High school pitching athletes are constantly looking for ways to improve performance. If you want to play college or pro ball, you might want to boost velocity. Many look to weighted baseball training programs to help increase pitching velocity and strength. However, there are some important points to keep in mind before you start using weighted baseballs as part of your pitching training. Regulation baseballs weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces. Weighted baseball training involves training with baseballs that weigh more or less than regulation baseballs. Athletes usually use weighted baseballs to increase strength and velocity.
Should High School Pitching Athletes Start a Weighted Baseball Training Program?
One of the most common questions our coaches receive is whether high school pitching training programs should include weighted baseballs. The short answer is: there is no one-size-fits-all solution. So, keep in mind that athletes and coaches should work together to determine if weighted baseball training is a good option.
However, there are a few general recommendations regarding weighted baseballs. The first thing is you usually need to be physically mature for weighted baseball training. If you’re still growing, your joints may be more vulnerable to injury. Each person grows at a different rate. However, high school freshmen over age 13 may be physically developed enough for training with a one pound ball. In most cases, you should wait to train with the two pound baseballs until after age 18. This allows your body time to develop the necessary strength and muscle mass.
Of course, it’s also important to have the fundamentals down before beginning a weighted baseball program. Many hone their skills with our pitching instruction before using weighted balls for strength.
Pros and Cons of Weighted Baseballs
There are many reasons you might want to use weighted baseball programs. Weighted baseballs can help train both accelerator and decelerator muscles in the arm, which can increase functional strength. Many athletes also notice an increase in pitching velocity after beginning a weighted baseball training program.
However, it’s also important to keep in mind that using weighted baseballs increase stress on the body. Like any other training protocol, using them incorrectly could lead to injury.
Our pitching lessons help guide athletes of all skill levels through training. The National Pitching program includes many elements to help pitchers increase performance and stay healthy. It’s important to be on a consistent training program before using weighted balls. That’s why we recommend taking an individualized approach to whether and when to begin a weighted baseball program.
Also, we recommend using our evidence-based pitching instruction to help you address many elements of your game, such as biomechanics, nutrition, arm care, and functional strength. You should always weigh the pros and cons before beginning a new training method.
Pitching Instruction at National Pitching – Tom House Sports
At National Pitching, we are here to help you up your game. Our pitching program helps athletes of all skill levels, from youth and high school pitching all the way to the pros. We take a health-first approach to helping pitchers achieve their potential. Want to start a weighted baseball training program? You can order our pitching velocity and arm care baseballs to get started. This weighted baseball set comes with six balls of varying weights as well as a carrying bag for training. If you’re interested in our science backed program for pitchers and rotational athletes, get started today by finding a National Pitching coach near you or beginning our virtual pitching program with exclusive video pitching lessons.
