How to throw harder?

Question

hey, im about to enter JV highschool baseball next summer and i need to thro harder if i want a starting pitcher job. Now does anyone have a wrokout i can use to improve my arm speed? I would greatly appreciate it:)

Answer 1

Long toss might be the best thing. However long toss is not just throwing if high and far, you want to keep it on a line as if trying to throw someone out from the outfield.

Another thing is to work your mechanics. One part of the pitchers motion that is commonly overlooked is the legs. Stonger legs equal a stronger push off which equals more velocity. Just remember command is just as important as velocity. Without being able to hit the spots, velocity doesn't matter much.

Answer 2

Build your arm strength up. I don't advocate steroids or anything like that but if you build your arm strength and physcial strength up, you might have a chance. Eat as healthy as you can. It's okay once in a while to grab some junk food but don't overdo. Look at Babe Ruth. A couple of things about pitching. It's not how fast you can throw (a chimpanzee could throw 90+), it's control and movement. If you work on those three things (control and movement first, then the speed), you could have some scouts and a few schools looking at you. Stay with a couple of basic pitches, such as a fastball until you build up the arm strength and then maybe a slider or breaking pitch. If you can learn how to throw a knuckleball, that's good too. Get your running in. Ever watch a Spring training game and you see a guy running on the warning track during the game (something you can't do during the regular season)? That's usually a pitcher who's pitched a couple of innings and he's getting his running in. Pitching also involves your legs. You might want to ride a bike if you don't like running. Hope that helps you.

Answer 3

I always recommend looking at your mechanics. Most kids can have their velocity improve by simpy improving their mechanics. Find a pitching coach who really understands the mechanics of pitching and talk with him.

As far as what you can do by yourself (or with a friend): Long-toss.

It isn't just about throwing long high-arcing rainbows - the idea is to throw hard and straight. Think about a RF throwing home - you want it there on as little arc as possible, so an infielder could cut off the throw for a play at second.

Warm up. Then make a dozen throws, back up, repeat. Remember, focus on low-arc throws, so if they bounce before they reach their target, that's OK.

Keep this up and you'll soon see you can reach further before it bounces.

Answer 4

There are several things to improve your pitching and "speed":

1) weight training for your legs and torso. most of your speed originates from these areas. your arm contributes, but it mainly allows transfer of energy from your legs and torso. for example, look at most power pitchers in the majors . . . they don't have the largest arms, they have the largest thighs.

2) mechanics . . . try to make your throw as efficient as possible. the energy needs to be transferred from your legs and torso and into your arm.

3) hide the ball . . . don't let the batter see the ball in your hand until the last moment. this doesn't increase speed, per se, but it decreases the amount of time a batter can react to the pitch.

4) use a penny ball. never ever throw one. way too many young pitchers hurt themselves throwing a weighted ball. it is a foolish thing to do. take a tennis ball and fill it up with pennies by slitting it and inserting pennies. hold the ball and do simple rotation with your wrist keeping your arm straight and in front of you. very slowly . . . do the same thing with a curveball or slider motion . . . very slowly and very controlled. this will strengthen your forearm and triceps. don't do these excercises too much or you may overburden your tendons and ligaments.

keep in mind most people do not have strong enough tendons and ligaments to throw quality speed pitches. about only 10% of the populations has the unique anatomy to do it.

Answer 5

I am 14 years old and just played Babe Ruth baseball. I could throw around 60 when the season started and now I can throw 68-70. I played catch everyday and played long toss and it worked for me so it might work for you, but dont forget to stretch ur arm so u dont hurt it. Good Luck.

Answer 6

It all depends on how tall you are and how much you weigh. You should consider a full workout. I know,"duh", but what I mean is this way you can generate speed either by the arm strength or the push off the mound in your delivery since you need both for harder pitching and your legs are just as important for pitching as your arm is.

Answer 7

I believe you want to work the fast twitch fibers. Your muscles consist of fast, medium, and slow twitch fibers. I believe the way it works is high intensity (heavy weight) works slow twitch fibers (for strength) and low intensity (light weight\ low resistance) works fast twitch fibers (for speed). So you probably want to do a workout similar to that of a boxer. Go get you some of the grip strength squeezing springs. jump rope. Overall you want to do things that are not very difficult, rather you want to do things that are somewhat light for many repetitions. I believe this to be true and base this info. is stuff I am recalling

Answer 8

Work out your arms. Throw alot. Get a feel of how fast you can throw regularly so you can see how you can improve. Thats what i do.

Answer 9

stretch about an hour and then warm up with a catcher
eat before you stretch and relax
it loosens muscles and makes the body relax so that you can trow harder

Answer 10

try long toss or when ur warming up throw without stepping. Lift weights, swim.