Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
Related Topics
5:00 am
Rookie
November 9, 2011
Offline
Since the inception of baseball, or at least since the inception of measuring the speed of a baseball thrown by a pitcher, it appears that the maximum velocity of a pitch thrown by a pitcher is somewhere in the 90 mph range. Very few have achieved 100 mph.
Is the human body limited to the 90 mph range?
J
5:24 am
Minor Leaguer
August 28, 2011
Offline
Obviously not. Since you have pitchers that go over 100mph. It's really based on your mechanics and how fast you move through your delivery that gives that speed to the ball. It's just that not many pitchers are not able to get the mechancis (simply because they don't know optimal mechanics) and they don't move as fast as a pitcher should usually because they can't control the speed, like they can't stabilize. So they don't pitch as fast. It's like when Brent mentioned that Justin Verlander used his lead knee extension to make up for the loss of velocity from his poor hip to shoulder separation. But usually it's power issues or they are not genetically formed to throw that hard i guess…
11:41 am
Rookie
November 9, 2011
Offline
How many pitchers can throw 100 mph? Less than 10??? How many pitchers in the history of the game have thrown 100 mph? Less than 20?? 30?? Are they the exception to the pitching world? How many pitchers throw in the 90 mph range? 1000's ???? How many pitchers in the history of the game topped out in the 90 mph range? 1000's and 1000's????
Isn't this the goal of every pitcher who wants to play in the big leagues? Scouts won't look at you until you hit 90 mph. Why is the goal 90 mph and not 100 mph or 120 mph? Why?
Is there a physical limit to how hard the human body can throw the ball? Or has traditional thinking/teaching limited/trained our minds that once we hit 90 mph, our goal has been attained?
J
11:49 am
Minor Leaguer
July 14, 2011
Offline
Hey, Joe – Read your bio. Welcome to 3X.
It's a great question. In 1940 Bob Feller was measured at 104.5 mph in the famous "motorcycle test". In 2010 Aroldis Chapman was measured at 105 mph in what was reported as "the fastest pitch ever thrown". That's .5 mph advancement in 70 years. The median average fastball among the top 100 starters in MLB in 2011 was 91.5 mph. The highest average was 95.1. I suspect the averages have been very close to that since radar guns were first used for baseball in the early 1970's. (It does seem like more pitchers are hitting upper 90's these days, but I think that has to do with specialists who only throw an inning or two – and maybe some juiced radar guns…) So, I think those speeds are approaching some kind of maximum velocity that humans are capable of for both one pitch and over multiple innings. But, who knows? There may be some scientific breakthrough someday that blows the top off of those numbers. If we can put a man on the moon…
Of course, an even more pertinent question is what is an individual capable of and how does he get there? And you're in the right place for that. Be sure to watch as many of Brent's analyses and read as many of his articles as you can. You're in for a real treat.
As the unofficial historian of 3X (because I'm the oldest), there is a pretty good book called "High Heat – The Secret History of the Fastball and the Improbable Search For The Fastest Pitcher of All Time" by Tim Wendell. He rates the fastest pitchers of all time as:
- Nolan Ryan
- Steve Dalkowski
- Bob Feller
- Walter Johnson
- Sandy Koufax
- Billy Wagner
- Satchel Paige
- Joel Zumaya
- Amos Rusie
- Goose Gossage
- Bob Gibson
- J.R. Richard
For what it's worth, I agree with the Ryan choice. To this day, I've never seen a fastball that looked as fast as the Express – especially over nine innings. Sandy Koufax is the best pitcher I've ever seen. And Bob Gibson is my favorite pitcher for reasons that Darrell Coulter would appreciate.
12:12 pm
Rookie
November 9, 2011
Offline
Coach, thanks for the reply. Brent told me I should keep up with your posts if I want to achieve my goals and learn as much as possible. Nolan is my favorite pitcher, not only for how hard he threw but for how he played the game. I named my kid after him! Ha! Thanks for the tip on the book.
Here is my dilemma: I've got a 17 year old kid who can throw 88 mph and has a terrible force vector. (this is what I saw in summer ball and fall instruction hasn't started for some unknown reason). Adding 2 mph should be easy enough, but should I encourage 12 mph? Why stop at 90 mph? Paul Reddick better watch out, I'm thinking about starting the 100 mph club.
If we look at other sports, there are "goals" that have been set by professional athletes: Golf (300 yd drive), Track (sub 10 sec 100 yd dash), are two that immediately come to mind. I understand golf has an external (golf club technology) component but still, 300 yds is the goal, is it not?
With my current knowledge, if I can get a kid to throw 90 mph, I've done my job. I want more knowlege though. I've never been satisfied with the status quo. Always been this way for me.
Again Coach, thanks for the reply and look forward to reading your posts.
J
12:14 pm
Rookie
October 26, 2011
Offline
Brent has an article on here somewhere….olympic lifting increases Pitching Velocity
It brings everyhting back to science and Newtons second law of motion
Newton’s Second Law:
States that the acceleration (velocity) of an object in motion is dependent upon two variables – the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. As the force of propulsion acting upon the object increases, the acceleration of the object increases. As the mass of the object increases, the acceleration of the object decreases.
Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
a = f/m (f = force, m = mass, a = acceleration)
Let’s put this into baseball terms. Newton’s second law of motion would state that to throw a baseball 90 mph would require 6.5 pounds of pressure applied to a baseball, with a mass of 5 ounces, for two tenths of one second (.20).
6.5 pp applied to a 5 ounce baseball for .20 seconds = 90 mph fastball
Therefore to increase an 80 mph fastball to 90 mph you must either increase the force applied or the application time. The application time is how long you hold on to the ball once the force is applied. Subtracting 25% of application time forces a pitcher to increase the applied force by 33%. Increasing the application time by 10%, increased to .22 seconds, would add 10 mph to an 80 mph fastball.
80 mph fastball + 10% more application time = 90 mph fastball
* If you desire to see the formula in more detail that explains Newton’s Second Law defining the velocity of a baseball in motion then refer to Dr. Mike Marshalls article at:http://www.drmikemarshall.com/…..-Nine.html To find info scroll down to “1. The Release Velocity Formula for Baseball Pitchers.”
2:57 pm
Rookie
November 9, 2011
Offline
Money, this is exactly my point. Why did Brent use the formula for increasing velocity from 80 mph to 90 mph? Why not from 90 mph to 100 mph? It's ingrained in all of us to reach 90 mph, therefore once we get to 90 we stop trying to go any higher and work on consistency, command, new pitches.
My Camary does 120 mph, my neighbors BMW can do 160 mph, NASCAR and INDY cars can do 200+ mph. Are humans built to be Camary's or are we BMW's that are trained to act like Camary's?
Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here but I was taught "conventional wisdom" mechanics and now I know it was wrong and probably why my pitching career ended abruptly. Now I want to question everything until science tells me different.
J
3:36 pm
Rookie
October 26, 2011
Offline
Everybody has a terminal velocity, everything natural does. Cars and man made stuff always can be improved on (turbos,rockets..etc.) you and I cant put a rocket in our arm.
I believe if you took 10 men, 6'2", 210 lbs
8 out of 10, would top out at the same (terminal velocity), if they did the exact same preparation and had the exact same mechanics.
That one leftover on each end, would be the "Freaks" no answer either way, why they are what they are.
In my opinion, mechanics have always been under estimated. Whether it comes to injury or velocity, the true problem will always revert to the mechanics and conditioning. Pitchers topping out at whatever speed, could tweak something to raise it. Its just a matter of what you are willing to put into it! If you happen to be 6'2" 210, and topping out at 88-92, youre doing something wrong, whether its the mechanics or your conditioning.
Now if you start talking about different sizes and weights, You will have to bring in the math with angles, and physics and all that jazz. Stride length, mass pushing the, ball trajectory etc.. Newtons 2nd law..
So I guess, no, the body is not limited to 90. We limit our body.
Most Users Ever Online: 70
Currently Online:
15 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Zedoryu: 385
Coach Robo: 189
singtall: 122
Money: 118
SCOTT D: 99
Darrell Coulter: 88
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 418
Moderators: 0
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 31
Topics: 703
Posts: 3733
Newest Members: seashley22, Joseph Camp, Cody, boomer22, Megallo1215, mayhew1
Moderators:
Administrators: Brent Pourciau USAW Certified (1505)
Topvelocity.net is a Baseball Pitching and velocity improvement training program. Our main offerings include: a Pitching Velocity Program along with tips and articles to increase a pitchers velocity and online Pitching Video Analysis for players.
