Should Pitchers Push Themselves To Boost Pitching Velocity?
by Dick Mills on October 30, 2008
Should pitchers try to get a little extra velocity during a game or during a tryout by pushing themselves to throw harder? Or will that increase their risk of injury. And if they must try to throw harder where will that extra velocity come from. And could that produce more risk of injury?
Here is a question I got regarding pitching velocity and if pitchers should try to get "extra" velocity and if so how can they do it without risk of injury?
Dick,I am a believer that there is a fine line between throwing hard and throwing very hard. In pushing the envelope, say when players are hitting 88 for instance and they are wanting to hit that 90 mark. They will push a bit harder to get it....sometimes too hard....some times to the brink of injury.
That said...where is the line in the sand as to letting it loose. Can you please give some of your thoughts on this, from a feel perspective as well an injury prevention point of view.
Pitchers will be throwing in front of a radar sometime and well, after you have heard that if you could throw "x" MPH harder, you would be drafted/ get a college scholarship, etc.
Thanks, Joel
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Joel,
This is a practice issue. Velocity is the function of maximizing arm speed through speed of movement and good mechanics while putting the arm in a position to hit the target. You continue to work on improving velocity based on those two criteria. That is what pitchers should continue to work on and improve in practice.
Remember what limits velocity is speed of movement...not arm strength.
At some point a pitcher reaches his maximum speed of movement with the ability to control the ball to that defined target. That is his maximum velocity potential. Speed of movement for all pitchers is their limiting factor. The skill aspect is putting their movements together so they are mechanically correct using proper timing.
The only ways to improve velocity are by improving speed of movement and improving the sequencing or timing of those movements which show up as a smooth looking action.
That is why you must always be working on velocity and control at the same time. You never want to work on control while sacrificing velocity. And then at some later point when control is fine, you cannot then work on improving velocity. They must go hand in hand.
Overthrowing will normally not improve velocity but will have the opposite and adverse effect because something will happen too early. As long as the pitcher fully understands that it is not about the arm but about the body he will have a difficult time "over-throwing." As Giants Tim Lincecum has said..."my arm is along for the ride."
In fact, Lincecum lets his throwing arm simply drop down out of the glove while it just sits there waiting for his body to build more energy as it gets closer to landing. So his arm lags back a long time before it comes into play. Lincecum has said himself that he does this so that he will not try to "muscle the ball." He knows that it is the body that produces velocity...not the arm.
Velocity and speed of movement are also a function of intention to move more explosively. However, this all has to be done in the context of good mechanics.
Pitchers know how to get a little extra when they need it since getting that little extra must happen in the brain. Again, it is all about intention. But that intention must also be practiced.
Dick
