You Can Throw Harder
An Engineer's Approach To Developing More Velocity
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The detailed discussion of optimal throwing mechanics is going to be segmented so that the upper body actions and lower body actions are isolated. In addition, the discussion and teaching concepts will break the mechanics into the movements prior to "launch" and after "launch." "Launch," as shown in the previous picture of Paul in Chapter 3, is the key throwing position because it is the point where the throwing action should switch from the reverse (backward) arm swing to the forward arm whip. It is important to emphasize that this book is intended to guide players in the establishment of an optimal "launch" position from which a powerful turn can be executed to generate maximum arm speed.
One characteristic of throwing mechanics that will not generate maximum velocity is the lack of a defined launch position. This type of throwing motion is typical for the majority of young players and is best understood by stating that the throwing action blends together smoothly and energy is expended almost linearly over the whole process. This throwing method is compared to a hard thrower’s mechanics that achieve a defined launch position; from which energy is developed almost instantaneously. A smooth throwing action is even typical of many advanced players that I see in high school, in college and in the professional ranks. A smooth, even transition from the reverse action through the forward action can be accurate and can prevent injury, but it cannot generate maximum velocity. Maximum velocity occurs when there is a violent, maximum effort turn that is executed, starting from the ideal launch position.
You may be asking yourself, "why, if some professional players throw with a blended technique, is it so important that young players learn to throw with the techniques in this book." The answer is that major league players typically have exceptional, if not freak of nature, athletic ability and physical gifts. The fact that a six foot six, 240 pound major league pitcher can throw 90 plus miles per hour with a less than optimal set of mechanics doesn’t mean that a five foot eleven, 175 pound high school player will get anywhere close to that velocity using the same technique. The average player with average athletic ability must utilize every bit of leverage and technique available to him to get close to the average major league arm speed.
So, the intent of this book is to break the mechanics down into the fewest number of steps that will allow the player to get into the ideal launch position, accelerate the arm to the maximum amount and then allow the arm to decelerate through a controlled finish. We will begin by working on the critical upper body actions.
Now that the correct grip has been established, the next step in understanding good throwing technique is to develop the correct start to the arm action. The following two pictures of Paul provide demonstrations of the arm action just after beginning the throwing motion. Paul’s body is square to the target (lead shoulder pointed to the plate) and the ball is in the throwing hand, palm down. Careful attention to these two pictures will find Paul’s non-throwing hand (glove hand) also beginning palm down. The throwing arm is nearly at full extension as it moves though a relaxed, continuous swing, headed to a point where the elbow is above the shoulder.
It needs to be pointed out, in reference to these starting photos, that most of the problems that players have at the release point or afterwards are a result of starting wrong or going wrong early in the throwing motion. If you, as the coach or the player, aren’t going to fix the problems at the start of the throwing motion, you shouldn’t try to fix the problems at the finish.
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Book Details
About the Book
This is a book totally focused on concepts that will allow a baseball player to throw the ball with more velocity, coupled with the best chance of preventing injury. You Can Throw Harder is intentionally kept brief to maximize the reader’s ability to grasp the important elements of a solid throwing technique. The book has been written for coaches, parents and players. It provides a detailed discussion of the author’s most effective teaching techniques as well as a thorough presentation of the most common faults that prevent young players from achieving their optimal arm speed. The chapter on drills offers a step by step method that has proven very successful in the instruction of a large number of young players. A section of the book provides off-season conditioning ideas and specific stretching and strengthening exercises for the shoulder, back and legs. Paul Shuey, setup man for the Cleveland Indians, is the primary subject analyzed throughout this book and a set of three throwing sequences is included in the appendix. It is the author’s sincere hope that this work can be used to help players achieve their optimal throwing performance. Player’s that achieve improved arm speed will hopefully increase their enjoyment of the game of baseball.
About the Author
Ken Shuey has a master’s degree in electrical engineering coupled with thirty-three years of practical experience in the design and development of electronic equipment. He holds twenty-nine patents on a variety of subjects related to his work experience with aircraft electrical systems and communications. Ken grew up playing youth baseball in Missouri and played four years of collegiate baseball at the University of Missouri at Rolla, joining the UMR team for the inaugural season that baseball was offered as a varsity sport. He played several years of post-collegiate baseball in the mid-Ohio area. Ken is the president of the North Wake County Baseball Association, a non-profit organization that provides baseball opportunities for players in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. He is the co-founder of the Greater Raleigh Fall Baseball League (GRFBL), recognized as one of the premier competitive fall baseball programs in the country. Ken is the father of Paul Shuey, setup man for the Cleveland Indians and one of the hardest throwers in the major leagues. Paul’s fastball has been clocked as high as 100 MPH and his split finger fastball consistently registers 90-94, one of the hardest in the major leagues. Ken has been providing throwing instruction for dedicated NWCBA players for many years. It is the combined experience of working with Paul and with a variety of NWCBA players, coupled with a strong engineering background, that has allowed a refined set of powerful throwing techniques to be developed.