Preview "Integrated Curveball Drill Set" below   

The Best of Championship Pitching Clinics 

Module 2 - Expanding the Toolbox - The Breaking & Off-speed Pitches

 

 

In the confrontation between batter and pitcher,

it is the curveball that makes the batter the underdog.

Martin Quigley, The Crooked Pitch

Hitting is timing.  Pitching is upsetting timing.

      			Warren Spahn, Legendary left-hander

Running time: 120 minutes       
Format: DVD-R       

Dr. Bagonzi,  a former pitcher in the Red Sox organization and Hall of Fame Coach, is considered by many to be the finest pitching coach in the east - a pro's pro.  To compliment his acclaimed book, The Act of Pitching, he is now compiling a unique video resource to supplement the text.  In Expanding the Toolbox - The Breaking & Off-speed Pitches - the second in the 4-module DVD series, Coach Bagonzi takes one beyond the foundation pitch - the fastball - to give players, coaches, and parents the tools to understand and help develop the breaking and off-speed pitches.  Experience his trademark instructional technique and see why he has a multi-decade record of helping pitchers throughout the U.S. get the best from themselves, with many reaching the college and professional levels.  Recognized by his peers and scouts as having one of the strongest curveballs at both the collegiate and professional levels during his playing career - Coach Bagonzi revels in teaching the nuances and secrets of his signature pitch.

Distilled from the best of over two decades of his Championship Pitching Clinics, information from his book, The Act of Pitching, and interviews & commentary, Module 2 - Expanding the Toolbox - The Breaking & Off-speed Pitches presents Coach Bagonzi's process and techniques to developing and improving the curveball, slider, cutter and change-up.  In this 2-hour DVD, Coach Bagonzi provides you with everything you need to understand, build, and hone these pitches.  View the preview using the mini-media player above, click mini-media player to activate, then click arrow to start/stop preview, for additional content detail see below - for those using browsers other the IE:

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Module 2 - Expanding the Toolbox - The Breaking & Off-speed Pitches content includes: [Click here for Chapter/Scene Detail]

• Introducing Coach Bagonzi

• Let Yourself Get Good!! (Curveball Version)

• Expanding Your Toolbox

• The Little League Curveball

• Curveball Grips & Rotations

• Introductory Curveball Clinic

• Mastering the Breaking Ball

• Integrated Curveball Drill Set

• Slider & Cutter Grips & Rotations

• The Off-speed Pitches

Like his book, this DVD is about allowing yourself to get good, getting the right information and learning how to put it into practice.  The DVD Series represents primarily the instructional and tutorial aspects of the clinics, which have been geared to Little League and Babe Ruth levels, high school and Legion ages, and in many instances for college and professional aspirants.  The second Module of the DVD Series is designed to complement information presented in Module 1 - The Holy Grail - The Fastball as well as supplement material in his book and will be a valued addition to the pitching library of any aspiring pitcher, coach, parent, fan, and baseball purist.

 Running Time approx. 120 minutes    

DVD distributed by CreateSpace

Expanding the Toolbox - The Breaking & Off-speed Pitches

Segment Content

Segment 1 - Introducing Coach Bagonzi  - A dynamic slideshow highlighting the Coach's career and accomplishments - standout high school and college pitcher, professional career, educator and high school/college coach, professional scout, instructor and author. [Length - 2:18 min]

Segment 2 - Let Yourself Get Good!! - This segment gives you a look at instruction, drills, and velocity measurement at past Championship Pitching Clinics while the Coach discusses the mechanics of the camps and gives you critical insight in how to get good!  The Coach speaks to the importance of the curveball, how it augments the fastball, and how several of his players achieved the major leagues on the strength of their curveballs.   Dr. Bagonzi stresses that in his experience players with average fastballs can transform themselves into outstanding pitchers through the development of a potent curveball and learning how to effectively use both (FB/CB).  [Length - 3:09 min]

Segment 3 - Expanding Your Toolbox - The importance of the breaking and off-speed pitches is discussed, in the context of one's fastball.  The coach provides a review of the complete arsenal of specific pitch speed ranges and the optimal differential between them.  This segment introduces the Coach's preferred pitching style and its inherent strength derived from directional and velocity changes.  Specific sections include: changing speeds to win, two-dimensional pitching, and the importance of arm strength in throwing the breaking and off-speed pitches. [Length - 12:54 min]

Segment 4 - The Little League Curveball - designed to help the younger pitcher understand and safely integrate a breaking pitch into his repertoire, this segment includes an introduction to the little league curve, a clinic segment, and a detailed discussion of the anatomy of the pitch, focusing on grip, rotation, and arm motion.  [Length - 16:14 min]

Segment 5 - Curveball Grips & Rotations - In order to throw a curveball, you need to know how to grip it for optimum stealth and movement.  This segment details the optimal curveball grip, key pressure points and hand/wrist release angle - along with a discussion of supination.  Segment highlights include a detailed discussion and demonstration of ball rotation geared to developing maximum spin/rotation, bite, and movement along with evolution from the 6/12 drop to 1/7 out-drop and ultimately the Yellowhammer;  [Length - 9:34 min]

Segment 6 - Introductory Curveball Clinic - A overview of the curveball addressing when to learn and start throwing the full curveball, including grips & spins - highlighted by a spin axis discussion differentiating between slider, slurve, etc and showing how a breakdown in form results in unintentionally throwing these.  Includes a review of proper hand and wrist positioning and resultant rotation for drop (one-dimensional) and out-drop (two-dimensional) pitches.  The Coach also introduces the concept of curves shortening arm motion and resultant loss of FB velocity if pitch overused or attention to FB not maintained.  [Length - 6:19 min]

Segment 7 - Mastering the Breaking Ball - An advanced level discussion addressing nuances in stride length for the curveball, training on the flat vs. mound, detailed review and analysis of arm, hand, and wrist angles, finger location and speed, along with the  types of spin (quality and direction) for different curves [drop, out-drop, Yellowhammer].  This section addresses the proper development and evolution of the curve ultimately arriving at the hammer.  An integrated drill set designed to help pitchers attain proper spin quality, rotational axis, arm, wrist, finger, and stride mechanics is introduced.  [Length - 18:07 min]

Segment 8 - Integrated Curveball Drill Set - A comprehensive set of drills - curveball wrist drill, curveball square-up drill, curveball stride drill, and full mechanics is detailed and demonstrated.  In this segment, the Coach walks you through his methodology for developing the optimal ball spin, rotational axis, arm/hand/wrist angle, along with tuning your stride length, maximizing your arm speed to achieve that hard-biting curve, and recognizing proper stride length depending on individual mounds.  This segment features "Working with the Coach" sessions which distill and present key lesson points from actual clinic work sessions which define drill objectives, key learning points, and show highlights of pitchers working through the drills with Dr. Bagonzi.   The segment closes with the Coach summarizing key points - ability to locate your curveball, the appropriate differential in velocity in relation to your other pitches, and the power of the North - South style - using reverse rotations of the curve and kicking fastball.  He reiterates how a strong curveball makes for a stand-out pitcher and magnifies one's FB.  [Length - 27:03 min]

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Segment 9 - Slider & Cutter Grips and Rotation - Coach Bagonzi discusses the slider grip, rotation, and delivery, recognizing that it is a potent pitch but also cautions that it can cause arm problems due to its inherent stress transferred during the pitching motion.  The Coach provides recommendations on when and how to develop this pitch in order to not deter the curveball and maximize slider development.  The Coach also reviews cutter grips and rotations along with its use, including its complimentary uses with the curveball and fastball - he also provides a recommendation as to when to develop this pitch in relation to the curve and slider.   [Length - 19:00 min]

Segment 10 - The Off-speed Pitches - A comprehensive discussion and demonstration of the change-up - including its many grips, associated rotations, and deliveries.  The coach addresses how this pitch differentiates one at the higher levels and how it increases the rate of development and effectiveness of younger players.  Included in this segment is a detailed review of the split- fingered fastball.  [Length - 19:13 min]

DVD Running Time approx. 120 minutes