Arm Velocity as a catcher

Start with a simple weighted ball program. Driveline used to have a free program on line.

The Jaeger long toss is also an option.

Catcher son warms up with a 6 or 7 oz ball out to about 60-70' and then swaps to a standard ball and moves out to long toss. As a pitcher, he threw mid to upper 80's.

Arm velocity as a catcher is important but it's less than half of your pop time.  Adding a few miles per hour will not "significantly" decrease your pop time.

Arm velocity can make you stand out and pass the eye test.

From what we have seen, nothing beats long toss.  Granted, that becomes more difficult when winter rolls around...

What is your height and weight?  If you are undersized then hitting the weight room will easily add several mph to your velo independent of the throwing programs others recommend (which are also good and you should do them).  The biggest thing I have seen with most HS kids as we have gone through the recruiting process with my son is that they are undersized and not strong enough.  Getting stronger makes you faster and increases EV as well.  

@JETSR71 posted:

...Arm velocity as a catcher is important but it's less than half of your pop time.  Adding a few miles per hour will not "significantly" decrease your pop time.

Arm velocity can make you stand out and pass the eye test.

I have heard this sentiment shared elsewhere and I never understood it, most catchers fall into the 1.8-2.2 range for pop time, most catchers have a release time (first pop to release of ball from catcher) of 0.5 to 0.8. This means on average the ball flight is about 1.2 seconds. Theoretically a 7% (75/70=1.07) increase to your arm strength would reduce your pop time by 0.08 seconds, potentially more if it allowed you to get the ball there on a line rather than an arch. I have also noticed catchers with cannons can throw on tough pitches better, because the arm strength is easily repeatable whereas a quick transfer isn't always. I am not saying the transfer is not important, in fact I believe it is the most important part of the throw, however the ball is in the air for most of the pop time and arm strength is something that can be directly trained and improved while the transfer is more complex to train. Not to mention the eye test as you said.

Always wondered if people shared my point of view or not.

catcher 26;

what style catcher's mitt do you use? Ii it folded like a 1b mitt?

When you play catch do you "work" on the transfer to your throwing hand by catching the throw off the heal of the mitt?

Do you have quick feet? If not "jump rope"!!!

Bob

@catcher26

Agree 100% with your post -- here is a link to data from Driveline baseball that backs it up

https://www.drivelinebaseball....e-towards-velocity/#