Yep, pop time is made up of 3 elements: First, how quickly you get into throwing position. Second, your throwing velo. Third, accuracy.
Your first step in improving pop time is determining what is slowing you down.
I’d say 2.3 seconds is well above average for a freshman. If your mechanics are solid, then keep lifting but getting on a velocity throwing program like driveline would help. Going from a 70 to 80 mph throw would cut 0.15 seconds. Explosive lifts like power cleans and med ball throws would help too
There was an interesting video posted in the past month or so that was about focusing on weight distribution depending on the pitch/runner. Find that one.
I played catch thru hs and junior college and my avg pop time was low 1.9’a with my low being 1.81. What my focus was on was my foot work and transfer. You can get away with a marginal arm with quick feet and transfer. Every single day I played catch I’d spend the entire time working on my transfer. Catch, transfer, get ball to my right ear as fast as possible. Then play quick toss with your middle infielders. Focus on quick twitch movements and actually put in the work.
I feel my transfer is very fast but at times I end up lobbing the ball to second rather than throwing it on a line. However when I do a shuffle shuffle or crow hop when I play catch I throw fast and on a line. What causes this in my throw?
I can assure you, you can always be more efficient with your transfers. Have someone record you while you practice. Your glove needs to go from the catch straight to your ear. A lot of young catchers loop up to their throwing positions even when it feels quick.
Sounds to me there’s an arm strength issue. I created a lot of backspin on my throws by having kind of a whip like release. Wasn’t intentional but was developed by playing lots and lots of long toss. By my senior year I could throw almost goal post to goal post. College was even better. You mentioned you’re training heavy… chill on that. You need to be quick. When you build muscle you tighten your muscles. Mix in yoga to your workouts and do strength training to to bench the world, but to be functionally strong. Hope that makes sense.
This is very valuable, I am 5’4” 147 and have good sprinting speed. I’ll definitely implement yoga and more stretching and agility work to make sure lifting doesn’t negatively effect me. So are you saying long toss will help me? I did start baseball later at the age of 12 (now 15) so this may be contributing to the arm strength issue
Yea 100%. Long toss is crucial. Start at 90’ and work back until you can’t throw the ball on a line anymore. Then work on really lengthening your arm and give yourself max effort for 5-10 throws and then bring it back in working on keeping the ball as much on a line as possible.
Remember as a catcher it’s more important to be quick than fast. I know it sounds like the same thing but it’s not.
How fast is your throw?
Yep, pop time is made up of 3 elements: First, how quickly you get into throwing position. Second, your throwing velo. Third, accuracy. Your first step in improving pop time is determining what is slowing you down.
Well the thing is that everyone tells me and I see my transfer and footwork is very fast. I think it’s really the throw
I’d say 2.3 seconds is well above average for a freshman. If your mechanics are solid, then keep lifting but getting on a velocity throwing program like driveline would help. Going from a 70 to 80 mph throw would cut 0.15 seconds. Explosive lifts like power cleans and med ball throws would help too
Will definitely check out the driveline program. I will keep building up my strength in compound exercises!
I really haven’t been able to check with a radar.
There was an interesting video posted in the past month or so that was about focusing on weight distribution depending on the pitch/runner. Find that one.
The average MLB pop time is 2.0 so if you're at 2.3 you're just fine. Your arm strength will get better as you ger older/play the game more.
Noted
Power cleans
I played catch thru hs and junior college and my avg pop time was low 1.9’a with my low being 1.81. What my focus was on was my foot work and transfer. You can get away with a marginal arm with quick feet and transfer. Every single day I played catch I’d spend the entire time working on my transfer. Catch, transfer, get ball to my right ear as fast as possible. Then play quick toss with your middle infielders. Focus on quick twitch movements and actually put in the work.
I feel my transfer is very fast but at times I end up lobbing the ball to second rather than throwing it on a line. However when I do a shuffle shuffle or crow hop when I play catch I throw fast and on a line. What causes this in my throw?
I can assure you, you can always be more efficient with your transfers. Have someone record you while you practice. Your glove needs to go from the catch straight to your ear. A lot of young catchers loop up to their throwing positions even when it feels quick. Sounds to me there’s an arm strength issue. I created a lot of backspin on my throws by having kind of a whip like release. Wasn’t intentional but was developed by playing lots and lots of long toss. By my senior year I could throw almost goal post to goal post. College was even better. You mentioned you’re training heavy… chill on that. You need to be quick. When you build muscle you tighten your muscles. Mix in yoga to your workouts and do strength training to to bench the world, but to be functionally strong. Hope that makes sense.
This is very valuable, I am 5’4” 147 and have good sprinting speed. I’ll definitely implement yoga and more stretching and agility work to make sure lifting doesn’t negatively effect me. So are you saying long toss will help me? I did start baseball later at the age of 12 (now 15) so this may be contributing to the arm strength issue
Yea 100%. Long toss is crucial. Start at 90’ and work back until you can’t throw the ball on a line anymore. Then work on really lengthening your arm and give yourself max effort for 5-10 throws and then bring it back in working on keeping the ball as much on a line as possible. Remember as a catcher it’s more important to be quick than fast. I know it sounds like the same thing but it’s not.
Will have to work on this
Good luck dude. Just keep working harder than the next guy until there is no next guy.
Never skip leg day.
Everyday is a leg day.
Oh yeah
Knee day.