how much can proper mechanics and technique effect throwing speed

[baseball2234]

hey i just started pitching and have been doing well...right now i know nothing about mechanics i just throw it as hard as i can and have a catch with the catcher and its worked i top out right now at 80 mph and throw consistent strikes. i dont worry about the stride or arm slot or any of that. now if i learned mechanics and how to actually pitch...how much could this effect my velocity? and then if i got my rotator cuff stronger and gained mass? any chance throwing 90+ being in the class of 2010?

[baseball2234]

any answers?

[kylebee]

Significantly; mechanics are the #1 thing to fix. Many people believe that there is a genetic maximum to arm speed, which would obviously play a huge role as well.

90 mph is a big barrier to break.

[EdmondsFan#1]

It's hard to tell, the people that have the worst mechanics to begin with are going to see the biggest improvement. I've been seeing a pitching coach for 6 monthes now and my velocity went up about 15 mph, but my mechanics used to be atrocious because I didn't have the slightest idea what good mechanics were.

I'm not sure how much gaining mass is going to help though. I didn't even think that gaining mass was good for pitching, unless you mean your core. But I'm not sure how much that improves velocity.

And if you're throwing 80 as a sophmore I'm sure you have a shot at hitting 90's in your junior or senior year if you work hard enough and especially if you grow more.

[baseball2234]

thanks, and are there any sites to start off with that can help me with mechanics? i know its not going to be like learn the newest secret that can gain 5 mph overnight, but itll definetely help my arm last longer and throw faster.

[DoWnWiThTheSiCkNeSs]

Of course they do. Im not really a pitcher but when I have to pitch, I can tell I'm not throwing as hard as I can because of my mechanics. When I pitch, I tend to short arm the ball and I throw with all arms and no legs. I would throw harder if I had better mechanics.

[EdmondsFan#1]

http://stevenellis.com

Tons of great articles about pitching.

[kylebee]

thanks, and are there any sites to start off with that can help me with mechanics? i know its not going to be like learn the newest secret that can gain 5 mph overnight, but itll definetely help my arm last longer and throw faster.

Siggy's Throwing Clips (http://imageevent.com/siggy/throwing/pro?n=0&z=9&c=4&x=0&m=12&w=0&p=36)

Pitching Clips (http://www.pitchingclips.com/)

Stephen Ellis' Let's Talk Pitching (http://www.letstalkpitching.com/)

[baseball2234]

yeah i feel exactly that way too, that i can throw harder and almost like my body is blocking me from throwing harder.

[Baseball gLove]

I'm glad that the doubters here can see that 80 mph is not that extraordinary for 14 and 15 year olds.

Proper mechanics actually are easier on your arm. I started my son's mechanics when he was 7; herky-jerky was and is bad, smooth mechanics using the entire body was and is good. I did not allow my son to throw any curve balls. In my son's last session with his pitching coach, Erik Hiljus (a Jaeger Long Toss follower), performed minor tweaks in order to get my son to use more leg and back when he throws.

[TG Coach]

hey i just started pitching and have been doing well...right now i know nothing about mechanics i just throw it as hard as i can and have a catch with the catcher and its worked i top out right now at 80 mph and throw consistent strikes. i dont worry about the stride or arm slot or any of that. now if i learned mechanics and how to actually pitch...how much could this effect my velocity? and then if i got my rotator cuff stronger and gained mass? any chance throwing 90+ being in the class of 2010?

What's your age? What is your size and weight? What is your projected growth? How tall are your father and mother? These all have a bearing on how big and strong you might be naturally. Then you can take your natural strength and build on it.

Then sometimes pitchers hit a wall at a certain speed. They can only physiologically throw so hard. When I pitched there was absolutely nothing I could do to get over 85-88 other than a strong tail wind. Even at 6'1" I could only put on so much bulk with a point guard's body frame, regardless of what I weighed.

[Whitesoxnut]

Why would you even put a 14yo on a speed gun?

The only advice I can offer is a few days ago my kids team "14yo's" faced a big kid with very little heat. The kid however had gotten some expert coaching, "yes I could tell", and he consistently not only threw strikes but changed his speeds all game long. He used the entire strike zone too and our team was helpless against him. With runners on base, the kid was a lefty, we had a terrible time stealing against him.

Now theres a lesson in this story for a sophomore with some wisdom. I wouldn't fixate on velocity to much because as has been said there is a genetic limit as to how fast a kid can throw. "Proper mechanics", "Finesse", "Knowledge of the game", "sound fitness regimens", "being a humble student of the game". These are whats going to make you a strong pitcher. Not that stupid speed gun.

Get up to college level, or say 17yo/18yo, and the speed gun starts counting. More and more youngsters are getting elbow ligaments replaced by leg ligaments and I blame those speed guns and to many fixations on velocity.