Most Pitchers Don’t Have a Velocity Problem — They Have a Capacity Problem
Blog post description.
Most Pitchers Don’t Have a Velocity Problem — They Have a Capacity Problem
Most high school pitchers think they need a new drill, a new weighted ball program, or more throwing volume to throw harder.
That’s rarely the issue.
What actually limits velocity for most pitchers is insufficient physical capacity — strength, power, and control — to support higher throwing outputs safely.
We recently ran a short testing day with several high school pitchers. Different ages. Different body types. Different performance levels.
The results made one thing very clear:
Velocity ceilings are predictable when you measure the right things.
Why Guessing Fails (And Why Most Off-Seasons Stall)
Most pitchers train blind.
They don’t know:
If their arm strength can support more throwing
If their lower half can actually produce power
If their trunk can transfer force efficiently
Where their biggest leaks are
So they guess.
And guessing leads to:
Temporary velocity spikes
Chronic soreness
Plateaus
Missed development windows
Testing removes the guesswork.
What We Measured (And Why It Matters)
On this testing day, we evaluated four pitchers using a capacity-first approach, not a velocity-first one.
Key areas included:
Arm strength (IR, ER, scaption, grip)
Lower-body power (broad jump, single-leg jump, estimated watts)
Core and glute endurance (side planks, glute bridges, prone holds)
Throwing output in multiple constraints (knee, rocker, run-and-gun, mound)
This gives us a full picture of:
How force is produced
How it’s transferred
Where velocity is being lost
What the Data Showed (Real Examples)
15 y/o, HS Freshman (Left-Handed)
This athlete showed:
Solid lower-body power for his age (9’4” broad jump, ~863W)
Noticeable gaps in arm strength relative to future velocity goals
Good movement skill but limited current capacity
Translation:
This athlete is early in his development window. If he chased velocity aggressively right now, the arm would pay the price. His plan needs to build capacity first, not rush output.
This is how you protect a freshman’s long-term ceiling.
– 18 y/o, HS Senior
This profile looked very different:
High total arm strength (232+ lbs)
Elite estimated power output (~1315W)
Strong transfer through multiple throwing constraints
Translation:
This athlete had already built the physical foundation to support higher velocity. His gains came from precision and sequencing, not adding more work.
Same system. Different emphasis.
– 15 y/o, HS Sophomore
Here we see:
Lower total strength and power compared to peers
Inconsistent transfer patterns
Clear strength and stability bottlenecks
Translation:
This is a pitcher who looks like he needs mechanics work — but actually needs strength, power, and control before mechanics will ever stick.
Coaching without fixing capacity would be wasted effort.
– 18 y/o, HS Senior
This athlete fell between profiles:
Solid strength base
Moderate power output
Transfer improving but not optimized
Translation:
This is where targeted development matters most. The wrong off-season plan would stall progress. The right one compounds gains.
The Big Takeaway Parents Miss
These four pitchers trained differently — on purpose.
Same system.
Different priorities.
This is where most programs fail.
Generic plans assume all pitchers need the same thing. They don’t.
Our Development Process (This Is the Difference)
Every pitcher we work with follows the same decision-making framework:
Test strength, power, and transfer
Identify bottlenecks limiting velocity
Build capacity first (arm, trunk, lower half)
Layer velocity safely
Monitor and adjust as outputs increase
Velocity is the result — not the starting point.
What This Approach Prevents
This process helps pitchers avoid:
Chasing radar readings without support
Overuse injuries
Repeated off-season plateaus
Losing confidence from stalled progress
Parents don’t just buy velocity.
They buy certainty and direction.
Who This Is For (And Who It’s Not)
This is for:
Pitchers serious about long-term development
Families who want objective answers, not guesses
Athletes willing to commit to a process
This is NOT for:
One-size-fits-all programs
Quick fixes
Velocity at all costs
How to Get Started
If you want to know:
What’s limiting your pitcher right now
Whether their body can support more velocity
What kind of off-season plan actually fits them
It starts with an evaluation.
👉 Apply for a Pitching Evaluation at URATBB.Com or message me directly to 801-414-0840
This is how we build durable velocity — not just higher radar numbers.
jordan@utahrotationalathletetraining.com