lower release time

I had a catcher with a gun for an arm. He threw 86mph to 2B but kept throwing 2.1-2.2 range.
He was extremly long with his arm action. He catch and pull the ball all the way back behind his head. It took him about 1.2 to get rid of the ball.
Try and get a video and see how far back your arm is going before you release the ball.
Remember you want short arm action when you throw. And also make sure that when you throw, don't stop your bodies momentum towards 2B.

Before I tell you about a drill I have my players do, I have to ask this. Do you think that the tenth of a second or two will hurt you if you're putting your throws on the base? I'd take a 2.3 that's always on the base over a 1.9 that you don't know where it's going to go any day of the week. Just remember that as you work on getting quicker.

Anyhow...There are multiple things that can make a release quicker or slower. It can be your footwork, arm draw, or even the transfer in the glove.

With my catchers, our first drill in a series for throwing is to work on the transfer to help get the hands quicker and to get a good grip on the baseball.

The Drill:
a. Using just a glove, a ball and a partner (could even be another catcher), stand about 10 ft. away from your partner with both arms straight out in front, palms facing your partner with fingers pointed up and thumb to thumb. The ball will be thrown to the catcher. When the ball hits the glove, do not close the glove, but immediately transfer the ball to your throwing hand, almost in a snap motion. The quicker the ball can be transferred to the throwing hand the better. Quickly show the ball to your partner keeping your arms straight, then quickly drop it, or throw it back and get ready to receive another.
b. This drill can also be done on one’s own. Just place the ball in the glove with both hands out in front. Quickly transfer the ball to the throwing hand. Pause for a brief moment, then put the ball back in the glove and repeat. Repeat over and over again and push to get faster every time you transfer the ball.
c. Emphasis
i. Soft, quick hands
ii. Keep arms straight
iii. Do not draw hands back while transferring—this is strictly a hands only drill.

This drill can also be done without a glove first, either with a bare hand held stiff as a board, or a paddle.


I hope this helps. The transfer is where I start when teaching to throw to the bases. If you don't have the ball in your hand with a good grip on the ball, you can't throw it. Plus I've seen that this is where many young catcher's lose time on their throws. The path of the arm as it is drawn back is the next step we work on, and then the feet. I know it's sort of backwards since the feet usually end up moving first in game situations, but the feet can be the best in the world, but you still won't throw anybody out without a good quick transfer.

The transition/arm draw is a place where a lot of catchers waste time.

Years ago, my son was at a winter catching camp in a gym, playing catch warming up at the start. A Dodgers scout was there as one of the coaches, walking around looking at the kids. (All were in the 10-15 age group, so he wasn't there scouting.)

He pulled my kid aside and told him something that he remembers to do to this day. He said: when you play catch, ALWAYS use it as an opportunity to drill your transfer and draw. Don't just catch the ball, then lazily grab it with your throwing hand, and throw it back. Do it with a purpose- catch and get it into throwing position just as if you were throwing down. Then pause, and throw it to your partner normally.

He went on to say that when he sees a catcher do this in warm ups, he always notices.

Over the years I've seen my son warm up in countless games, showcases, camps, etc. It is very rare to see catchers use the opportunity to drill the transfer/draw. The scout was right - my son usually remembers to do it, and he is almost always the only one doing it.

Folks:
The reality is that glove to glove time is important & throwing velocity is also important,especially if you want to play at the upper levels.

The mechanics & "intent" to throw with accuracy as your goal are totally different than those that generate throwing velocity.I'd prefer to see the catcher throw with "intent" & then develop accuracy with power throwing mechanics.Part of power throwing mechanics is an efficient release.(Transfer/Momentum/Rotation Etc.)

IMO if your goal is centered around accuracy & a quick release, you will not reach your full potential as a thrower.

JW

PS.The transfer drill mentioned is a good one, except I would not recommend transfers with the arms straight. You want to transfer in front of & as close to your body as possible. When your hands are extended you have to bring the ball back towards your body to throw. The ball moves faster than your hands so let it travel & catch the ball deeper in this drill.

Coach Weinstein said it best- Transfer is the key. If your hands go away from your body it's too much wasted movement.
As a former catcher and current coach, I would much rather have a kid get it there in a 1.9 than a 2.3
The magic number is 2.0, if a kid can throw a 2.0 consistently he will play in college somewhere.
I started for four years at a D2 school and hit for a career average of .220, but my pop time was anywhere from a 1.85-1.95.

Your not going anywhere as a catcher throwing a 2.3. Sorry but I do not care how accurate you are. Its like saying "My son throws 70 but he can paint!"

Arm strength is critical and it can not be taken out of the equation. You have to learn how to properly recieve the baseball in order to start the process. You have to learn how to properly transfer the baseball. And you need good solid footwork that will put you in the proper throwing posisiton.

Your goal should be accurate strong throws. 2.0 accurate is the benchmark. Regardless of how good your transfer is and your footwork it takes a certain amount of arm strength to obtain this goal.

quote:

He pulled my kid aside and told him something that he remembers to do to this day. He said: when you play catch, ALWAYS use it as an opportunity to drill your transfer and draw. Don't just catch the ball, then lazily grab it with your throwing hand, and throw it back. Do it with a purpose- catch and get it into throwing position just as if you were throwing down. Then pause, and throw it to your partner normally.

That was really good advice. My son got some additional pregame/practice "secrets" from a scout:

-catch every ball thrown between the shoulders i.e. move to the ball don't be lazy and flag it..
-use a "pancake" (no hindge glove) for warmups and infield (forces the use of two hands and WILL result in a lot of conversations with scouts and coaches)
-don't hold extra balls in your hand or glove when playing catch and infield - use your pocket or the ground. Practice the way you play....
-if you're going to miss, miss long not short! Show off the arm at the very least..
-scouts/coaches will time your throws down to 2nd between inininngs, don't waste this opportunity to impress them. Let your pitchers know you don't want a half-a** pitch for throw downs.....ever.
-make sure your glove is always clean and oiled.....along with your shoes etc...

Great comments and advice. You need to do the drills as others have said to work on a release time and accuracy because they are important but they are just fine tuning what's important - having a hose.

College Parent - those are some good things but the one that stands out at me is the making sure you do a game type throwdown during warmups. Most catchers don't realize how important this is. They don't understand they might not get a great chance to make a good throw during a game. The runner may get a good jump, ball in the dirt, hit and run, bad transfer and other things that keep you from making a great throw for a scout to see.

Shut the running game down during infield before the game. If you have a hose you want to show it off because you are proud of it. You worked your butt off your whole baseball life to get it so show the darn thing off. Let everyone in the ball park know that they can run if they want but they will be hosed if they do. Its your opportunity to show what you have.

Between innings let it fly. Its an opportunity to practice what you are going to do that inning if someone tries to run. I also like a catcher who shoots the baseball back to the pitcher after every pitch. Lobbing the baseball back with a high arc and taking forever to do it gets pitchers out of rhytem and it slows down your rhythem. Get it out of the glove and shoot it back.

You can shut down a running game by just showing you have the type of arm that "can" throw out runners. If you lob it down there in pregame you will be tested. Let them know before the game even starts they can run but they will be sorry if they do.

College coaches are looking for arm strength. They have catching coaches that can work on your transfer and your footwork. If they thought they could teach kids college level arm strength then they wouldnt take radar guns to scout pitchers.

quote:

making sure you do a game type throwdown during warmups. Most catchers don't realize how important this is.

Couldn't agree more. I am always amazed when I see a catcher not use the between inning opportunity to make a good throw. For one, you don't know who might be watching. For two, it is another opportunity to drill the footwork, transition, etc.

Lot of different opinions about where the transfer takes place. Some like it out front while some like it close to the body. Alot will depend where you catch the pitch.

Some catchers are taught to catch the ball out front with the left elbow in front of the knee and the arm bent at about 45 degrees. Also teach a glove turn/drop while the pitchre is in motion just relax the glove. Most current MLB and college catchers were taught this way. Never catch with a straight arm; just asking for problems and your glove will be slow.

Some catchers are taught to catch the ball deeper in the zone and catching the ball in the distance between the knees and chest; elbow bent at about 90 degrees. Very common with Latin American trained catchers.

Have someone videotape you during practice or a game. Pick the tape apart on the things you see good and bad. Trust me, you will look different on tape than what you imagine you look like.

Personally, I teach the out front style where the transfer isn't quite so close to the body and focus alot on proper footwork during the the transfer. One without the other doesn't get the job done.

Another reason I prefer the elbow out front is I see too many catchers getting passive in their blocking and glovework when they focus too much on the ball getting deep. Often they don't beat the ball to the spot with their glove and cost their pitcher borderline strikes.

Number one rule is the ball never drops below the height where you caught. Straight from the glove back to the c***ked position; never circle the arm.
Master your footwork...no steps or shuffles forward trying to gain ground. Be sure if you jump pivot your right foot isn't going too far forward or left of your center line. When weight training don't just focus on how much you squat but also do plyometrics to maintain quickness/speed.

Long toss helps catchers alot in keeping their arms stay stretched out and in developing the all the muscles fully. My HS catchers throw a minimum of 200 ft before a game and then throw with what someone defined as "intent" on the way back in. By the way, nobody throws hard without intent....just because it looks effortless doesn't mean they aren't trying to throw hard.

Alot of different ways to play the position and all can be successful. Experiment and find what works best for you and then master it. The worst thing a coach can do is try to cookie cut their players to the same exact style or method. This Fall is the time to improve...the work you put in when no one is watching is what makes the difference.

I've rambled enough...work hard and Good Luck.

I love Coach May's remarks about attributes of a catcher. As a former catcher in the minors, I was always trying to "pop" between innings and always back to the pitcher with authority. Sends a message!
I have a 2010 son with a 1.95 pop and accuracy and I remind him of this regularly. "You never know who is watching"....including the other team!

Thank you. My son is also a catcher. I taught him at a young age to take it as a personal challenge when someone tried to run on him. I also told him when he got where he needed to be he would need it less.

I understand that most stolen bases are taken on pitchers. But I can assure you if a catcher shows a great arm to second base the coach in that box will think twice regardless.

Its just like blocking the ball. If your letting balls in warm ups , when no one is on , in bull pen sessions get by you how do you all of a sudden turn on the switch when you need to block everything? No your approach should be one of taking it personal that nothing ever in any situation gets by you. And you should approach your throwing with the same mentality. Thats just my opinion.

When you make it to the show and the Skipper wants you to limit your chances of getting hurt let him tell you its ok. Until you do I think you should approach every throwing opportunity and every blocking opportunity as a personal challenge that you relish.