I need help-velocity

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Iknow mechanics aren't the issue because I've worked 1-1 with a pitching coach all off season. Thanks!

What are some of the things you and your pitching coach work on? Any chance that you could post a clip of yourself pitching?

we work on keeping a good base, staying closed (i used to fly open a lot), fluid deliveries, coming to a power T and location location location. I don't have any clips of me pitching but i'll be more than happy to take some this weekend

well... it takes time..... i know a few pitchers who sat where you did their hs career and then senior year early fall or right after just started pumping it up, but one thing i must say is gain some weight, you will have more on your pitch, i know saying a lot but it will help...

and it may not be mechanics but maybe the way your throw... guys who throw a low 3 quarters will exactly pump it like guys or a raised a lil higher then that...

yea i know what your saying about putting on weight, and trust me i've been trying. i drink a protein shake after every weight session, but i just can't seem to get any of it to stick

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I don't have any clips of me pitching but i'll be more than happy to take some this weekend

this will be your best bet on this site. You will get alot of feedback regarding your delivery.... I was once a 6'3 150 lb pitcher myself (heavy emphasis on once) in search of more velocity and strength. If there is anything I can do to help, dont hesitate to ask....

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i drink a protein shake after every weight session, but i just can't seem to get any of it to stick

patience....

alright, i have a doubleheader saturday so i'll get some up that night. you say you were once, did you end up putting on more weight and velocity?

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you say you were once, did you end up putting on more weight and velocity?

I know how hard it is to put on weight while growing. As I got older, stronger, and heavier I did gain velocity. Keep eating and working hard and eventually the weight will catch up with the height..... It will NOT happen over night.

As you grow you'll naturally gain velocity. Just work on being explosive leading with your front hip. Try to eliminate any hesitation in your delivery (i.e. balance point), search Sandy Koufax on youtube for a good example

And video would always be nice, someone might pick up on something your pitching instructor is missing

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Originally posted by Zachbino57:
yea i know what your saying about putting on weight, and trust me i've been trying. i drink a protein shake after every weight session, but i just can't seem to get any of it to stick

Gaining weight (muscle hopefully) is not rocket science. You have to eat more calories than you expend.

This is much easier said than done however.

If you're not gaining weight...eat more. You will probably have to eat so much you won't even want to look at food anymore. But....that's what it takes.

Lift...eat...sleep....repeat....simple.

As far as your throwing is concerned. Definately put up some video. You might not want to be concerened so much with location as you're trying to develop velocity. However...5-6 MPH in one year isn't nothing to sneeze at though. That is a significant jump.

Keep at it...it will take time.

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Originally posted by Zachbino57:
I'm a lanky 6'3, 150 pound lefty sophomore who has no trouble throwing strikes, but I can never get it faster than 68-70. A kid on my team who has a similar body build hits 82-85 consistently. I lift weights 4 times a week (2 days legs like squats,lunges, power clean and clean and jerk and 2 days arms with bench press, alt. db press, incline bench and the like)work abs 2-3 times a week and run every day at practice. We do some long toss during practice as well. Anyway, I've put 90 pounds on my squat since the start of the school year, but i've only gained 5-6 mph since last season. Do you guys have any advice for any things I could do to help speed it up? I know mechanics aren't the issue because I've worked 1-1 with a pitching coach all off season. Thanks!

What you have proven is that lifting weights, if done incorrectly, will do nothing to improve a pitcher's velocity.

What you have to do is work the muscles that come into play when you throw a ball. By and large, in terms of force production that means the muscles that rotate the torso (aka the core) and not the muscles of the legs or the arms. You can strengthen those core muscles using a program like Pilates. You also need to condition the muscles of the shoulder so that they can handle the loads that are placed on them. That can be done via long toss and via a conditioning program like the Throwers Ten (Google it).

In terms of mechanics, the key is to throw with your entire body and not just your arm. By and large that means getting your hips rotating ahead of your shoulders. That is what Casey Fossum, who is a string bean who can throw 90 MPH, is doing in this photo.



The idea is to open the hips (e.g. have your belt buckle face home plate) while keeping your shoulders closed (e.g. facing 1B for a LHP). You then let the hips pull the shoulders around.

Tim Lincecum is another smaller guy who can really bring it because he gets his hips rotating well before his shoulders.

TG they are men !

Many young pitchers don't throw hard at your age. It is important to keep trying as you seem to be doing. Be patient and let your body mature. Jeff Francis for example only threw 80mph as a freshman in college. He worked hard and njow is 90+. Don't let anyone tell you you can't gain velocity. I know lots of pitchers who gained velo as they matured. Some have it right away at a young age but many don't.

Gaining 5-6 mph in a year is nothing to sniff about!

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Originally posted by Zachbino57:
I know mechanics aren't the issue because I've worked 1-1 with a pitching coach all off season.

Classic!!!

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Originally posted by itrogas44:

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Originally posted by Zachbino57:
I know mechanics aren't the issue because I've worked 1-1 with a pitching coach all off season.

Classic!!!

ha well let me rephrase. i HOPE mechanics aren't an issue

Interest stuff - and thanks guys.
I beleive you are correct - growing cant be rushed but eat, eat, sleep train - but i do have a question

What speeds do JUCO's, Div 1, 2 NAIA etc look for
Is it always pitch velocity? Obviously if someone throw's 90 and cant hit the back stop and someone else throws 81-83 and has command and location - i would think the 81-83 mph guy will get taken?

Great mechanics, great location, command of pitches (4) - but throws 81-83 as a junior in HS. Will he get taken? Help me sleep at night....

This is taken from another Pitching Forum off of another site-

There's a huge range. It's anywhere from 78 mph to 96 mph. Generally, most Division III guys are in the upper 70s to mid-80s range. Division II are in the 80s. Division I is 84 to 92 or 93. The elite pitchers -- your Top 5 round draft picks -- might touch mid-90s, but they consistently throw low 90s.

Sorry this isn't more concrete. But pitch velocities are really all over the place in college ball.

Check out this link, the above post was taken from there, it should help somewhat

How Hard Do They Throw

wow - great site and thanks for the help

tells me he is in the mix with his speed but not a D1. Maybe he will grow before he graduates but D2, JUCO etc is not a bad place to be...

Does anyone have any comments on scouts looking for good mechanics, command of location and pitches verses someone who has velocity but not so good location, mechanics and command? Appeciate the advice as he is going to before scouts this weekend.

How does that work on non game situations? Do they tell each pitcher to throw a certain number and type of pitch?

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Originally posted by cutter1:
Obviously if someone throw's 90 and cant hit the back stop and someone else throws 81-83 and has command and location - i would think the 81-83 mph guy will get taken?

Maybe. If the coach sees something that can easily be corrected they'll take the guy 'ringing the bell' EVERY time.

As a righty you'll really struggled to get noticed by a major program throwing low 80s.

JUCOS/DII/DIII seem to take everyone and evaluate later.

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Originally posted by Doc_K:
Generally, most Division III guys are in the upper 70s to mid-80s range. Division II are in the 80s.

I have a very hard time noticing the difference between average DII and average DIII ball.

I have seen plenty of DIII teams that would MOP UP with low level DI schools.

I've seen DIII schools with their starting rotation all touching 90.

Agree big-time with thepainguy on the hip rotation. I've always thought (as have others) my kids velocity would have progressed further from soph in hs to soph in college. 79-83 in hs and about 80-85 in college despite gaining about 50 lbs of muscle and bulk.
At Perfect Game showcase in Fla. during hs PG write-up noted he gets "little or no help from his backside", which was dead right. Never could get him or anyone else to see it or more importantly correct it.
After 2 years of inconsistent control & velocities he agreed to see an instructor who thought he could get thru to him and give him the "feel" of using hips and body to rotate.
Gunned him on a jugs before he saw the guy and he was 79-85. 10 days later with just the thought of incorporating the hips and getting back leg thru he's been 85-92 (stalker) with much better control.
I have no idea if his velo will stay up there or drop down as it has in the past but it's really helped his follow-thru/control, and confidence.
Point is, never give up and have a number of people look at you. Mine's back leg was not only not "getting thru" but was actually dragging and digging into the ground - almost a brake stopping his momentum & some frame by frame video caught it. Good luck to you.