I was wondering what is a good way to add speed i can hit 75 between 80 and i also would like to knoe how to throw a slider correctly. I'm 15 years old.
Thank you
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Do you long toss?
Velocity will come from two factors:
Improved mechanics
Improved strength (size & muscle play a factor here)
A truly good pitching coach (which can be hard to find) can help with your mechanics.
Various means in increasing strength are available. Weight lifting, core strength training, elastic bands, long toss, etc., etc.
When weightlifting to improve strength, be sure to use a baseball oriented workout (to retain flexibility).
Forget the slider. That is generally recognized as the hardest pitch on the arm.
Make sure you have excellent command of the two seam & four seam fastballs and a change up. Then add the curve.
Improved mechanics
Improved strength (size & muscle play a factor here)
A truly good pitching coach (which can be hard to find) can help with your mechanics.
Various means in increasing strength are available. Weight lifting, core strength training, elastic bands, long toss, etc., etc.
When weightlifting to improve strength, be sure to use a baseball oriented workout (to retain flexibility).
Forget the slider. That is generally recognized as the hardest pitch on the arm.
Make sure you have excellent command of the two seam & four seam fastballs and a change up. Then add the curve.
Good post by Texan. I would like to add:
1. Run...a lot. Distance - Helps build core strength as well as durability. Sprints - Help build quick twitch muscles...and speed kills.
2. Take care of your arm. Let your body tell you how you feel. Don't throw when you are hurting. Ice down the arm after games and then run the next day.
Good luck.
1. Run...a lot. Distance - Helps build core strength as well as durability. Sprints - Help build quick twitch muscles...and speed kills.
2. Take care of your arm. Let your body tell you how you feel. Don't throw when you are hurting. Ice down the arm after games and then run the next day.
Good luck.
...and I meant to say that Texan was right on saying "Forget the slider. That is generally recognized as the hardest pitch on the arm.
Make sure you have excellent command of the two seam & four seam fastballs and a change up. Then add the curve."
Make sure you have excellent command of the two seam & four seam fastballs and a change up. Then add the curve."
Then can somebody please tell me how to throw a cruveball correctly.
Have command of your fastball and change up before you work on a curve. Once you do this do some research on a curve. There are many variations of this pitch, as there are with most, but try to find what works best for you.
If your looking for a pitc simular to a slider then throw a cutter it has less stress on your arm.
You should be able to find pitctures of the curveball grip.
One of the keys to throwing the curve & maintaining a healthy arm is to NOT supinate.
Supination is twisting (rotating) the wrist to the right for a RHP (e.g., like turning a doorknob).
This is FAR easier to demonstrate than to describe. As your hand is coming forward in the deliver heading to release, the palm will be on the side of the ball, with the fingers on top. Keep the palm of the hand and the inside of the forearm aligned (e.g., no supination or pronation). Pull the middle finger down at release, letting the ball "roll over" the forefinger.
This is not the best description, I'm sure. Getting with a good pitching coach is advisable.
One of the keys to throwing the curve & maintaining a healthy arm is to NOT supinate.
Supination is twisting (rotating) the wrist to the right for a RHP (e.g., like turning a doorknob).
This is FAR easier to demonstrate than to describe. As your hand is coming forward in the deliver heading to release, the palm will be on the side of the ball, with the fingers on top. Keep the palm of the hand and the inside of the forearm aligned (e.g., no supination or pronation). Pull the middle finger down at release, letting the ball "roll over" the forefinger.
This is not the best description, I'm sure. Getting with a good pitching coach is advisable.
nd943,
Idealistically you're right, one should master the fastball and change before developing the curve, but many pitchers find the CHANGE -- not the curve -- to be the hardest one to master of all. I know that's true of my own son.
He's a LHP. For a very long time, his change stunk, and he had terrible command of it. He found that his curve really acted exactly the same as a change..after all, it's an off-speed pitch. And now that he's got a good change, he baffles and dominates. He's 14-4 so far this year, compared to 12-8 all of last year (with no change).
Importantly, though, DO NOT throw a curve ball without proper instruction from a qualified professional. I believe this needs to be hands-on with the instructor, not information read in print (or on the internet). An improperly thrown curve will hurt the arm and hang and be hit.
Finally, the above posters are absolutely correct.. LONG-TOSS, CORE WORK, NUTRITION, AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC EXERCISE, COMBINED WITH PROPER MECHANICS WILL IMPROVE VELOCITY.
Idealistically you're right, one should master the fastball and change before developing the curve, but many pitchers find the CHANGE -- not the curve -- to be the hardest one to master of all. I know that's true of my own son.
He's a LHP. For a very long time, his change stunk, and he had terrible command of it. He found that his curve really acted exactly the same as a change..after all, it's an off-speed pitch. And now that he's got a good change, he baffles and dominates. He's 14-4 so far this year, compared to 12-8 all of last year (with no change).
Importantly, though, DO NOT throw a curve ball without proper instruction from a qualified professional. I believe this needs to be hands-on with the instructor, not information read in print (or on the internet). An improperly thrown curve will hurt the arm and hang and be hit.
Finally, the above posters are absolutely correct.. LONG-TOSS, CORE WORK, NUTRITION, AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC EXERCISE, COMBINED WITH PROPER MECHANICS WILL IMPROVE VELOCITY.
