Need help increasing velocity

Son doesn’t look small in video, but strength training could help. Look at Matt Harvey, Chapman, Syndergaard etc. all big guys. Velocity mainly comes from the lower half. Look up Chapman’s leg workout routine. My god... 

have you tried a weighted ball program? Worked for me.

btw, be careful son doesn’t hang the curveball. His windup is telling right now when he is throwing an offspeed. 

Hope this helps.

We have been thinking about doing a weighted program.  I will definitively let my son know about his windup

Do you have any video from the side?

I can take some on his next game, but none from the side

I don't know, you either have velocity or not.  My 2019 son was low 80s during high school this year, then hit 88 at a showcase on Friday.  A coach came up to me and said he watched him in the spring, then all of a sudden the velo jump and asked what he's doing different.  I said nothing has changed, except more Fortnite between starts, now that HS season is over.  Aside from the joke, I said I think he's just growing and getting stronger.

I'm 6'3" and my son is just like me, which is a very slow grower.  He didn't shoot up to 6'2" at 14 and hit his top velocity early.  I'm confident he's still growing and will continue to throw harder.  It's tough, but trying to be as patient as possible.

Your son throwing hard as a sophomore isn't critical, but him improving every year is.  Having a realistic ceiling is important as well.  Based on genetics, etc he'll either throw harder or peak at a level you're maybe not happy with.  But he's a lefty which is so key and velocity not as critical as a RHP.

All just my opinion from a dad, to provide some perspective.  BTW 76 in January of Sophomore year is pretty darn good.

Good luck!

Thanks for the great story ctbballdad..

CTbballDad posted:

I don't know, you either have velocity or not.  My 2019 son was low 80s during high school this year, then hit 88 at a showcase on Friday.  A coach came up to me and said he watched him in the spring, then all of a sudden the velo jump and asked what he's doing different.  I said nothing has changed, except more Fortnite between starts, now that HS season is over.  Aside from the joke, I said I think he's just growing and getting stronger.

I'm 6'3" and my son is just like me, which is a very slow grower.  He didn't shoot up to 6'2" at 14 and hit his top velocity early.  I'm confident he's still growing and will continue to throw harder.  It's tough, but trying to be as patient as possible.

Your son throwing hard as a sophomore isn't critical, but him improving every year is.  Having a realistic ceiling is important as well.  Based on genetics, etc he'll either throw harder or peak at a level you're maybe not happy with.  But he's a lefty which is so key and velocity not as critical as a RHP.

All just my opinion from a dad, to provide some perspective.  BTW 76 in January of Sophomore year is pretty darn good.

Good luck!

More Fortnite between starts... ROTFLMAO 😂😂😂

My son had the velocity in his favor at 14-15U sitting around 85-87, then lost  5 or so due to changing arm slots I think... has recently got it back up though 😎

Maybe this Fortnite thing really does help? 😂 

My son increased his velo through hard work - core and legs in particular. He also listened to some mechanics advice he received on one of the recruiting trips he made from a D2 coach who went through his video frame by frame. Using weighted balls was something he did while in college. There's no "silver bullet" - each player is different. It's easy to spend a lot of money chasing different theories - ask around locally for and gauge the reputation of different specialists. 

brball posted:

CTbballDad posted:

I don't know, you either have velocity or not.  My 2019 son was low 80s during high school this year, then hit 88 at a showcase on Friday.  A coach came up to me and said he watched him in the spring, then all of a sudden the velo jump and asked what he's doing different.  I said nothing has changed, except more Fortnite between starts, now that HS season is over.  Aside from the joke, I said I think he's just growing and getting stronger.

I'm 6'3" and my son is just like me, which is a very slow grower.  He didn't shoot up to 6'2" at 14 and hit his top velocity early.  I'm confident he's still growing and will continue to throw harder.  It's tough, but trying to be as patient as possible.

Your son throwing hard as a sophomore isn't critical, but him improving every year is.  Having a realistic ceiling is important as well.  Based on genetics, etc he'll either throw harder or peak at a level you're maybe not happy with.  But he's a lefty which is so key and velocity not as critical as a RHP.

All just my opinion from a dad, to provide some perspective.  BTW 76 in January of Sophomore year is pretty darn good.

Good luck!

More Fortnite between starts... ROTFLMAO 😂😂😂

My son had the velocity in his favor at 14-15U sitting around 85-87, then lost  5 or so due to changing arm slots I think... has recently got it back up though 😎

Maybe this Fortnite thing really does help? 😂 

Hmmm. A Fortnite pitching program? I think I could sell this. Might not work too well, but it'd be popular as hell.

I'd refer OP to the new thread of what a scout sees when scouting pitchers. Clean delivery, fast arm, etc. 

As side note, removed from velo question, he does what many HS pitchers do with their CB... slows down arm speed.  That can be very effective against mediocre HS hitters but he will want to ramp that up to match his FB delivery for success against better hitters and at the next level.  I too would be curious to see his delivery from the side with both FB and off speed.

I will try to take some side views soon.  Thanks again 

Well. I just downloaded so I could slow it down. The bad news is that his mechanics concerning hip/shoulder rotation look pretty damn good. Bad news because I don't think there is a lot of velocity to be found there.

The good news is that he seems to be impeding his own rotational force with bad arm deceleration. Watch how is arm finishes at his right thigh and then bounces. I would imagine this is a result of having been taught to tuck that glove. Ignore that advice. While initially tucking the glove is ok, he needs to let his glove side shoulder rotate. Keeping it tucked through the delivery is fine, but the fact that it stays tucked far into and after deceleration, tells me he is getting nothing from his glove side.

Hi Joseph,

Velocity and command can be improved.  I'd defer to those who really know something like the folks at Driveline or one of the Baseball Ranches (Texas or Florida).

I think your profile listed Texas as home base.  Ron Wolforth at the Texas Baseball Ranch is a great place to start.  An Elite Pitchers Bootcamp is a very worthwhile three day event of assessment, education,  and on the mound training.  They also have a Summer program that can be a great next step after that.  Getting an assessment, understanding how to improve, and then putting in the work...those things worked for my two sons.

Driveline and others have remote programs.  Driveline is the platinum standard IMHO. 

My boys did the Texas Baseball Ranch first.  Got a solid understanding of their strengths and weaknesses...and specifically what they needed to work on. 

Good luck!

roothog66 posted:

Well. I just downloaded so I could slow it down. The bad news is that his mechanics concerning hip/shoulder rotation look pretty damn good. Bad news because I don't think there is a lot of velocity to be found there.

The good news is that he seems to be impeding his own rotational force with bad arm deceleration. Watch how is arm finishes at his right thigh and then bounces. I would imagine this is a result of having been taught to tuck that glove. Ignore that advice. While initially tucking the glove is ok, he needs to let his glove side shoulder rotate. Keeping it tucked through the delivery is fine, but the fact that it stays tucked far into and after deceleration, tells me he is getting nothing from his glove side.

 

Never notice that intill now

I am in no way an expert but don't let anyone on this board tell you that a player either has velo or they don't. Yes, strength training will help but there are some mechanical deficiencies for sure. My son went from 87-89 to 91-93 in 6 weeks, thanks to a great pitching coach who I have learned a ton from as well. As Cabbagedad stated, his arm speed is slow right now which is result of mechanical flaw in his delivery. He needs to get more separation from rubber. As Roothogg stated, he is fighting rotation for whatever reason. Improve rotation and finish = increased velocity. He also is landing on a soft front side. Landing on a firm front side = increased velocity. Find a competent, well-regarded pitching coach and he should be able to see these issues and help your son improve.