of the plate.
And maybe, just maybe…
Start chasing your dreams.
We’ll be here when you’re ready.
Randy Sullivan, MPT, CSCS CEO, Florida Baseball ARMory
