Topvelocity.net» ing http://www.topvelocity.net Everything Pitching Velocity! Velocity Mechanics, Velocity Drills, Velocity Training and much more. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:47:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Baseball Pitching Workout – Beginner http://www.topvelocity.net/baseball-pitching-workout-beginner/ http://www.topvelocity.net/baseball-pitching-workout-beginner/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:54:31 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=828 This is an excellent beginner workout. It focuses on training the body as a single unit. All these lifts support the development of Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers which will make you more explosive as an athlete. This workout was developed for pitchers but recommend for all positions. When starting this beginner program for the first time, make sure you keep your lifting weight down. Use the bar to start and once you gain confidence in your lifts, you can begin to add weight and use the percentages listed. Select the images below the workout of the lifts to view the instructional video. You can also view the Coach Gayle Hatch instructional videos here: Coach Hatch Videos to learn the lifts. Coach Gayle Hatch is a legend in the sports training world. He is most know as the 2004 USA Olympic Lifting Coach and was just named the World Coach for 2009. Some of the lifts do not have instructional videos. Search the web for exercises that would fill the role.

This is only a beginner training program. It does not included any joint integrity training, medicine ball training or anaerobic conditioning. To learn a more advanced training program, which includes everything you need to know to increase your athletic performance as a pitcher or position player, check out the 3X Pitching Velocity Program. It is highly recommended!

Monday
Dynamic Warm-up
Bar warm-up
Hang clean 5×60% 5×65% 5×65% 5×70%
Front Squat 10×60% 8×65% 6×70%
RDL 5×25% 5×25% 5×25%
Core Routine
Tuesday
Dynamic Warm-up
Shoulder Routine
3 board bench or Push Ups 10×60% 10×65% 8X70% 8×70%
Pull-up 10x 10x 10x 10x
Forearm Routine
Thursday
Dynamic Warm-up
Bar warm-up
Power Clean 5×60% 5×62% 5×65% 3×70%
Pavel Squat/Towel Ham Slide 8x 8x 8x 8x
Core Routine
Friday
Dynamic Warm-up
Shoulder Routine
Stability Ball Dumb Bell Bench 10×60% 10×65% 8×70% 8×70%
Low Row 10x 10x 10x 10x
Forearm Routine
]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/baseball-pitching-workout-beginner/feed/ 8 Pitching Videos Database http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-videos-database/ http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-videos-database/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:35:16 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=473 View a full collection of live pitching videos. Also visit our YouTube channel for samples of the Ace Pitcher Instructional Videos and more.If you would like to purchase the entire Ace Pitcher Instruction Videos you can view them TODAY at www.BaseballVideoStore.com.

These videos below are property of youtube.com.

View videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/brentpourciau#grid/user/AF6CE786EBB427E2

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-videos-database/feed/ 1 1st Component of Pitching http://www.topvelocity.net/1st-component-of-pitching/ http://www.topvelocity.net/1st-component-of-pitching/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:55:52 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=448 All the photos here are of professionals performing the 1st Component of Pitching – Lift Leg Momentum, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.

I do not own these photos. This is a collection I obtained from the web.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/1st-component-of-pitching/feed/ 0 3rd Component of Pitching http://www.topvelocity.net/3rd-component-of-pitching/ http://www.topvelocity.net/3rd-component-of-pitching/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:53:56 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=451 All the photos here are of professionals performing the 3rd Component of Pitching – Triple Extension and Separation, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.

I do not own these photos. This is a collection I obtained from the web.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/3rd-component-of-pitching/feed/ 1 4th Component of Pitching http://www.topvelocity.net/4th-component-of-pitching/ http://www.topvelocity.net/4th-component-of-pitching/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:20:43 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=459 All the photos here are of professionals performing the 4th Component of Pitching – Chest Thrust and External Rotation, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.

I do not own these photos. This is a collection I obtained from the web.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/4th-component-of-pitching/feed/ 0 5th and 6th Component of Pitching http://www.topvelocity.net/5th-component-of-pitching/ http://www.topvelocity.net/5th-component-of-pitching/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:05:06 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=1000 All the photos here are of professionals performing the 5th and 6th Component of Pitching – Elbow Extension and Stabilization, as listed in the Ace Pitcher Handbook.

I do not own these photos. This is a collection I obtained from the web.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/5th-component-of-pitching/feed/ 0 The Pull Perspective http://www.topvelocity.net/the-pull-perspective/ http://www.topvelocity.net/the-pull-perspective/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:56:30 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=195 pullDefinition of throwing: the act of throwing; propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist; “the catcher made a good throw to second base”

Definition of pulling: the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you; “the pull up the hill had him breathing harder”

What definition best describes what a Major League Pitcher does on the mound?


Yes, it is correct to state that the definition of throwing is the more conventional answer but as someone who played professional baseball, when I was pitching my hardest, it felt more like a pull. The definition of pulling uses the word force and the illustration of breathing harder. This is my experience of power pitching. These two definitions best describe the difference between average velocity and top velocity. Look at one of my favorite pitchers Felix Hernandez and you will see it looks more like he is pulling than throwing as the definition states as throwing with the arm and wrist.

The key point of the “Pull Perspective” is the amount of weight you are pulling. The more the better. If you are pulling a lot of weight you will not be doing this with just the arm. Your body will need to recruit the core and legs to handle the bulk of the work load. Therefore your hips will need to drive towards the plate first, while holding the throwing arm back with the shoulder, until your core and legs have given you all they got. Then the back shoulder will fire through and release the ball. This picture of Greg Maddux illustrates holding the shoulder back while the hips drive to the target. This component is called “Separation.”

The best way to implement this “Pull Perspective” into your own delivery is by visualizing that you are not holding onto the ball but instead a towel or resistance tubing. You could actually do this. I have a few drills in the AcePitcher Handbook that perform this action. The towel or tubing is connected to a sled or a person standing towards second base. You can also visualize a harness around your hips with tubing secured towards second base. Now, perform your delivery following each of the AcePitcher Components.

In the picture of Felix Hernandez above and Tim Lincecum below this is where you want to finish the drill. This position is the point of the drill. By visualizing the pull you should find this position more naturally than if you where just throwing the ball like usual. If you notice his arm is way behind his head, back arched and hips under his belly with landing leg supporting all the weight. The upper body is flexed and ready to release the energy or power into the ball.

The reason for implementing the “Pull Perspective” is to prevent the arm from leading the body. If you find that your arm is drifting in front of your chest before your shoulders have committed to the plate then you are not recruiting your core and legs to handle the work load and generate Top Velocity. This is common in young pitchers. This is what most coaches call throwing with all your arm.

The “Pull Perspective” is actually what it states, it is only a perspective. A way of looking at the act of pitching differently. It is important that you look at pitching differently because conventional thinking continues to fail us as pitchers. This is why a microscopic amount of pitchers make it to Major League Baseball. So this perspective is my little gift to you.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/the-pull-perspective/feed/ 3 Pitching and the Point of Balance http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-and-the-point-of-balance/ http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-and-the-point-of-balance/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:08:03 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=163 Most old school Coaches would talk about the importance of the “Balance Position” and how it leads to good pitch location. New school thought would say that this is stating the obvious and missing the main point. New school thought would then talk about balance as most importantly a means to efficient velocity. This is what I call, “Pitching and the Point of Balance.”

In my article Olympic Lifting Increases Pitching Velocity, I use Newton’s second law to prove why Olympic Lifting will increase your velocity. If you have not read this article, please do. I will now illustrate how aerodynamics can help us as pitchers to understand how to develop our top velocity.

Think of velocity as a jet, like the picture here. The red line illustrates the aerodynamics of the machine. If you notice the jet has the same amount of weight on the left side of the line as the right. This means it is symmetrical. Also see the line as the quickest distance between two points. If the jet stays on that straight line, it will get to its final destination faster than if it strayed off the line, on its way to the end.

The definition of Aerodynamics is the study of the forces of air, acting on objects in motion, relative to air. This would mean that if there is a drag on the left side of the jet, then not only will the jet slow down, but it will be forced to stray off the straight line. This will decrease velocity to the jet in two ways: the first way is by decreasing the force applied by the engines with the drag effect, and the second way is by forcing the jet to travel outside of the straight line in a more curved direction.

“I am sure you are wondering how this applies to pitching, but this is the quantum leap you must make here.”

I will use these pictures of Felix Hernandez to help you with this leap. Felix has one of the hardest fastballs in the game and you will now see one reason why.

I have added the red line to show you the same information as with the fighter jet. Notice how the weight distribution on both sides of the red line, in all three pictures, is almost evenly distributed like the aerodynamics of the jet. This is what keeps Felix’s body moving forward on his “Point of Balance.” If his weight distribution was more on the right side than the other, he would loss considerable velocity. This is because his arm would create drag on his body and he would need to over compensate by pulling his arm across his body, to keep his body moving forward. This would force him, like the jet, to stray off the straight line path and the drag would decrease the force that he created in his lower half when driving off the mound.

This doesn’t mean you must throw over the top. What it means is you must keep your weight evenly distributed over your “Point of Balance.” So, if you throw sidearm, you need to distribute your weight more over the outside part of your landing foot, using your hips to shift the weight and not your shoulders.

The key here is what you see Felix and all the hard throwers doing. This is using their hips to control their “center of gravity” while balancing all of their weight over their landing leg. This is the reason why pitcher’s must have very strong legs and core strength to throw hard.

The best way to find your “Point of Balance” is with a photograph. Draw a line from your belt buckle to your landing leg toes. With this line you should see your weight evenly distributed on both sides of the line.

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/pitching-and-the-point-of-balance/feed/ 3 TopVelocity.net and the Lincecum Revolution http://www.topvelocity.net/the-lincecum-revolution/ http://www.topvelocity.net/the-lincecum-revolution/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:34:58 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=41 I couldn’t have said it better myself. Well, it looks like the baseball world is seeing the light. Thanks to little giants like Tim Lincecum and his father.

His father Chris works for Boeing, which is why he produced a son with such a perfect understanding of physics driven mechanics. Tom Verducci has written the article of all articles when it comes to the revolution of the pitching delivery. Verducci writes for Sports Illustrated. In this article he expresses a better understanding of physics driven pitching mechanics than some of the best Coaches in the game. It goes to show how baseball’s ego has prevented its own evolution. MLB has been drafting young, tall and lanky pitchers for years because these pitchers can get away with more and therefore they need less coaching. The problem is their longevity is suspect. This is why Lincecum is seen as a Freak or an outsider. He doesn’t fit the mold of the MLB. The times maybe changing.

Here is a few examples from Verducci’s article illustrating the ignorance of Major League Baseball organizations along with some of Lincecum’s astounding accomplishments in the past few years.

Baltimore general manager Jim Duquette
“There was a feeling that [Lincecum] was short, not a real physical kid, and mechanically he was going to break down, that there was enough stress on his arm, elbow and shoulder. Our scouting department kind of pushed him down because of the medical aspect.”

The quickness of Lincecum’s small body is what scared off most scouts

The Giants took Lincecum at No. 10. He pitched only 13 times in the minors, allowing seven earned runs and whiffing 104 batters in 62 2/3 innings, before it became obvious to San Francisco that it had a prodigy who was wasting his time down there.

In 40 starts through Sunday, he was 16-6 with a 3.30 ERA and 264 strikeouts in 256 innings.

Lincecum’s reliability at the start of his career is historically remarkable. He is one of only seven pitchers since 1956 to throw 30 quality starts in his first 40 games.

Coach Dave Righetti, Lincecum’s current pitching coach for the Giants.
“I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone.”

The article has quotes from Lincecum and his father talking about his mechanics. His quotes are almost directly out of AcePitcher.com’s 5 Components of Pitching.

“My dad and I aren’t very large guys, so it’s about efficiency and getting the most out of my body that I can,”

“Don’t open up too soon because then you lose leverage,” Tim says. “If you twist a rubber band against itself, the recoil is bigger. The more torque I can come up with, the better.”

“My dad always told me to sit down on my back leg as long as I could and push off as much as I could. I’m trying to get as much out of my body as possible. I’ve got to use my ankles, my legs, my hips, my back. . . . That’s why I’m so contorted and it looks like I’m giving it full effort when it’s not exactly full effort.”

The normal stride length for a pitcher is 77% to 87% of his height. Lincecum’s stride is 129%, or roughly 7 1/2 feet.

As for the “step-over” move near the end of his stride, Lincecum explains, “That’s from my hips. I’m getting everything toward the target, and my hips want to go. My hips can’t just go and open up. I’m trying to create torque. That’s when everything kind of explodes. My body comes, and [my arm] is just kind of along for the ride.”

One secret, he explains, is what he calls his “ankle kick,” a snapping of his right ankle as his right foot, the back foot, leaves the rubber. Lincecum comes off the rubber with such snap that, upon the ball’s release, his right foot is more than a foot in front of the rubber, shrinking the distance — and thus stealing precious time — between him and the batter.

When Lincecum speaks of “sitting down on my back leg” and his “ankle kick” he is speaking of AcePitcher.com 2 Component Triple extension. He calls this his little secret. How many coaches out there curse pushing off the rubber. Lincecum credits this to the reason for his success.

“My dad never taught me to lunge at the plate,” Tim says. “It kind of came naturally. That ankle kick that I get and the drive that I get from my back leg will make a big difference in how I get to the plate and how I pitch that day.”

Verducci paints the perfect picture of AcePitcher.com 3 Component Separation, which he calls the Loading position, when speaking of Lincecum’s success.

Here Lincecum again separates himself from most pitchers with his athleticism and timing. As he reaches the loaded position, Lincecum’s hips have just opened so that his belt buckle is facing the batter. His torso, however, has not yet begun to rotate toward the plate. The GIANTS on his home jersey is facing third base and his left shoulder remains pointed directly at the target. Only then, with his body essentially twisted against itself, does the torso fire, creating more rotational power as, at last, after this symphonic whipsaw action of his body, his arm simply “comes along for the ride.”

Most importantly Verducci mentions Lincecum’s athletic ability.

Many pitchers are poor athletes who happen to be blessed with one very specific skill. Lincecum has the body of a gymnast and can rip off a backflip or walk on his hands to prove it.

This proves my philosophy of great athletes make great pitchers. Many Coaches would also argue this with me. This is why the uneducated call Lincecum a freak instead of an elite athlete like Tiger woods and Michael Jordan.

This article made me smile so big I about split my face in half. Everything Lincecum, his father and Tom Verducci documented in this article I learned the hard way. It gives me closure in my own career when I learn that I may not have made it to the majors but I did overcome a serious rotator cuff injury to discover mechanics that would soon revolutionize the pitcher. I am glad such a good person like Tim Lincecum is caring this torch and bringing the light to Major League Baseball.

Read Tom Verducci’s article here.

View Tim Lincecum’s delivery in Slow Motion

]]> http://www.topvelocity.net/the-lincecum-revolution/feed/ 1 How to Develop Top Velocity http://www.topvelocity.net/how-to-develop-top-velocity/ http://www.topvelocity.net/how-to-develop-top-velocity/#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:07:27 +0000 Brent Pourciau http://topvelocity.net/?p=30 To develop top velocity you must first understand it. Newton’s Second Law is the best definition of velocity. Read my article “Olympic Lifting Increases Pitching Velocity” to get a detailed description of Newton’s Second Law.

It is a major challenge to take the scientific definition of velocity and put it into motion within the pitching delivery. The only way I made this happen was through constant trial and error.

Before I give you the secrets to top velocity you must first understand how important it is to train the body for this ability. Your training program should be made of lifts and drills that are training fast twitch muscle fibers. I am sure you have heard me say this a million times but there is no better training than the Olympic Lifts. This involves all types of Cleans, along with Squats and some Split Jerks. These lifts force you to move a good amount of weight very quickly, therefore making you a more explosive athlete. Once you have maxed your explosive potential as an athlete you are then ready to find your top velocity as a pitcher. Purchase the 3X Pitching Velocity Program for all these explosive training routines and much more.

In layman’s terms, Velocity as defined by Newton, is force divided by mass. So for you to develop more velocity you either need to increase the force applied to the ball or the application time with the same amount of force. I recommend we do both as pitchers but here I will break them down separately in two questions.

How do we increase force to the ball?

This may seem complicated but in theory it is very simple, so stay with me. To increase force to the ball we must add momentum to our delivery and then stablize that momentum for transfer to ball. Now, this is where we as pitchers go wrong. Most young pitchers when wanting to add force to the ball only add the momentum to the arm. Momentum must be added to the lower half of the body for it to be efficient and effective when delivering the pitch. Let’s use a Javelin thrower to understand this lower half momentum. What a Javelin thrower does is he can run as quick as he possibly can to a point where he must plant his leg and stabilize the momentum to transfer it to the Javelin. Watch the video!

A Pitcher is not allowed to run to develop the momentum so we must do what ever we can to develop the momentum on the mound. This is where you should watch AcePitcher.com’s 5 Components to Pitching. This video will show you how to develop momentum as a pitcher by using the lift leg, triple extension in the back leg and most important, stabilizing that momentum and allowing it to transfer to the ball.

How do we increase application time?

The answer to this questions will give you the final big picture to understanding top velocity. Application time means the amount of time a pitcher holds on to the ball through his full range of motion.

If a pitcher applied 6.5 pounds of pressure to the ball for .20 seconds as the arm is moving towards the target this would have more velocity than a pitcher applying 6.5 pounds of pressure to the ball for .15 seconds.

The question now is how do we hold on to the ball longer while keeping the same force applied. This is called separation. This is the 3rd Component in the Ace Pitcher Handbook. Separation, which is occurring in the picture here, is separation of the back throwing shoulder to the back hip. If you notice the back hip is almost pointing to the plate and the back shoulder is almost pointing to second base. This is important because it is building the majority of the torque developed from the lower half momentum in the core or stomach. Now when the shoulders commit to the catcher and the chest hits the wall like the picture below, the arm will have full range of motion. Notice Nolan Ryan’s arm 180 degrees behind his head. This is the increase of application time with the same force applied.

By building more torque in the core, instead of the shoulder, this is not only increasing velocity but saving the arm from serious wear and tear.

In conclusion, developing top velocity is every pitcher’s right but not every pitcher has the natural understanding of this skill. With this article, the Ace Pitcher Handbook, and some hard work it is possible for any pitcher to throw 90 plus mph.

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