Why Pitching Velocity Is All About Mechanics And Not Arm Strength
by Dick Mills on November 11, 2008
The single most asked question from high school or college pitchers, is how can I improve my pitching velocity.
Unfortunately, too many developing pitchers are being led to believe by coaches that strength is a big factor for improving pitching velocity. The latest sports science research on pitching dispels that as a myth. Pitching is not a strength activity at all.
To improve pitching velocity pitchers must improve their ability to develop momentum while improving the timing of how the lower body and upper body work together to deliver the arm like a whip.
Giants' pitcher Tim Lincecum is 5'10" 170 lbs. and throws his fastball from 95-100 mph. He was throwing 92 mph when he was only 135 lbs as a college freshman. That should tell you clearly that pitching velocity is not about size or strength but about the ability of the pitcher to develop maximum momentum by moving his body as fast as possible under control.
Two Important Aspects For Boosting Velocity Quickly That Every Pitcher Shoulder Know
The are two important aspects of a pitchers mechanics that must be followed in order to maximize velocity and control while reducing the risk of injury. These are general principles that all coaches and pitchers should understand. Most coaches do not understand these principles of how to improve pitching velocity by mechanics alone.
- Pitching velocity is produced before the pitcher's arm starts to move toward the plate. This simply means that by the time the pitcher's front foot lands he cannot produce any more force. All he can do is efficiently transfer the forces he has produced while striding away from the rubber into landing from the lower body to the trunk which then whips the arm through. ( I will bet most coaches or instructors do not know this. If they don't then they will always be teaching from the wrong context.)
- The longer the pitcher holds onto the ball rather than how quickly he gets to ball release is another important aspect for improving pitching velocity. Most Little League, high school and college pitchers I see believe that getting to ball release quickly produces more velocity. It is the exact opposite. (Again, most coaches do not understand this.)
If we watch Giants Tim Lincecum it is clear that those two principles apply to his mechanics and allow him to maximize his pitching velocity.
Tim Lincecum strides out fast and well beyond his height. By the time he lands he is all stretched out and his arm is back and ready to move toward the target. But it has not started to move until he lands. At that point all the elastic energy he has developed from a stride much longer than his height, is all stored and ready to pull his hip and trunk toward the plate to deliver his throwing arm.
Tim Lincecum clearly holds onto the ball for a very long time because he uses a very long stride and does not get his arm involved with his mechanics until as late as possible. In fact, his arm does not even start to move into the cocked position until just before his front foot lands.
So Lincecum like many high velocity pitchers actually ends up throwing the ball very late in their delivery. The advantage to this is that more energy gets to the ball later so that energy isn't lost.
The reason that more pitchers don't throw harder is because of short strides and trying to get the ball to the release position too early.
To throw with maximum velocity pitchers must throw as late in their delivery as possible. That is one reason why pitchers need to break their hands after they have started to move their front hip away from the rubber and toward the plate.
