Mastering Arm Impulse: Key to Sustaining Pitch Velocity and Reducing Injuries for Long-Term Value

To help pitchers tolerate the higher torques of pitch velocity and sustain their performance while delaying major arm injuries, teaching and showing how to incorporate greater impulse of the throwing arm into higher output throwing will be crucial. This approach is vital for both amateur and professional baseball pitchers, enabling them to maintain their value for longer.

Understanding Impulse in Pitching

The concept of impulse, defined as Impulse = F⋅Δt, is integral to our training philosophy. We are essentially building the time scale to produce force into ball release. Think of it as a long on-ramp for a car to build speed and merge onto the highway at higher speeds.

Sequencing better earlier in the pitching delivery allows your upper body mass and arm to be in a more optimal position at foot strike. This generates a greater impulse into ball release. Conversely, poor sequencing can still achieve high-pitch outputs but often results in increased torsion and torque on the throwing elbow/shoulder. This is a significant factor in the volume of Tommy John surgeries in baseball.

The Delivery Value System

Over the last decade, I've used the Delivery Value System (DVS) to help educate pitchers on how to sequence better through the pitching delivery. This method aims to decrease the risk on their throwing arm, improve efficiency and timing, and ultimately help pitchers tolerate the demands of throwing over their career.

As pitchers improve their sequencing (inputs), pitch outputs also see a direct impact. This increase in pitch output metrics is primarily due to the ability to utilize greater mass and leverage into each pitch, thus increasing the impulse of the throwing arm.

Tracking and Quantifying Arm Impulse

I've been heavily focused on arm impulse for the last several months and will begin to track and quantify it with a DVS X-ray. In November, after almost a two-year layoff, I started ramping up my throwing to test our mocap kit. This process involved frequent throwing and getting back into positions that allow for the demonstration of arm impulse.

Demonstrating Arm Impulse

In the video comparison below, you can observe my body and arm orient almost identically into a weight-bearing foot strike. However, as my trunk and arm progress into ball release, I generate a greater arm impulse. This is evident in the video's keyframes. In May's video, I allow more lag time for my arm to create the force and release the baseball, with my upper mass closer to home plate while my back foot stays anchored into the ground.

This transformation is only possible with the proper alignment and stability of the rear foot and, eventually, the front foot to facilitate the greater impulse of each throw.

Conclusion

Teaching and demonstrating how to incorporate greater impulse into the throwing arm is essential for pitchers to withstand the rigors of high-pitch velocity and maintain their performance while reducing the risk of major arm injuries. The Delivery Value System and our focus on arm impulse aim to provide pitchers with the tools and techniques they need to achieve optimal performance and longevity in their careers.