velocity increase

Do you have someone you can buddy up with and go to a ball diamond and play? If not, go to your backyard and just throw.

Get a bucket of balls and go to a local elementary school field. Dump all the balls at the begiining of the field and then walk the bucket out to a decent long toss distance. Run Back to the balls and begin throwing at the bucket. Every 10/15 or 20 balls run down put them in the bucket - run back to the remaaining balls and repeat, ect, ect, ect

i warm up then throw 5 buckets of 24 balls into a screen from 110-130 feet. I did this for 4 days and went from 74-77 to hitting 80 consistently

quote:

warm up then throw 5 buckets of 24 balls into a screen from 110-130 feet. I did this for 4 days and went from 74-77 to hitting 80 consistently

You added 3-6 mph in four days of throwing? I'd believe that only if you had never thrown a baseball in your life.

Jumpin Jackflash,
Is that all you did to gain four mph? I really don't think it is possible to gain a MPH per day. Are you BSing us or did it really happen?

Note that 99% of these speed stories never mention how the speed was measured. I think this kid is playing around.

I have seen a kid gain 3 mph after a conversation about using the intent to throw harder. It is perfectly conceivable the long tossing as hard as you can over a four day period will help one speed up his arm. It could easily happen if the player just never was throwing up to his potential. I hae seen it happen in my own son from start to another (5days). He went from 84-85 to 88. Just by making an adjustment.

At HS level, speed bounces around quite a bit. I've seen a pitcher hit 80 in a game, go up to 82 in the next one...and sadly, down to 78 max in the one after that. May be due to body chemistry, mound conditions, wind/heat/humidity, psychology, wearyness, arm damage, ...a zillion variables. Maybe it's just the gun.

Main thing is to look at long range trend. Zigs and zags of plus/minus 2 mph don't mean much usually.

I think that HS kids vary much more than the pros who usually seem to bring on their 92 fastball when needed. But that's why they're pros.

My son did a science project on weighted balls. After his first session he picked up almost 2 mph. After 9 weeks one could have said that he picked up 4 mph but careful review of the data showed an increase of 2 to 2.5 mph.

The initial increase was nothing more than learning how to put more effort into throwing and is pretty typical according to Bagonzi. BigHit has noted the same thing. There is no way the arm gets that much stronger or faster after one workout so it has to be simply learning how to put more effort into throwing.

quote:

Originally posted by Baseballkid26:
I want to increase my throwing velocity but I don't have enough space ay my house to play long toss. Is there anything I can do to increase arm strength? Would throwing against a soft toss net help?

Feedback would be much appreciated

Really all you need to do is four things

1. Long toss
2. do Jobe exercises for the arm
3. Run and keep your arm flexible (no bench press or if so light weight and more reps)
4. work on pitching form

You should only expect 2-3 mph increase unless you are young and have some growing to do.

quote:

Originally posted by AKBaseball20:
Jumpin Jackflash,
Is that all you did to gain four mph? I really don't think it is possible to gain a MPH per day. Are you BSing us or did it really happen?

No way a MPH per day! If a kid have bad form I can work with him and in 1-2 days have him increase 1-2 mph....but that's it.

CADad, what is your opinion on Dr. Bagonzi's book "The Art of Pitching?"

Generally positive. He has some strong opinions in some areas that I don't necessarily agree with but the book does present a lot of good information.

I think jumpin jackflash2 just forgot to add the key word week. 4imtes a week would make more since.

Agr422, I think your right. Sorry Jumping Jackflash for the harsh comments.

Nothing increases strength like repetition of good mechanics. There are many products made that may help you in your situation. Here is one example

http://www.thesportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1206213

quote:

Originally posted by Corky9999:
CADad, what is your opinion on Dr. Bagonzi's book "The Art of Pitching?"

Corky:

The book is actually "The Act Of Pitching". In case anyone is trying to find it online.

I'm with CADad in that it contains a ton of information, some is well accecpted and some is pretty far out but he does a great job translating research into practical terms.