Tips to throw harderrrrrrrrrrr

[Lobo47]

Im 15 n im going to be a sophmore next year in high school. I'ma 6' to 6'1.5''. Early durin the baseball season i threw about 80 n top out a couple of times at 83.

The summer season is about to start n as the spring season wore on i felt like i wasnt throwin as hard but as rest came i got the "life" back into my arm n startin to feel like old times.

but i was wondering if anybody knew any great excercises to increase my velocity on my fastball n be able to control it.

I am also wondering if anybody knew any mechanics tht could make me throw harder so i can get a great jump on this season or next spring season and be able to make the junior varsity team or maybe the varsity squad.

[TG Coach]

Im 15 n im going to be a sophmore next year in high school. I'ma 6' to 6'1.5''. Early durin the baseball season i threw about 80 n top out a couple of times at 83.

The summer season is about to start n as the spring season wore on i felt like i wasnt throwin as hard but as rest came i got the "life" back into my arm n startin to feel like old times.

but i was wondering if anybody knew any great excercises to increase my velocity on my fastball n be able to control it.

I am also wondering if anybody knew any mechanics tht could make me throw harder so i can get a great jump on this season or next spring season and be able to make the junior varsity team or maybe the varsity squad.

http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/throwing/thrower10.html

http://www.baseballtips.com/longtoss.html

[tom.guerry]

the KEY to throwing harder in my opinion is "good mechanics".

These are best learned by trial and error within certain guardrail/constraints which encourage certain positions/sequences (Nyman).

"good mechanics" result in simultaneous improvement in velocity, command (consistency of release/release point) and degree of stress,especially elbow and shoulder.

Two complementary basic approaches that combine to expedite trial and error learning are "forward chaining" - see Hodge/BIOMECHANICBASEBALL and "backward chaining" - see Nyman/SETPRO EBOOKS.

It helps to do these approaches with feedback from a coach who knows it when he sees it (it = "good mechanics" = Nyman buggywhip pattern).

[Chris O'Leary]

the KEY to throwing harder in my opinion is "good mechanics".

These are best learned by trial and error within certain guardrail/constraints which encourage certain positions/sequences (Nyman).

"good mechanics" result in simultaneous improvement in velocity, command (consistency of release/release point) and degree of stress,especially elbow and shoulder.

Two complementary basic approaches that combine to expedite trial and error learning are "forward chaining" - see Hodge/BIOMECHANICBASEBALL and "backward chaining" - see Nyman/SETPRO EBOOKS.

It helps to do these approaches with feedback from a coach who knows it when he sees it (it = "good mechanics" = Nyman buggywhip pattern).

Given that Nyman endorses the Inverted W, I would avoid him.

[Postblank]

You're fifteen, already clocking in the low 80's and still want to throw faster? This is a recipe for disaster, be very wary of people trying to sell you on advice. Worry more about pitch quality for another year or two.

[TG Coach]

You're fifteen, already clocking in the low 80's and still want to throw faster? This is a recipe for disaster, be very wary of people trying to sell you on advice. Worry more about pitch quality for another year or two.

Staying at 83 is a recipe for having it end with high school. Or maybe a D3 college candidate.

[Postblank]

Staying at 83 is a recipe for having it end with high school. Or maybe a D3 college candidate.

Yeah, might as well destroy those arms extra early, right?

[TG Coach]

Yeah, might as well destroy those arms extra early, right?

When did optimizing velocity start meaning destroying arms? Bad mechanics and pitching too frequently injures arms.

[XFactor]

How does throwing 83 MPH at 15 = destroying arm?

[Postblank]

When did optimizing velocity start meaning destroying arms? Bad mechanics and pitching too frequently injures arms.

Everyone seems to have a different idea on what constitutes "good/bad mechanics" or what helps pitchers achieve their maximum velocity. There is literally almost no consensus. That, on top of my skepticism about a teenager's ability to logically rationalize the "best" route to take, sets off a nice little display of red flags.

How does throwing 83 MPH at 15 = destroying arm?
That's exactly what I said. Good job with the reading comprehension.

[XFactor]

I said how does throwing 83 MPH destroy the arm, as you implied that it would

You also said trying to improve on that is a recipe for disaster. How so?

As TG said, it's a recipe for staying at the HS or D3 level.. usually

[Postblank]

I said how does throwing 83 MPH destroy the arm, as you implied that it would
Keep trying, you're so close.

"You're fifteen, already clocking in the low 80's and still want to throw faster?"

You also said trying to improve on that is a recipe for disaster. How so?I was surmising that the scenario is a recipe for disaster. Why, you ask?

Exhibit A
As TG said, it's a recipe for staying at the HS or D3 level.. usually
Exhibit B
Staying at 83 is a recipe for having it end with high school. Or maybe a D3 college candidate.

Pretty much exactly this. Telling a fifteen year old that unless his velocity improves dramatically before leaving the high school level, he likely won't achieve at the next level of play. This is also without any seeming insight into his game aside from how hard he throws.

Maybe cool it on the velocity mongering and Baseball Dad Syndrome. Not everybody is a hotshot pitching prospect blazing out of high school.

[XFactor]

That's true. But, most people are stupid enough to look at velocity and go hallelujah! Instead of what a pitcher should be based on, getting people out.

If that mindset doesn't change, he could be great, but they still might not give him a shot. It's the truth. Would I like to wish this kid the best? Yes. Will I sugar coat it for him? No. TG won't for sure. I've seen his posts. Almost makes me cry.

Regardless.... Of course he'd want to throw faster. He's stated he wants to improve.
What you're pretty much saying is: "Why do you want to improve? You're throwing 83 MPH. Keep it right there, everyone will love you."

[virg]

Yeah, might as well destroy those arms extra early, right?
Postblank makes sense all the way down the thread. Guerry makes sense. It cannot happen overnight, but in time you get smoother and that means more efficient, meaning faster (easier).
Meanwhile, learn to Pitch. "Work fast, change speeds, throw strikes". It makes it look and act like you're throwing harder when you're only throwing smarter.

Who has time in his life for a sore arm? About 10 days after setting that strikeout record Kerry Wood effectively ended his career by trying to throw even harder than that. It's your arm so take care of it cause it means little to anyone else.

Forgive me for spouting Physics but, the harder you throw, the greater is the air resistance to speed increase. So you don't get a little faster by throwing a bit harder: at high speeds you must throw VASTLY harder to get a tiny bit faster. "Air resistance increases exponentially with speed increase." Look it up! Efficiency is the only answer.

[TG Coach]

Not everybody is a hotshot pitching prospect blazing out of high school.

If a high school kid wants to attempt to become a college and/or pro prospect he has to optimize several things about his pitching. One is velocity. This doesn't mean a kid should rear back and overthrow. It means he should look at the areas that affect velocity. He should have a skilled technician look at his mechanics. He should do exercises to increase body strength and velocity.