Catcher with arm strength problems.

[YankeesCatcher]

Alright guys, today I was playing catch with a friend. And he was throwing the ball so hard and accurately (long toss). That I felt like my grandmother when I threw the ball back to him. My throws were accurate alright. But when it hit his glove nothing really happened. When he hit my glove I felt like a knife had gone through my hand and they noise was almost as if there was a microphone in my glove.

Now, I play catcher. And I'm a little worried that my arm isn't zippy enough to shoot down to second to catch those speedy baserunners. My accuracy is there, but I just have very little speed.

Any suggestions to build arm strength?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Forearms, shoulder, and lats/torso. Maybe focus on those areas, but you shouldn't go crazy with it. Give yourself time to develop.

It's a bit troubling that so many young kids are on these boards who are concerned about their pitching velocity, or their hitting power. Guess it's to be expected with where the Majors have gone to, but when you're young, just work on having an all around game. Besides, if there were 2 throwing traits that most coaches would choose to have from a catcher, it would probably be an accurate arm and a quick release. That can make up for a lot, and to me, is more valuable than a gunner who sails the ball into centerfield every third throw. The strength should come in time, just focus on proper technique ;)

ps. do you wear those pads on the back of your calves to save your knees a little?

[YankeesCatcher]

No, I already run about as fast as Benji Molina, so I don't wear the pads, they slow me down majorly.

[Chris O'Leary]

Now, I play catcher. And I'm a little worried that my arm isn't zippy enough to shoot down to second to catch those speedy baserunners. My accuracy is there, but I just have very little speed...Any suggestions to build arm strength?

What I'm going to tell you may make no sense at all, but ball velocity has remarkably little to do with the strength of your arm. Instead, it has far more (e.g. 80%) to do with when and how powerfully you rotate your hips, torso, and shoulders.

Rather than focus on the strength of your arm, I would suggest that you work on a couple of things as you throw...

1. Ensure that you are sideways to the target before starting to throw.

2. Ensure that you step directly at the target.

3. Ensure that your hips rotate ahead of your shoulders.

4. Ensure that your shoulders stay closed (e.g. don't rotate) for as long as possible while you step toward the target and your hips open. Pointing the glove at the target can help you work on this, because when you point the glove at the target, your shoulders are closed. The longer you can keep your shoulders closed (and the glove pointing at the target) while your hips are opening, the more you will stretch the muscles of your torso and the more powerfully those muscles will pull your shoulders around.

If I had to guess, I'd bet that when you throw the ball you don't start out sideways to the target. Instead, you probably start out facing the target. You probably also start rotating your shoulders too soon.

Let me know if you have any questions and/or if that helps.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Great points Chris O'Leary.

Before a catcher even receives the pitch, he should be starting to rise from his crouch, and turning his body like you mentioned. It's all about saving time while maximizing throwing effeciency. Torso has a ton to do with it. Proper footwork and mechanics (throwing from ear/quick release) are a must. Solid advice.

[Ohfor]

What I'm going to tell you may make no sense at all, but ball velocity has remarkably little to do with the strength of your arm. Instead, it has far more (e.g. 80%) to do with when and how powerfully you rotate your hips, torso, and shoulders.

Rather than focus on the strength of your arm, I would suggest that you work on a couple of things as you throw...

1. Ensure that you are sideways to the target before starting to throw.

2. Ensure that you step directly at the target.

3. Ensure that your hips rotate ahead of your shoulders.

4. Ensure that your shoulders stay closed (e.g. don't rotate) for as long as possible while you step toward the target and your hips open. Pointing the glove at the target can help you work on this, because when you point the glove at the target, your shoulders are closed. The longer you can keep your shoulders closed (and the glove pointing at the target) while your hips are opening, the more you will stretch the muscles of your torso and the more powerfully those muscles will pull your shoulders around.

If I had to guess, I'd bet that when you throw the ball you don't start out sideways to the target. Instead, you probably start out facing the target. You probably also start rotating your shoulders too soon.

Let me know if you have any questions and/or if that helps.

The easiest of all is to detect coaches that have never played the position he is coaching. A total waste of time. Just how much time does a catcher have to "ensure" all of this?

Vertically load, create a cusp, heave the sucker.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

You can't be serious Ohfer. Now time is an issue? Just because something is complex, doesn't mean it has to take a lot of time to complete. See, hitting.

The goal is for it to become reactionary, right? In order for that to happen you need to repeat it enough to become consistent at it. In order to do that, you need to understand each and every important aspect. So what's wrong with trying to help him understand what can make him more efficient. :confused:

[jsiggy]

Long-term, I would recommend:


Validate your mechanics are solid (Setpro or Ron Wolforth based instruction would be my recommendation)
Start a Long toss program (google "Jaeger long toss" if you're not familiar with one)
Strength training (legs and core are just as important as arms)


We had several kids on our team add 8-10 mph with a couple of months of long toss training only.

You can't be serious Ohfer. Now time is an issue?

Time is not an issue for a catcher????

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Time is not an issue for a catcher????

No offense taken to that question.

Maybe you didn't read through what was written.

Chris O'Leary made a post hitting on some key things for a catcher to focus on.

Ohfor responded with saying all of that is "a total waste of time. Just how much time does a catcher have to 'ensure' all of this."

So I responded by saying that just because something happens quickly (which this particular action does), doesn't mean it can't be intricate and multi-layered. Much like hitting. The swing might only take less than .2 seconds, but you can talk about it for days. That was my point. That all of those things need to become habit, reactionary, something you just perform without thought, because it's such a quick action.

[Ohfor]

"Time is not an issue"??????

I suspect another who has never done it.

Ensure is the bad word. Pitch location will determine what you have to do on each pitch. You don't always get your shoulders square, not enough time. You don't always get to step where you'd like, not enough time. The last thing a catcher should be thinking about is whether his hips rotated before his shoulders.

Finally, yes the kid probably starts out facing the target.............AS ALL CATCHERS DO ON EVERY PITCH.

My point is, the post said absolutely nothing that will help this kid. Nothing that is not obvious to a 10 year old. And, was delivered by someone who has little to no background in baseball by his own admission.

Would you like to see a clip the poster throwing?

[Chris O'Leary]

The easiest of all is to detect coaches that have never played the position he is coaching. A total waste of time. Just how much time does a catcher have to "ensure" all of this?

First, catcher was my primary position.

Second, with exception of a maybe a snap throw to 1B, following my advice will not cost him any time (and will increase the likelihood that he will hit the glove at 2B).


Vertically load, create a cusp, heave the sucker.

Obviously, heaving it isn't working. That's why he asked the question.

[Ohfor]

I'll stand by my statement. Here's my evidence.

Evidence (http://www.teachersbilliards.com/baseball/2/CoachChris.mov)

How much has this guy played?

[Chris O'Leary]

My point is, the post said absolutely nothing that will help this kid. Nothing that is not obvious to a 10 year old.

If it's so obvious, then why do I spend the first 20 minutes of every practice reminding my guys to point at the target and step directly at the target.

[Chris O'Leary]

I'll stand by my statement. Here's my evidence.

Evidence (http://www.teachersbilliards.com/baseball/2/CoachChris.mov)

How much has this guy played?

I don't see what a video of me throwing (on a cold, wet day in January) using some aspects of Dr. Mike Marshall's pitching motion has anything to do with this.

What exactly is wrong about the advice I gave him?

[jsiggy]

No offense taken to that question.

Maybe you didn't read through what was written.

...


No offense taken by the summary which incorrectly assumed I didn't read or comprehend. :)

Seriously, I was asking for clarification because the facts were quite different than your statement ("Now time is an issue?") as time for a catcher is obviously a huge issue. Figured/hoped you had just chosen words incorrectly.

[Chris O'Leary]

Pitch location will determine what you have to do on each pitch. You don't always get your shoulders square, not enough time. You don't always get to step where you'd like, not enough time. The last thing a catcher should be thinking about is whether his hips rotated before his shoulders...Finally, yes the kid probably starts out facing the target.............AS ALL CATCHERS DO ON EVERY PITCH.

At least when throwing down to 2B, most catchers have time to take a step toward 2B. If they take that step, it should be in the correct direction.

Catcher's also have time to turn sideways to the target as they take the ball out of their glove.

[oleballcoach]

I teach my catchers to stay low, keeping their core loaded. Transfer the ball quickly from glove to hand(similar to middle infielders turning a double play). Pivot on their back foot turning their front shoulder towards 2nd while getting the ball out of the glove and fire. Because their back foot doesn't move and they don't take a hop/step towards 2nd, this creates a significant improvement in pop time(especially for weaker armed catchers). Thanks to Ohfor for this technique. I learned it from a clip he posted on Setpro a while back. Try it, it works.

[Chris O'Leary]

Because their back foot doesn't move and they don't take a hop/step towards 2nd, this creates a significant improvement in pop time(especially for weaker armed catchers).

It doesn't have to be a big step. Just a jab step (e.g. 1 or 2 feet) will do.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

No offense taken by the summary which incorrectly assumed I didn't read or comprehend. :)

Seriously, I was asking for clarification because the facts were quite different than your statement ("Now time is an issue?") as time for a catcher is obviously a huge issue. Figured/hoped you had just chosen words incorrectly.

I wrote "now time is an issue?" to Ohfor commenting on how a catcher doesn't have time to think about bunch of little things when completing the motion. I didn't choose my words incorrectly, you just misinterpreted where I was coming from.

My point was, hitting is a complex act, yet it only take around.15-.2 seconds to complete the swing. To explain proper techniques of throwing from a catcher, it can also be complex, even though it takes very little time as well. Time IS an issue, that was the whole point, and why all of those techniques need to be understood and practice to become effecient/reactionary.

[jsiggy]

I wrote "now time is an issue?" to Ohfor commenting on how a catcher doesn't have time to think about bunch of little things when completing the motion. I didn't choose my words incorrectly, you just misinterpreted where I was coming from.

My point was, hitting is a complex act, yet it only take around.15-.2 seconds to complete the swing. To explain proper techniques of throwing from a catcher, it can also be complex, even though it takes very little time as well. Time IS an issue, that was the whole point, and why all of those techniques need to be understood and practice to become effecient/reactionary.

Whatever dude. I've seen enough of your posts to know you're never wrong.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Whatever dude. I've seen enough of your posts to know you're never wrong.

Wrong? Trying to explain to you what I meant because you obviously misunderstood. No need for the attitude. It was a sarcastic question toward Ohfor you apparently read it as a direct question. It is my fault however, for not emphasizing the word now. No worries.