throwing a baseball farther? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Konichiwaneko · 08-02-2003, 11:42 PM

Anyone have any suggestions on what mechanics I can use to throw a baseball further?

I grew up more a quarterback for football so I plant with backleg, and use only my torso and shoulders too throw. I just can't get the feel to use a full rotation and my wrist.

Thanks guys. Fall baseball season is coming up for me, and I'm giddy just thinking about it.

saucy knave · 08-03-2003, 12:23 AM

Hehe, I'll try and uh, 'pitch in'.

When I used to play, they'd always stick me on the mound or in left field 'cause I was 'teh arm', hehe. Fun stuff, both of those positions.

There's actually a lot involved in proper throwing mechanics. It might help to think of your shoulders as a sling. The 'loaded' position would be where you are about to throw. A line drawn through both of your shoulders should point from behind you, straight through the shoulders and through your target.

You step toward your target (along that same line), and at that point your weight should start transferring off of your back foot and toward your front foot. Then it's time for the 'sling' to unload. You tuck your lead arm in and the shoulders swing around, taking your throwing arm with 'em. At the time of the actual throw, your shoulders should be perpenicular to your target. Follow through naturally to help prevent injury.

If you have access to a good coach, they can definitely help you with this. When you know what to do, going through the motions in a mirror can help too.

Along with mechanics, common sense can tell you that stronger muscles will help with a good strong throw as well. You can do basic upper body/abdominal exercise to get a little more out of yer arm. Have fun!

Konichiwaneko · 08-03-2003, 12:40 AM

do you push off with your legs?

From my understanding that's how pitchers like Mark Prior and Roger clemans get's that extra bite on their fast balls.

Randy johnson is just unnatural...I wish I had a 6'8" to mess with...the guys a living sling.

That's great advice though knave. I play left field because of my sprint distance helped with liners, but I will admit my arm wasn't effective for more then 150'

saucy knave · 08-03-2003, 01:07 PM

When in the outfield, you will get a boost by using something called a 'crowhop'...don't know if you're familiar with this. You kinda jump forward and land on your rear foot which you then plant and naturally push off with. Kinda tricky to explain.

On the mound, there are conflicting schools of thought out there. Some think you should dig a hole in front of the rubber and then push off of it every pitch. Others think it is better to just fall naturally toward the plate, like timber, and then put the weight of the fall into your pitch. I did the latter, and it worked out nicely for me. No doubt the first method is still popular too.

SiphonX · 08-03-2003, 07:36 PM

well, saucy is right, the crowhop definately adds some distance to your outfield throwing. as for pitching..., hmmm. i use a sort of twisting motion to the side. it's kinda hard to explain but it kinda winds me up, and gives me more power on the release.

Konichiwaneko · 08-03-2003, 09:43 PM

Oh..before people scream at me...I meant to put further.

not farther

saucy knave · 08-04-2003, 01:42 AM

Pfft, farther was correct. Not that many people really give a sh!t about the difference.

Konichiwaneko · 08-04-2003, 04:30 AM

I stand double corrected!

sportsrule101 · 08-06-2003, 11:02 AM

for infield throws the motion is simular to your football throws only a lot quicker. Outfield throws definitly need to learn to crow hop, don't worry its natural once you see someone do it. Dont' worry about your wrist, when your fielding a hit and come up throwing it will bend naturally.

MikeV · 08-06-2003, 11:10 AM

FWIW, teach yourself to catch-and-throw very quickly... a speedy release of the ball (in the infield, at least) can usually make up for a subpar arm (see David Eckstein, Angels SS).

Also, it may seem weird, but those baseball infomercials (forget the name) with Fred McGriff "endorsing" them have very good throwing mechanics, and ways to teach them.

I think they're the Tom Emanski videos (he's the teacher)

billyball2 · 08-06-2003, 01:51 PM

This will sound stupid, but tape a bunch of ballgames and fast-forward to the parts where outfielders are throwing the ball. Believe it or not, you actaually have to keep your muscles pretty loose/tension free until you're about to release the ball. Could you imagine trying to throw a punch while flexing all the muscles in your arm? The punch would be slow and weak. The same punch with muscles relaxed until impact is much more powerful. Think the same when throwing a ball...

08-02-2003, 11:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	throwing a baseball further? Anyone have any suggestions on what mechanics I can use to throw a baseball further? I grew up more a quarterback for football so I plant with backleg, and use only my torso and shoulders too throw. I just can't get the feel to use a full rotation and my wrist. Thanks guys. Fall baseball season is coming up for me, and I'm giddy just thinking about it. __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us. Last edited by Konichiwaneko; 08-03-2003 at 11:53 PM..

08-03-2003, 12:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	do you push off with your legs? From my understanding that's how pitchers like Mark Prior and Roger clemans get's that extra bite on their fast balls. Randy johnson is just unnatural...I wish I had a 6'8" to mess with...the guys a living sling. That's great advice though knave. I play left field because of my sprint distance helped with liners, but I will admit my arm wasn't effective for more then 150' __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us.

08-03-2003, 07:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
SiphonX Crazy Location: Miami Beach, Fl	well, saucy is right, the crowhop definately adds some distance to your outfield throwing. as for pitching..., hmmm. i use a sort of twisting motion to the side. it's kinda hard to explain but it kinda winds me up, and gives me more power on the release. __________________ /Knowledge is Power/

08-03-2003, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	Oh..before people scream at me...I meant to put further. not farther __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us.

08-04-2003, 04:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	I stand double corrected! __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us.

08-03-2003, 12:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
saucy knave Tilted Location: West Siiide	Hehe, I'll try and uh, 'pitch in'. When I used to play, they'd always stick me on the mound or in left field 'cause I was 'teh arm', hehe. Fun stuff, both of those positions. There's actually a lot involved in proper throwing mechanics. It might help to think of your shoulders as a sling. The 'loaded' position would be where you are about to throw. A line drawn through both of your shoulders should point from behind you, straight through the shoulders and through your target. You step toward your target (along that same line), and at that point your weight should start transferring off of your back foot and toward your front foot. Then it's time for the 'sling' to unload. You tuck your lead arm in and the shoulders swing around, taking your throwing arm with 'em. At the time of the actual throw, your shoulders should be perpenicular to your target. Follow through naturally to help prevent injury. If you have access to a good coach, they can definitely help you with this. When you know what to do, going through the motions in a mirror can help too. Along with mechanics, common sense can tell you that stronger muscles will help with a good strong throw as well. You can do basic upper body/abdominal exercise to get a little more out of yer arm. Have fun!

08-03-2003, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
saucy knave Tilted Location: West Siiide	When in the outfield, you will get a boost by using something called a 'crowhop'...don't know if you're familiar with this. You kinda jump forward and land on your rear foot which you then plant and naturally push off with. Kinda tricky to explain. On the mound, there are conflicting schools of thought out there. Some think you should dig a hole in front of the rubber and then push off of it every pitch. Others think it is better to just fall naturally toward the plate, like timber, and then put the weight of the fall into your pitch. I did the latter, and it worked out nicely for me. No doubt the first method is still popular too.

08-04-2003, 01:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
saucy knave Tilted Location: West Siiide	Pfft, farther was correct. Not that many people really give a sh!t about the difference.

08-06-2003, 11:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
sportsrule101 Insane	for infield throws the motion is simular to your football throws only a lot quicker. Outfield throws definitly need to learn to crow hop, don't worry its natural once you see someone do it. Dont' worry about your wrist, when your fielding a hit and come up throwing it will bend naturally. __________________ winning isn't everything but losing isn't anything

08-06-2003, 11:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
MikeV Upright	FWIW, teach yourself to catch-and-throw very quickly... a speedy release of the ball (in the infield, at least) can usually make up for a subpar arm (see David Eckstein, Angels SS). Also, it may seem weird, but those baseball infomercials (forget the name) with Fred McGriff "endorsing" them have very good throwing mechanics, and ways to teach them. I think they're the Tom Emanski videos (he's the teacher)

08-06-2003, 01:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
billyball2 Upright	This will sound stupid, but tape a bunch of ballgames and fast-forward to the parts where outfielders are throwing the ball. Believe it or not, you actaually have to keep your muscles pretty loose/tension free until you're about to release the ball. Could you imagine trying to throw a punch while flexing all the muscles in your arm? The punch would be slow and weak. The same punch with muscles relaxed until impact is much more powerful. Think the same when throwing a ball...