Why Throwing Speed Improves Before Hitting Speed in Our Arm Speed Program

🏐 In our PC360 Arm Speed programs, athletes rotate through several stations where they throw or hit a ball while we measure ball speed with a radar gun. This allows us to track real improvements in arm speed over time.

Two of the most important measurements we track are:

• Throwing speed on the ground
• Hitting speed in the air

📈 What We Consistently See

For most athletes starting the program:

1️⃣ Throwing speed on the ground improves first — and fastest.
This is usually the first ball-speed metric to increase.

2️⃣ Hitting speed in the air will lag behind.
Even though hitting is our ultimate performance goal, it typically takes a few weeks for hitting speeds to begin catching up to throwing speeds.

When athletes track their numbers over time, they will often see hitting speeds gradually move closer to their throwing speeds as their mechanics and timing improve.

🔑 The First Changes Are Mechanical — Not Just Speed

The first improvements we see are actually qualitative, not quantitative.

In other words:

Mechanics improve first.

That’s exactly what we want.

Before big increases in ball speed happen, athletes usually develop:

• Better hip and torso rotation
• A cleaner arm path
• Improved sequencing from the ground up
• A straighter hand path through the target

These mechanical improvements are the foundation of future arm speed gains.

⚡ How Fast Do Mechanics Change?

For athletes between ages 13–23, mechanics can improve very quickly.

Sometimes it happens:

• Within minutes
• Within the first training session
• Within just a few sessions

🚀 Then the Speed Gains Begin

Once better mechanics are established:

• Throwing speed usually jumps first
• Hitting speed begins climbing shortly after
• Over time, the two measurements move closer together

This is the progression we expect to see when athletes are building speed the right way.

💡 Remember:
Improving mechanics first allows athletes to increase arm speed safely, build higher long-term ball speeds, and reduce injury risk.

Better mechanics → Faster arm speed → Harder hits.

Keep tracking your numbers and trust the progression. 📊🔥