throwing mechanics

Question
This is my first year playing baseball, and im in the 11th grade. I have alot to learn. I take lessons every once in a while. But dont practice that much, but plan on it this year on my high school team and im on a fall baseball so i hope i learn alot out of this team. But when i see other kids throw the ball its pretty fast and mines is very slow. I play outfield and infield but i need to work on my throwing. what do i need to do.... and suggestions??? my throwing sucks.

Answer
Rodney, thank you for your question.

It sounds like you have a goal.  That is the first step in the process.

The next step would be to take a look at how you currently throw, and what the results are beyond lack of velocity.  You are looking to see just what it is you do, up to the point you release the ball.  Once you take note of what you are doing, you can compare it to what it is players who throw well do.

At that point, you can make the corrections so that your mechanics provide you the best opportunity to be successful, then play a lot of quality catch, long toss and make game like throws off ground balls and fly balls.

A players success in baseball will forever be linked to his ability to catch and throw the ball.  Their enjoyment within the game is forever linked there as well.

Below are links to a few pages on my website where you can see some visual images, as well as more detailed information on what the process is.

1. Site address:  www.theoleballgame.com

2. Site pages located on the navigation bar:

  a.  Home page.  Image of Cubs player, warming up before a game.  Look at his foot alignment, ball is back and up, which gets his elbow above his shoulder.

  b.  Throwing Rookie. Very basic information on throwing mechanics, but good to compare what you see yourself doing at present.

  c.  Throwing Advanced.  More in depth coverage of where you need to have your body positioned so that you get the most velocity and accuracy on each throw you make, at the same time these mechanics will help decrease your chances of arm and shoulder problems.


Things to look for:

1.  Grip on the baseball:  A four seam grip will provide you with the most velocity and be the most accurate.  Both are a plus.  When you look at the baseball, there is a seam that looks like a horseshoe or a c, you want your index and middle fingers across that seam.

There are some pictures on one of the pages, showing a side view of the grip.  You want a gap between the ball and the palm of your hand.  If the ball is pushed back in your hand, it is essentially a changeup.

when you have that grip, and the rest of your mechanics are correct, you should see the ball rotate back toward you when you throw.  If it is not rotating back to you, it will be spinning sideways.  Less velocity, distance, accuracy and generally puts a big strain on your elbow.

2.  Body squared up to where you are throwing:  Baseball is played from the ground up.  concentrate on quick feet, getting your body around and into position so that your glove side ankle, knee, hip and shoulder are all squared to your target.

When you don't get them into position, your front side will fly open, which takes your head and shoulder with it.  The end result is that your elbow drops below your shoulder, the ball comes out the side of your hand spinning sideways.  Over a distance, say across the infield from 3B to 1B, the ball will slice away from the target, losing velocity, distance and accuracy.

3.  Step on line, straight at your target:  Essentially the same as the paragraph above.  Just because you get your body in position, if you step off line, all the above results happen, as they do when you don't get your feet in position to start with.

4.  Keep your elbow above your shoulder.  There is a circle you are taking the ball in.  If you think, take my thumb to my thigh, ball up and back so that my knuckles are to the sky ( at this point you can stop yourself for awhile and look back at the ball, you should be looking at the back of your hand, not the baseball.)  If you are seeing the ball, the throw will be coming out of the side of your hand.


It all takes time and an awareness of the steps involved in the process, so that you can realize when something goes wrong, what the correction is to get it to go right.

Every game of catch, every warmup session, is a time to work on and improve your mechanics.  The idea is to train your body to reproduce those skills on demand, when they are called for in a game and/or practice.

Your body will learn what you teach it, it makes no determination of correct or incorrect.  Quality repetitions on each and every throw you make will be the quickest way to make up for your lack of experience.

Start warming up at 20', work your way out so that you are gradually creating a longer distance, 20',50',70',90',100', then back in 90', 70', 50',30'.

Ten throws at the 20' and 50' distance, 6 throws at 70,90,100, 90,70,50.

When you get back to 30', play some quick catch, 10 throws, so that you are working to receive, get your body squared up and throw accurately, as quick as you can.  Work hard on the quickness of your feet and your anticipation to move to the ball, so that you are not reaching to pull the ball back and throw, you are getting your body to the ball by moving your feet.

As you get stronger and your mechanics get more consistent, add some more throws per distance and go further out.  Build the base out, then build up.

Depending on what you discover when you evaluate what your throwing motion currently looks like, you can then create a plan to get to where you want to go.

If you want to send me what you find out about what you are doing now when you throw, I can make more specific suggestions to help you move forward.

A lot of work?   Can be.  The really good thing about baseball is that it is all fun to do.  Concentrate, and have fun with it.  

You can contact me back here, or you can contact me through the Your Baseball Questions page on my site.  I have more access to images and such there, that can help you along.  It always helps to have something visual to shoot for.

Good luck as you go forward,

Rick