If you are a baseball pitcher you understand how difficult it can be to throw a fastball. It is not as easy as just throwing the ball over the plate during a baseball game. Even if you try your best to launch a spectacular fastball it might not be as fast as you would like. Perhaps you can strike one person out, but you cannot seem to repeat the process during the same game. There are a few reasons why throwing a fastball may not be effective. It may be because your arms are not quite strong enough. Maybe you need to push more off of your back leg, or it could just be your aim. No matter what the reason may be, there are simple techniques you can use to learn how to throw a fastball.
Begin by Stretching
Although this sounds like a no-brainer, stretching is very important in order to be able to throw a fastball. You need to stretch at least every four days. It is also advisable to ice your arm after you have been pitching for an extended amount of time. When you ice your arm, it can help by reducing swelling and pain.
Play Catch!
When you play long toss for a few weeks, at least four or five times a week, it helps build endurance and stamina. The benefits will not show up until you have been working at it for a few weeks. The length of the toss should be based on the age of the pitcher. Young kids need to work within a range of 100 feet, while teens in high school and adults need to work within a range of 250 to 300 feet. Practice makes perfect and playing long toss will help to improve your pitch and increase your fastball.
Good Mechanics Allow for Harder Ball Throwing
Mechanics are known to be one of the hardest parts of pitching. Some fastball techniques include staying on your back foot and raising your glove arm over your shoulder line. The break of your arms and legs should be simultaneous. An important tip to remember is that power originates from the ground and travels upward, and the core of your body is the strongest part. Rotate your hips before pitching as you push from the rubber with a back foot. This allows you to remain steady. Your elbow should reach a 90 – 110 degree angle with your shoulder in straight alignment with your elbow. Follow through with your whole body while facing the catcher to throw an accurate fastball.
Pitch Harder offers some of the best techniques you can learn concerning how to throw a fastball. Useful and enlightening learning products from Pitch Harder are proven to help improve your game.
