Deceleration…Starting where you stop.
One of the key mechanisms to improve pitcher velocities is:
focus on deceleration.
That’s right- the braking system- the way the human body controls the force it produces.
Within that statement is a clue… controlling the force it produces.
At the professional level- and also the pre-professional level, scouts, pitching coaches, player development heads – and fans – are focused on velocity. Nothing charges us up more than watching a triple digit fastball.
At the 2009 WBC Tournament, Australia was playing Cuba in the first round, and Cuban Phenom (now defected) Aroldis Chapman took the mound. We’d heard the stories- LHP – 100 MPH…maybe faster.
In Mexico’s Foro Sol Stadium, batters were returning to the bench in the first inning- perplexed.
“That’s the fastest 99 I’ve ever seen” Twins MLB and Australian star Justin Huber exclaimed.
The gun on the Two Digit scoreboard registered 99 MPH- we soon got word from our scouts in the stands- the last seven fastballs had touched 102- and two following hit 103. Wow.
Velocity. It gets us charged up. But how do guys like Chapman, and others blast over 100MPH?
Let's start with Genetics and Mechanics. No amount of conditioning can replace these two key ingredients. What conditioning CAN do however, is Optimize the Genetic Potential (OGP) of the athlete, and how we do it- is by first focusing on deceleration- of the entire kinetic chain- from toes to nose.
“The body will only create as much force as it can reduce” I once heard Dr. Michael Clarke state – literally taking the words from my mouth. Never a truer word spoken.
The human body first and foremost is a protection mechanism. Every neurological synapse, every core message is directed towards its own preservation. That’s how we’ve managed to survive as a species throughout time. If we want to create force- we must first improve the boundary by which it can be produced.
Training pitchers to maximize velocity is usually an off season focus, and by analyzing their individual mechanics- arm slot position and injury history, a picture is unveiled that gives the strength and conditioning coach the opportunity to optimize fastball speed…at any age.
Randy Williams had almost given up the game. At 33- he felt washed up at AAA. A sports hernia had put him on the DL for the last month of the 2008 season. “Are you ready to start on 2009?” I asked? Randy Williams today ranks as one of the hardest working athletes, I have ever had the pleasure to work with. “We’ll start on the braking system...” I began, and from there on- many long discussions and many late night workouts later, Randy Williams improved his velocity from 2008 (91-92) to 2009 (95-96). As a Lefty- he was more than an insurance policy at AAA Charlotte (White Sox) he was a hope. Could it be real? Could he have improved that much over the winter?
At the time of writing, Randy continues to get key outs for the White Sox, and that Texan smile is hard to see even on HD TV… but I know- his satisfaction for the hard work brings a smile to his face.
Meanwhile – back to Foro Sol Stadium… Aussie hitter Ben Risinger, upon knowledge of the 102 about to light up his kitchen simply said…“I’ll hang back for the slider…that’s the ticket! On an 0-2 pitch Benny Riz slapped a double to left.
Velocity- it’s not everything…location is.
But as strength and conditioning coaches we can maximize the human potential for speed. It’s our job to tune the human engine to exceed the demands of the sport. Light up the gun if you can.., it’s fun for everyone.
Start where you stop…the training process is simple- if you truly understand human performance.
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