How long does it take to increase arm strength?

In my experience it doesn't work that way anymore than it does with weights.

They do it and do it and then one day you're watching them play, or even better playing catch, and a thought runs through your head, "Ummmm, it seems Junior is throwing the ball hard."

And then there's a play in the hole they've never made before and he gets the runner by two steps. You look around and everybody is kinda sitting there with their mouths open.

quote:

Originally posted by NDD:
In my experience it doesn't work that way anymore than it does with weights.

They do it and do it and then one day you're watching them play, or even better playing catch, and a thought runs through your head, "Ummmm, it seems Junior is throwing the ball hard."

And then there's a play in the hole they've never made before and he gets the runner by two steps. You look around and everybody is kinda sitting there with their mouths open.

That’s pretty much it in a nut shell. The only thing that I’d add, is that unless he just sits in a chair all day and stares at the inside of his eyelids, his physical maturity is going to increase to some degree. So even if he doesn’t do anything to overtly affect his strength, its gonna increase.

Being ready in March means something different to me. It means being able to play the game without pain or injury to the arm when spring training begins.. So, be prepared by working up slowly with long toss as to be "ready" at the beginning of spring practice. I suggest you start about mid-January working slowly but with a defined plan... (say a light throwing workout twice a week at first and building to a daily throwout by the week previous to the start of practice.
Back to arm strength.... in my opinion can be increased but no one knows how much. Most will agree that some players are blessed with arm strength and some aren't. So knowing what is God given and what is learned will always be debated. To be sure, I devised a series of weights and pulleys targeting the rotator cuff, forearm and wrist at age 14 or so and my son had great results. I also suggest a 5 gal rice bucket. Daily workouts of 1O to 15 minutes on pulleys, ropes and rice bucket worked for my son. Of course no one knows what his arm strength would have been if he had done little or nothing.... If nothing else it helps keep them focused on the game.
Best of Luck,
Fungo

No data or proof whatsoever but I like the rice bucket. The popcorn tins they sell this time of year come with covers and make pretty good rice buckets if they are the right size.

Thanks, everyone.

A good old fashioned empty Wilson bucket with a top would work just as well. Not only does it have handle to carry around but you can put the lid on and sit to take a break.

Everyone has a cap on arm strength and it's really a genetic cap. Your arm can only throw so hard but the problem is nobody knows what their cap is. If you don't work at it then it's like other muscles - don't use them / work them then they never get strong enough to reach their potential. You have to go out and work hard in order to reach your cap or come close at least.

Still the problem is you don't know if your workout is truly the best thing in order for you to reach your cap. If you truly have a clue then you're going to do a workout that you can be pretty confident that it's reaching your potential but not everyone has a clue.

So can you teach arm strength? Not in the truest sense of the word of "teaching" but you can reach better arm strength through proper workouts.

As for how long it takes - it really depends and like someone said above you're just going to watch your son make a throw or a play and think "wow - where did that come from????"

Great Question!

Arm speed is what he is looking for. Arm speed is generated first with the legs and then with proper hip rotation. If he works on his mechanics and learns how to "leverage" his entire body while throwing (not just relying on his arm for power) he will have much more arm speed with equals more velocity.

hope that helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqorZLqRUm0

quote:

Originally posted by The Pitching Academy:
Great Question!

Arm speed is what he is looking for. Arm speed is generated first with the legs and then with proper hip rotation. If he works on his mechanics and learns how to "leverage" his entire body while throwing (not just relying on his arm for power) he will have much more arm speed with equals more velocity.

hope that helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqorZLqRUm0

Is that what a Pitcher's eval is referring to when it says: has strong lower half...solid mechanics?

quote:

Originally posted by Shelby:

quote:

Originally posted by The Pitching Academy:
Great Question!

Arm speed is what he is looking for. Arm speed is generated first with the legs and then with proper hip rotation. If he works on his mechanics and learns how to "leverage" his entire body while throwing (not just relying on his arm for power) he will have much more arm speed with equals more velocity.

hope that helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqorZLqRUm0

Is that what a Pitcher's eval is referring to when it says: "strong lower half...solid mechanics?"

Is that what a Pitcher's eval is referring to when it says: has strong lower half...solid mechanics?

To me it means just what it says, he has a strong lower body.

What's important is how he uses that strong lower body.

TPM:

QUOTE
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To me it means just what it says, he has a strong lower body.

What's important is how he uses that strong lower body.
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Thanks TPM! I think he's on the right track. Loves his new Pitching Instructor.