All About Pitching

Are Pitchers Born With Pitching Velocity Or Can It Be Taught

A common question that is often asked about pitching velocity is whether pitchers are born with it or can it be taught?

Here is a question I got from the father of a 13 year old pitcher.

"While many of us hope that with videotaping, bullpens and regular practice sessions we can bring on the heat, maybe we are just born with it. Let’s use a sprinter as an example. Speed can be taught to some extent but without the physiology needed no amount of mechanical adjustments and videotaping will turn your 14 second hundred into a 10-second burner. The unanswered question is how much can we reasonably expect to improve from our starting point? How much can we expect the puberty thing to speed up our hypothetical sprinter? My son is 13 and nowhere near shaving while some of his peers are already well on their way. My guess is that testosterone levels in professional sports are higher than the average population even without Balco. If a sprinter is slow before puberty, will they be slow after puberty? I'm sure there is a book out on this subject."   Paul

Here is my response:

Certainly top sprinters or faster kids may be born with a certain level of extra capacity to move faster. However, in pitching you are doing something different. You are training a specific movement skill and pattern in order to get the pitcher to move as fast as possible from one leg to the other. That requires training and practice and a full understanding of how to build momentum...as quickly as possible.

If you train slow you will be slow.

In pitching you must remove any slow movements and hesitation.

Keep in mind that 13 is that awkward stage or kind of "gooney" stage where you must be tuned into their bodies going through changes. This is when it is especially important to watch their mechanics.

It is also important to understand that pitching velocity is fully dependent on how the pitcher uses his full body rather than just his arm. If he tries to get velocity from just his arm instead of his body he may end up with an injury or maybe even surgery.

What we have learned is that pitching velocity has little to do with arm strength. http://pitching.nexcess.net/product/complete-pitching-instruction-program/

You must also consider psychology as an important element. Speed intent provides more speed. What is the intention of the pitcher to move faster and what is the technique that is being trained and practiced.

If you do not practice to move faster you will remain slow. If you do not train using explosive movements and full body exercises as fast as possible you are not training to be faster.  Thus why a lot of weight training is not highly beneficial for pitchers. It simply teaches them to move their body slow. http://pitching.nexcess.net/product/conditioning-the-pitcher-for-power/

If you are not practicing enough from the mound at full game intensity over many volumes of pitches, then you are not going to see maximum response and improvement in body movement speed.

The main element that prevents pitchers from throwing faster is - speed of movement.

Pitching Velocity's Limiting Factor Is How Fast The Pitcher Can Move...It's Not Arm Strength

When pitchers reach a ceiling of velocity...speed of movement is the limiting factor.  A human being can only move so fast and not faster.

Each pitcher then has their own ceiling of speed and can only move so fast and no more.

But make sure you are truly testing what that ceiling is.

Also remember, you cannot measure growing kids with any accuracy. They all develop at their own pace. Some are early developers and some are late developers.  With each group it is important to continue to teach better skills.

Dick

Don't Forget - My Complete Pitching Instruction program is the only complete "pitching clinic" home study course available that is backed by real sports science research. It's designed for parents, coaches, and players of all ages. Whether you're a pitcher just starting out, or an advanced pitcher looking for answers, we make it simple to understand for both the parent and pitcher.

"Dick’s program has given me the knowledge I need as a pitching coach to help young people succeed. I highly recommend it to any pitcher Little League through college. From mechanics to conditioning to the mental aspect, everything he does is top notch. His program helped our pitchers go 29-1, have a 0.80 ERA last season, and win a State Championship."

Banks Faulkner, Gilbert Indian Baseball, Gilbert, SC

If you're serious about improving pitching performance without risking arm injury or worse reserve your copy of the Complete Pitching Instruction DVD Set today!