My son, a 2017 catcher, is more than half-way through a 10-week program and, so far, I'd attribute 3-4 mph gain in velocity. His instructor feels that he should end with a 6-8 mph gain total, in part due to optimizing (relatively) his mechanics and footwork, which needed some work before he started the velocity training program. No arm issues at all (knock on wood).
Kyle/Others...
Is there a minimum / recommended age for the weighted balls?
Originally Posted by Go44dad:
Kyle/Others...
Is there a minimum / recommended age for the weighted balls?
Personally, I've never started a kid on weighted balls until around 14/15. It's for the same reason I wouldn't put them on weight training. I just don't think, due to the goal of such programs, any benefit to be had.
Funny story BUT sad. My son did the program for 7 weeks and we put him on a stalker gun. He hit 95 MPH several times. He has since stopped the program and told me "leave me alone, I know what I am doing". He does not want me involved in his coaching so he can make up whatever he wants. Since he has stopped he has maybe thrown once a week and is getting lazy. Too bad some waste talent. I will bnever understand it.
I agree with roothog and would take it a little further. Genetic age is probably more important, so I would wait until the growth plates had solidified.
We use PlyoCare balls with kids as young as 10. But for high-intensity throwing with weighted balls (which is what this thread is about), we don't start them until 14 at the earliest.
Our clientele is primarily late HS, college, and pros. So our crowd is a bit different than most, since the majority of instructors work with the younger population.
Thanks Roothog, BOF and Kyle.
I know its an older thread, but for those who have completed one of the weighted ball programs, what kind of velo sustainability occurred after the program was over? Given normal in-season throwing (long toss, band work, baseball practice, games, etc) was the velo lost or whatever was gained in the off season was kept through the spring? summer?
2018 wants to do the driveline (free) program, so wanted to see what occurred after the program was over. Or if some resemblance of the weighted program has to be continued in order to keep the velo gains. Thanks!
Changing my post slightly. You can buy the program online or sign up for remote training. have gotten no information on the polycare program for 12/13u player.
Goblue33 posted:Changing my post slightly. You can buy the program online or sign up for remote training. have gotten no information on the polycare program for 12/13u player.
For the youth player the program is at thedynamicpitcher.com. That program is not free.
My son did that program for 3 years and is starting on the weighted balls this week. Am also in Michigan; metro Detroit area. We'll be going to see Kyle in Goshen IN next month when he makes his yearly visit to the Indiana Chargers. Can't recommend it enough, even if you're not participating in the camp. Register as coaches and bring your son.
What kind of results did you see Editor? When did you start (what age)?
Started the boy on TDP maybe 5 days after the ebook came out in November '13. He was an 11u then.
Results? First tournament of 2014. Do or die 3rd game, mediocre AA travel ball. For son's inaugural appearance on the mound he's inserted into the bottom of the 6th to hold a 9-7 lead.
Boy fully understands the situation and is jacked. He's throwing 100% from the first warmup. Other bench gets real quiet. Their coach has to break the silence, "Ok, you'll just need to start your swing earlier".
15 pitches later - all fastballs - the side is retired on Ks. 5 swings attempted and not even a foul ball. 2 of the called strikes the catcher missed completely and they weren't anywhere near the dirt; both hit the backstop on the fly. The hitters couldn't find the ball and the catcher had a hard time too.
After the handshakes my wife comes over and bats her eyelashes at me like we're still dating, asking "What have you been building in the basement all this time?".
Great day it was. Kyle is right. Youth pitching is about 3 things: intent, intent, and finally intent. TDP and the plyos will help build that.
Most of the velo gains from TDP were played out after the 2nd season. This past year was more about cleaning up mechanical issues that the light instructional touch didn't iron out. Primarily a lack of elbow flexion at release. That required some help from the HTKC book, reading the plyo velo board from Kyle's facility pictured in some tweets, my iPhone's hi-speed camera and a hefty dose of yelling.
Plus one other valuable nugget; a verbal plyo cue not in either of Kyle's books (that I can recall) he used at last year's weekend at Goshen. Started the boy on his path to a much better arm spiral.
PM me if you want to know more about Goshen. Would love to meet up if you go. SE MI is a dead area for Driveline.