Baseball Pitching Velocity Training

Sexist Study Holds the Secrets to Pitching VelocityThis article is not here to start a debate between the sexes but it is here to show the differences between low and high velocity pitchers. Based on the information in this article Elite Female baseball pitchers will be put in the category of low velocity pitchers and Elite Male baseball pitchers will be put in the category of high velocity pitchers.
In the case study performed by the Biomechanics Laboratory, Dept of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, the above statement was found to be true. This study used eleven elite male and female baseball pitchers and the female baseball pitchers had lower velocities than the males. The purpose of the study was not to prove that these elite female baseball pitchers threw slower than there male counterparts but the purpose was to show the differences in their baseball pitching mechanics. These mechanical differences listed in the study holds the secrets to pitching velocity.

The Difference Between the Male and Female Athlete

Before we dive into these pitching velocity secrets let's look at the difference between the male and female athlete. Here is a listing of the world record holders for both the squat and bench press for men and women. These numbers show that men have far superior strength in both the upper and lower extremity. Based on these numbers it is safe to say that males are proven to be stronger athletes than females.
Let's also look at the world record holders in the 100 meter sprint for both men and women as listed below. Based on these numbers the male athlete is almost 1 second faster than the female athlete. It is also safe to say that this proves that male athletes are faster than their female counterparts.

Male World Records for the Squat

  • 123 639 Andrzej Stanaszek Poland 05/09/02 EP
  • 132 551 Mike Booker USA 2002 AAU
  • 148 556 Mike Kuhns USA 2006 ADAU
  • 165 600 George Crawford USA 1973 AAU*
  • 181 650 Bob Mckee USA 1973 AAU*
  • 198 688 Tony Fratto USA 1974 AAU*

Female World Records for the Squat

  • 97 214 Naomi Kutin 01/22/12 RUPC USA
  • 105 242 Tatyana Koroleva 02/17/11 RPF Russia
  • 114 319 Suzie Hartwig-Gary 08/19/11 USAPL USA
  • 123 308 Suzie Hartwig-Gary 03/04/11 IPF USA
  • 132 330 Anastasiya Amelina 04/08/11 WPC Russia
  • 148 380 Amy Weisberger 04/30/11 SPF USA
  • 165 440 Taylar Stallings 11/12/11 PRPA USA
  • 181 473 Jill Brown- Mills 1998 APF USA
  • 198 405 Vicky Hembree 1999 AAU USA

Male World Records for the Bench Press

  • 123 391 Andrej Stanaszek Poland 1994 IPF
  • 132 397 Joe Bradley USA 1980 USPF
  • 148 424 Joe Bradley USA 1981 USPF
  • 165 485 Rick Weil USA 1983 USPF
  • 181 556 Rick Weil USA 1986 APF
  • 198 565 Larry Danaher USA 1986 USPF/APF

Female World Records for the Bench Press

  • 97 176 Ann Leverett 1991 USPF USA
  • 105 206 April Schumaker 04/10/11 USPA USA
  • 114 231 Mary Jeffery 1991 USPF USA
  • 123 248 Vicky Steenrod 1984 USPF USA
  • 132 300 Jennifer Thompson 03/02/12 USAPL USA
  • 148 275 Vicky Steenrod 1989 USPF USA
  • 165 314 Liz Odendaal 1989 IPF Netherlands
  • 181 330 Beverly Francis 1981 IPF Australia
  • 198 360 Shannon Nash 11/12/11 SPF USA

Male World Records for the 100 Meter Sprint

  1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica) – 9.58 seconds
  2. Tyson Gay (United States) – 9.69 seconds
  3. Asafa Powell (Jamaica) – 9.72 seconds
  4. Maurice Greene (United States) – 9.79 seconds
  5. Donovan Bailey (Canada) – 9.84 seconds
  6. Bruny Surin (Canada) – 9.84 seconds
  7. Leroy Burrell (United States) – 9.85 seconds
  8. Justin Gatlin (United States) – 9.85 seconds
  9. Olusoji Fasuba (Nigeria) – 9.85 seconds
  10. Carl Lewis (United States) – 9.86 seconds

Female World Records for the 100 Meter Sprint

  1. Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) – 10.49 seconds
  2. Carmelita Jeter (United States) – 10.64 seconds
  3. Marion Jones (United States) – 10.65 seconds
  4. Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica) – 10.73 seconds
  5. Christine Arron (France) – 10.73 seconds
  6. Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) – 10.74 seconds
  7. Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) – 10.75 seconds
  8. Evelyn Ashford (United States) – 10.76 seconds
  9. Irina Privalova (Russia) – 10.77 seconds
  10. Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria) – 10.77 seconds

The Difference Between High and Low Velocity Pitchers

Based on the study listed below and the evidence listed above of the differences between male and female athletes, I will put the elite female baseball pitcher in the low velocity category and the elite male baseball pitcher in the high velocity category. This way the study below will define what separates these two categories which will be beneficial to both the male and female baseball pitcher.
The case study performed by the Biomechanics Laboratory, Dept of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, was called the Biomechanical comparison between elite female and male baseball pitchers. Here are the results from the study:

Specifically, at the instant of stride foot contact, a female pitcher had a shorter and more open stride and less separation between pelvis orientation and upper torso orientation. From foot contact to ball release, a female pitcher produced lower peak angular velocity for throwing elbow extension and stride knee extension. Ball velocity was lower for the female. Foot contact to ball release took more time for a female pitcher. Maximal proximal forces at the shoulder and elbow joints were less for a female pitcher.
Read the entire study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19299827

These results from the study listed these mechanics as Low Velocity Mechanics.

  1. Short stride at stride foot contact.
  2. More Open Stride at stride foot contact.
  3. Less separation between pelvis orientation and upper torso orientation at stride foot contact.
  4. Lower peak angular velocity for throwing elbow extension.
  5. Less stride knee extension.
  6. Foot contact to ball release took more time.
  7. Maximal proximal forces at the shoulder and elbow joints were less.

The 3X Pitching Mechanics

I am in complete agreement with this list of Low Velocity Mechanics because I see it everyday in my 3X Pitching Analysis that I post on the forums. Everyone of these low velocity pitchers, who are mainly male, have all or most of these issues. It is important to note that all of these components are speed and strength related. This was why I made the point that the difference between these two categories of elite athletes, is that of both speed and strength. The elite athlete, which makes up most elite pitchers, have both superior speed and strength. This is reflective in their High Velocity Mechanics. These High Velocity Mechanics or the 3X Pitching Mechanics would be listed as the opposite of the Low Velocity Mechanics above.
For a program that trains the pitcher in both speed and strength along with drills to develop the motor coordination around these High Velocity Mechanics, purchase the 3X Extreme Pitching Velocity Program NOW!