How to build velocity?

[Tinyballer]

Hey i am 15 and throw high 70 to low 80s i was wondering how to i further build my velocity. I was wondering if anyone could also give me a program for weighted baseballs because i myself have also bought some of those and is looking to build velocity though there. but i was wondering if there is anyother way to build velocity that you guyz could tell me to further increase it. I was also wondering if for the next three years until i turn 18 if i could ever become a real power pitcher who can throw 98mphs?

[Jake83]

Hey i am 15 and throw high to low eighties i was wondering how to i further build my velocity. I was wondering if anyone could also give me a program for weighted baseballs because i myself have also bought some of those and is looking to build velocity though there. but i was wondering if there is anyother way to build velocity that you guyz could tell me to further increase it. I was also wondering if for the next three years until i turn 18 if i could ever become a real power pitcher who can throw 98mphs?


Work your legs only

[19rocks]

work hard on your legs and abdominal area, I personally don't recommend using weighted baseballs, i've heard good things bout them but mostly bad. cant really say if you can be a power pitcher, depends on how hard you work at it, 98 is extremly hard to get to.

[MLB Bound 2008]

Hey i am 15 and throw high 70 to low 80s i was wondering how to i further build my velocity. I was wondering if anyone could also give me a program for weighted baseballs because i myself have also bought some of those and is looking to build velocity though there. but i was wondering if there is anyother way to build velocity that you guyz could tell me to further increase it. I was also wondering if for the next three years until i turn 18 if i could ever become a real power pitcher who can throw 98mphs?A way to get better velocity would be to run sprints and long runs to help build up your lungs. Along with running, pitch a lot, 3-5 times week, 30-50 pitches a day. Also, when you warm up, throw 50 percent then just keep increasing a little, dont jump from about throwing regular to pitching as hard as u can, warm up slowly and push of hard of the rubber...hope this helps man

[hiddengem]

I was also wondering if for the next three years until i turn 18 if i could ever become a real power pitcher who can throw 98mphs?

What every you do..be very careful and do your homework. There are very very few people in this world that can throw a ball 90mph let alone 98mph. I would suggest alot of long toss, core and trunk work, leg work. If you are a pitcher and only a pitcher I would stay away from alot of chest work. Keep your upper body nice and loose.

[Coach45]

What every you do..be very careful and do your homework. There are very very few people in this world that can throw a ball 90mph let alone 98mph. I would suggest alot of long toss, core and trunk work, leg work. If you are a pitcher and only a pitcher I would stay away from alot of chest work. Keep your upper body nice and loose.

Agreed, to a point. At age 15 there is an even chance you have an open growth plate in your elbow. I know a 15 year old who fractured this growth plate in summer 2005, simply playing catch. He is healing from the surgery and, possibly, will be able to throw again next summer. When an injury like this happens, as the fracture heals, it also closes the growth plate, robbing you of adult bone growth.

If you don't understand what a growth plates are, read about them or ask questions.

At 15 years old you would be well off to play basketball in the off-season, or go swimming.

[hiddengem]

Agreed, to a point. At age 15 there is an even chance you have an open growth plate in your elbow. I know a 15 year old who fractured this growth plate in summer 2005, simply playing catch. He is healing from the surgery and, possibly, will be able to throw again next summer. When an injury like this happens, as the fracture heals, it also closes the growth plate, robbing you of adult bone growth.

If you don't understand what a growth plates are, read about them or ask questions.

At 15 years old you would be well off to play basketball in the off-season, or
go swimming.

Thats fine too. But regardless the kid has to play and has to throw.

[Coach45]

Thats fine too. But regardless the kid has to play and has to throw.

You bet. (I can't believe it, I tried to post 'you bet' and I actually got a message that said my post was too short and had to be at least ten characters long so I'm taking up server space and making dead certain that I've got at least ten characters in my post. It's a conspiracy. I finally write something less than an essay and the computer rejects me. That'll teach me to be concise like my technical writing professor always hounded me about. And I still haven't learned. Go figure.)

[RottenGazebo]

You bet. (I can't believe it, I tried to post 'you bet' and I actually got a message that said my post was too short and had to be at least ten characters long so I'm taking up server space and making dead certain that I've got at least ten characters in my post. It's a conspiracy. I finally write something less than an essay and the computer rejects me. That'll teach me to be concise like my technical writing professor always hounded me about. And I still haven't learned. Go figure.)
Yeah, I know, why is that?

[RottenGazebo]

Work your legs only
I have to disagree with this. It is important to work all areas of the body. However I have only worked my UPPER BODY the past few weeks and can see my velocity raising, and I can throw further than I ever could.

[tominct]

I have to disagree with this. It is important to work all areas of the body. However I have only worked my UPPER BODY the past few weeks and can see my velocity raising, and I can throw further than I ever could.

I think many would be in agreement with Hiddengem. Upper body strength and mass is by no means a prerequisite for good velocity, and may in fact be a detriment. Not many pitchers have upper bodies like outfielders, yet many throw very hard. Focus on your legs and your core (midsection). The legs are your foundation and your core is just that, your core. That is where much of one's strength comes from and it is important in all sports, I would imagine.

Now, considering that, you need to get good information about mechanics. Steve Ellis has what appears to be a good site.

http://www.thecompletepitcher.com

Perhaps some will send you elsewhere, that's fine. I suppose there are lots fo theories out there, Dick Mills has a website where he sells his program, but I have found that he is not held in very high regard by the regular posters here.(As, it has been impressd upon me, are others in the hitting realm) Use video if you can to analyze your delivery and work hard.

Now a word of caution, and I don't think what I am about to say will be met with much criticism, but I have been surprised before, so you never know.
You may have the best mechanics, be in the best possible physical condition, work as hard as humanly possible, and yet never reach the 90mph plateau, not to mention the nearly unheard of 98mph. To accomplish this you must have all or nearly all of the aforementioned elements PLUS top-of-line-genetics. Without that "lightning bolt for right arm" as Crash Davis put it, you won't see those numbers. And there is no shame in that, none whatsoever.

It is important to set realistic, ambitious, incremental goals. Perhaps a reasonable goal might be to become a regular starter on your High School team by your junior year, or maybe your senior year. Perhaps you are already, if so that's great. Once you reach that goal, set another, more challenging goal. And so on and so on. If you are throwing 98 in High School you're probably going to sign, or get some money for school for sure, (provided you can throw strikes) but realistically that is unlikely. But this in no way means you cannot be an effective pitcher for your High School team, or perhaps a college team sometime down the road. Then if things fall into place, who knows. Remember to have fun in the pursuit!

[chisox2k5]

vitamin s or palmeiros b12

[Uncle Dak]

Get off this board and go get lessons from a high school pitching coach that is up to date on the latest pitching mechanics.

[bbjunkie]

You bet. (I can't believe it, I tried to post 'you bet' and I actually got a message that said my post was too short and had to be at least ten characters long so I'm taking up server space and making dead certain that I've got at least ten characters in my post. It's a conspiracy. I finally write something less than an essay and the computer rejects me. That'll teach me to be concise like my technical writing professor always hounded me about. And I still haven't learned. Go figure.)

My math skills aren't what they once were, but I believe you hit 10.

[Tinyballer]

Well i don't think my genetics that bad cuz my cousin plays professional baseball in asia

[mateo1206]

I believe that you first have to establish a base of strength throughout the whole body. You look at Roger Clements a classic work-a-holic who does a crazy amount of ab-workouts, but you also have to notice that he is a big big guy. He has a built back and shoulders and i do understand the thought that you can get too big and bulky therefore not allowing you the proper flexability to throw, but i also believe you have to get some mass on your bones to suceed.

[Imapotato]

You can work your legs for maybe 1 or 2 mph

But velocity is genetic, which is why bodybuilders are not out on the mound

Sorry, but you may never hit 90mph on the gun

Instead, just work on control...place your fastball and change in different areas...then when you are around 18...work on breaking balls

[XFactor]

Besides doing specific training (ie. plyos, med ball, running) you should also throw, and throw often. Also work on continuing to perfect your mechanics. Until you can hit every spot at will, 100% of the time, you still need to work on your mechanics. Work on getting everything smooth and effortless.

The ability to generate the kinetic energy from your legs up through your arm will supply the velocity. The weighted balls won't work, and no, long toss will not increase your velocity. It can help keep your arm from not going through atrophy, and it can help you build up your intensity before you go to throw your warm ups on the mound, but it won't help increase your velocity.

[chisox2k5]

Besides doing specific training (ie. plyos, med ball, running) you should also throw, and throw often

word to that. youll know when all the work is paying off when you'll be coming into a game or warming up and you will be warming up throwing effortlessy and you may not feel like you are throwing hard but your catcher or bullpen coach will be like 'gaaaas'

or you'll be throwing your final warmup pitches before the first inning and you can hear the opposing dugout and theyre like 'oh ****'

best feeling in the world