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How and When to Rest When Pitching

January 7, 2009

Marlins Dodgers BaseballWhen we rest as pitchers, during a game in between pitches, it is important that we restore our ATP. This can take up to three minutes to completely restore. More ATP in our system means more explosive energy in our muscles. The problem is in between innings we usually get a lot more than three minutes. This means we have more than enough time for our bodies to replenish ATP. The question now becomes when does our bodies begin to shut down and cool off? This happens once your heart rate drops to a resting heart rate. Those of us who have done this understand that this causes our arms and bodies to stiffen and grow sore. When this happens we must start over again and perform a proper warm up to prevent injury. In the heat of the game, warming up again usually doesn’t happen. So we jump back on the mound with that sore, stiff arm and our endorphins take care of the pain. This over time will end a career. Read more

Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles | Leave a Comment 

Pitching Velocity Keys Found in a Car Crash!

December 7, 2008

I am sure you are asking, “What does a car crash teach us about pitching velocity?” It actually teaches us pitchers everything we need to know, to truly understand, how pitchers generate top velocity. The reason for the correlation of the pitching delivery to the car crash, is the car crash analogy really helps us visualize the complex dynamics of momentum transfer. The reason for the complexity is because of the speed of the event. The moment in the delivery when momentum transfers into the ball to start its propulsion to the target, is as long as a split second. The problem is analyzing this event for educational purposes takes a lot longer. So this is where the car crash analogy will help us. Read more

Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles | Leave a Comment