I went to see one of my pitchers in a game yesterday and she was 2-3 mph faster than what she throws in practice. When I say practice speed I'm talking about when you do locations and pitch sequences, not full bore velocity work. I'm wondering what others see.
Game Speed vs Practice Speed
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adrenaline, cannot replicate game scenarios
- Feb 15, 2017
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DD is the same way....always 2-3 mph faster in games than any other time. And that’s usually in the later innings too. Been that way since 8u. Something about the adrenaline and competitiveness that blocks out the concentration on mechanics or doing things a certain way. Based on observations I think at the younger ages most of them are slower in games but as they get older that trend reverses.
DD’s first pitching coach, for all his faults, started off her right by emphasizing drills/mechanics are for lessons and practice. When getting in the circle you just compete and the work you have done outside shows. Told her to never worry about mechanics etc because at that point if you haven’t done enough to make them muscle memory then its only going to make things worse. On the bucket I never yelled anything other than encouragement and it seemed to have worked more times than not.
DD’s first pitching coach, for all his faults, started off her right by emphasizing drills/mechanics are for lessons and practice. When getting in the circle you just compete and the work you have done outside shows. Told her to never worry about mechanics etc because at that point if you haven’t done enough to make them muscle memory then its only going to make things worse. On the bucket I never yelled anything other than encouragement and it seemed to have worked more times than not.
Kind of a 3 step process.
1. Younger kids throw faster in practice than in games. Why? They aren't relaxed in games and have problems with control, so they slow down
2. As they get older and more experienced, they have more control in games, and they are accustomed to game pressure. Being in the game no longer hinders their pitching.
3. As they get even more mature, they learn that practice is about working on specific problems and challenges. So, in practice they are focused on getting better...improving their form, their control, etc. Therefore, they throw slower in practice than in games.
We are 100% going through 2 & 3 right now. During 10u and a lot of 12u last year she was slower in game than practice.
This year I’m convinced she throws faster in game. And I’ve told her that once she’s in game she just needs to throw. Only keeping a mindfulness on certain cues/adjustments that need to be made based on successful/unsuccessful results pitch to pitch.
I am of the fan club that practice is for mechanics focus. Game time is use what you have thus far.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 2,386
- 113
AMEN AMEN AMEN. Not only can you not replicate scenarios, you can't get into game shape without playing games. Throwing 300 pitches in a practice doesn't equal a single game in real life. It just doesn't, I can't explain why. I have thrown BP for hours for months before the season, then game 1... I get that finger tingle feeling in the 4th inning.
