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The Essence of Throwing Harder

November 5, 2008

I get this question a lot from both young and older pitchers. How do I throw harder? I then follow with my answer but to prepare you, my answer is not just words, it is a perspective change. Here is the perspective.

Every Pro has his own answer to this question but why do they always try to reinvent the wheel? Sir Isaac Newton answered this question over 300 years ago. If he was alive today this is how he might have answered this question to a room full of athletes.

“If you want to throw harder, it is simple, either add more force to the ball or keep your current force while holding on to the ball longer.”

It sounds simple, but is it?

The problem with learning how to throw harder is that we all have been throwing things since the beginning of our lives and we have developed some bad mechanics. Throwing is one of our oldest habits. Which means it takes a lot of discipline to better these old mechanics. So it is important to understand that if you are not throwing efficiently with your body as a single unit, then the changes you must make to increase your efficiency, will feel very awkward.

To get you on the correct path to efficiency, lets look at throwing harder in a different perspective. Don’t think of throwing a 5oz baseball sixty feet to a glove. Think of throwing a bowling ball over your head sixty feet through a wall. Visualize this example right now! See yourself throwing the baseball then see yourself throwing the bowling ball. Do you see a difference in your body mechanics? Do you see how much more involved your legs and core become when throwing the bowling ball? Do you see the weight of the bowling ball pulling your arms way behind your head giving you full range of motion? Now, just image throwing a baseball with these same mechanics. Of course, there is more to popping the mit than this example but what I want you to start doing is thinking heavier than a 5oz baseball.

Watch this video of Nolan Ryan pitching and visualize a bowling ball in his hands instead of the baseball.

Nolan Ryan probably could have broken records throwing bowling balls like he has done throwing baseballs.

Now let’s bring Newton into the equation. Before you make the decision on which part of Newton’s Law will help you the most. Put yourself in one of these categories of Pitchers. You are either a Short/Compact pitcher or Long/Lanky pitcher. Short pitchers will benefit more from increasing application time to increase velocity. Long pitchers will benefit more from increasing the force applied to the ball to increase velocity. What I would suggest is trying both strategies. This way you are guaranteed to see results.

In conclusion, you need to change your perspective of throwing to help better your old habits. Remember, it is not necessary that you reinvent the wheel again. Listen to Newton and take small steps to top velocity.

I recommend you reread this article until you can understand this perspective change. Next you should read my article on how Olympic Lifting Increases Pitching Velocity. This will get you on track.

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Written by Brent Pourciau · Filed Under Pitching Articles 
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