The feeling

I threw into the 90's mph in college and pro ball. No, tingling is not normal, nor should it be an indication of effort or an end-goal when trying to throw harder. What does your son say if/when you talk to him about his performances at these showcases?

Thanks for the reply. Truthfully, I've never asked him if he absolutely was throwing his hardest during the showcase. I do remind him pretty regularly that when he's throwing from the infield position to 1B (during the fielding portion of a showcase/camp) that he is being gunned on his throws over, so make sure that he throws hard. Again, his velo readings always seem to be in the same vicinity whether he's just thrown a fastball on the mound or an infield throw from 3B, so maybe that's his tops right now.

Call me crazy, but it just doesn't "appear" like he's really trying to throw it that hard especially when on the mound. I realize that through cleaner mechanics and so forth that he could probably see an increase in velo, but I guess I'm just trying to determine for myself if he's really "bringing it." I guess I would just need to sit him down and ask him!

Thanks again Steve!

Just curious, do you think that Nolan Ryan looked like he was trying to throw hard? It just might be you are too close to "the problem"..if there is one.

Bringing on the mustard at a showcase is a good way to get an injury. You should NEVER tell your son to throw harder than what is natural or normal for him.

Your son may have a loose arm, which could be that he has a lot more in the tank than his age or body is allowing him to do at this time (why he doesn't appear to be throwing as hard as you would like him to) or he has a max arm (which may mean he will never throw as hard as you want him to). A good pitching coach could make a few tweaks that could raise his velo. Tingling, as SE states is NOT normal.

Other than that, I'd leave him alone with the throw as hard as you can comments and get him on a good conditioning and throwing program to strengthen his arm and raise his velo.

I have had the same thoughts about son when I see him pitch or make a throw from third base. It never seems to me that he is throwing his hardest. I am nosey and ask him all the time is he throwing as hard as he can. His answer is yes. When I ask other fathers if son throws hard they all say yes. So - what do I know. I put it to the fact that us fathers may never be satisfied. I also think some athletes are so smooth that they look like they are not going 100%.

Thanks for the thoughts!

TPM: Appreciate your concern for our son's arm. Let me mention something that I haven't said yet. One of the first showcases son attended, his IF velo was shown like 68 mph. We spoke after the completion of that event and he didn't realize at the time that he was being gunned to see how strong/weak his arm was. I explained to him that at least on paper, it would seem to anyone who viewed the results that he didn't have a very strong arm from the infield. Hence, my recommendation for him to "throw" the ball with something on it. Maybe my use of the phrase "bringing on the mustard" gave an impression that I encouraged him to throw it harder than he's ever thrown it before?!? FALSE!!

Gimages: Your words are encouraging and seem almost to the "T" as to what I'm thinking may be the case here. Many other fathers tell me from time to time that son has a strong arm. Maybe I am the type that may be tough to satisfy, but I don't think so. I just have a feeling that he "may" be holding back just a little?!? Do I think he'll ever throw 90? I don't know...doubt it! Do I think he can throw harder than 81 mph? Yes...but he's not yet! I will be patient with it as I realize it's not all about velo!!!~

mofireman,
I understand what you meant now.

That tingling feeling that you speak of, does your son have it?

How old is your son.

quote:

Originally posted by BOF:
Just curious, do you think that Nolan Ryan looked like he was trying to throw hard? It just might be you are too close to "the problem"..if there is one.

Here are a couple different angles of Ryan's delivery to add to this discussion. I do think it looks like he was trying to throw hard ... but there's no question that his mechanics were smooth. Enjoy the pics...

TPM: No, our son does not ever get the "tingling feeling" that I mentioned when I started this thread. I can just remember when I was a kid (10, 11, 12 yo) that there were a few times when I threw something as hard as I could (sometimes out of frustration- ha) that there was a sort of a tingly feeling in my throwing arm. This feeling never, ever lasted longer than two seconds and I never had any ill-effects afterwards either. I suppose there could be 10 reasonable explanations as to why my arm felt like that. I guess I was just curious if it ever felt that way to a guy whose arm was moving at 100 mph or if their arm just feels "normal" when throwing at that velo. I suppose that when everything is moving in unison, like it's supposed to, that there may not be a lot of feeling or symptoms to describe.

SE: Thanks for the video clips of Nolan. Man, he is very smooth!

P.S. Our son just turned 17 last week. He is a HS Junior. I know~~He has plenty of time to get stronger and improve his velo. This was more a question of effort than capability and I know without seeing him, you really don't know.

mofireman,

I know of the feeling you're talking about. I used to get it too. It's from NOT warming up properly prior to throwing very hard.

This is from your ulnar nerve "not liking" what you are doing to it.

I would sometimes get it to a point where the tips of my fingers would feel cold.

Not smart... but being young and dumb...that's what you do sometimes. It will happen if you're just walking around, and pick up a rock or something and throw it as hard as you can (i.e not warming up prior).

I would recommend that this NOT be a goal for your son to achieve.

Thanks Rob! That was my guess too, some type of nerve not appreciating what I was doing.

I certainly wouldn't ask my son to throw so hard that he would get this feeling. I'm smarter than that, believe me.

Was primarily just curious if anyone else ever experienced this same feeling.

RobV is correct that is stressing the ulnar. Many who have arm problems that is the sensation they describe.