How to Gain Speed on a Fastball
The fastball is one of the greatest weapons in a pitcher's arsenal, and if used correctly, can really make things difficult for the hitter. Of course, the natural question about a pitch that relies on speed is: how can one make it faster. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to the question, as it relies on the individual. However, here are a few time-honored tips on gaining some speed.
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The easiest and most overlooked method of gaining speed is to use proper mechanics. Time after time, a young pitcher with poor form will throw his arm out within the first few innings. At that point, it becomes a struggle to even get the ball over the plate, much less worry about how fast its going. So, the first and most crucial tip is to take a good hard look at your form. If you have a coach you trust, asking them to work on your routine would be an excellent start. If not, a simple video camera can suffice, as you will be able to review yourself.
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The second logical step is to take a look at your body. If your mechanics are good, then the next step would be to tone and strengthen the muscles that are actually doing all of the work. For any athlete, a good strength training plan is a must. If you have a large budget available, go to your local gym or high school weight room and see if they have personal trainers available. If not, go online or to your local library and check out some material on strength training for competitive sports. If you find a routine that works for you, and you stick with it, the results will be nothing short of astounding
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If it’s not your mechanics, or your body, then look at the ball itself, or more specifically, the grip. There are tons of variations of the fastball grip; two seam, four seam, half seam. Play around with different grips, because more likely then not, your hand will respond better to one over the others. This is mainly because of hand and finger size, but changing grips is a really easy way to gain some juice on an otherwise lacking pitch.
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