Building Arm Strength

Looking ahead to the off season, I would like to try and build my daughters arm strength up, if you have time to watch the short video...I was wondering if this would be a good idea? Has anyone tried a similar regimen? Also, for those with some experience, do you think great arm strength is mostly genetic or can you build it significantly with hard work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAZwkzUnQP8

Thanks

I did a similar regiment with DD, I used a nail ball or drove fishing nails along the seems to add weight. I carefully added nails to grandly add weight. We also used the stretch bands to exercise DD arm. As the video showed everything in small increments as not to put too much stress on the arm.

DD attended a softball camp at Alabama and was given a regiment using the bands to improve arm strength, it made a difference as her throwing improved faster using the nail ball and bands IMO.

My .02:
This is a tough one for me on a few levels. First, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of using a weighted ball for throwing--either under or overhand, but would be glad to hear some solid evidence otherwise. (That said, I encourage hitters to loosen/warm up with a heavier bat...) I think there are better ways to strengthen the body (not just the arm.) Some ideas are: swimming, martial arts, dance, elastic bands or various fitness classes/videos.

More importantly, if your DD (like Gary's DD) has a "weak" throw, I'd look at sequencing. Improve that with the Wasserman material. If you have an iPhone 6/7, shoot some slow motion video of your daughter and have her compare her mechanics to some favorite elite players and see if she can see where she can improve her sequence.

Ken

Make sure you also spend time developing core strength. My DD goes to a personal trainer once a week and it has helped tremendously with all over strength and power in both soccer and softball

I was wondering if this would be a good idea?

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If you are like most newbie parents, your DD's pitching mechanics are a wreck.

Fix her mechanics, and she'll throw faster and with greater accuracy.

Until her mechanics are fixed, you are wasting time with underweight/overweight throwing.

If you are the one-in-a-million exception and your daughter already has great pitching mechanics:

There is a great deal of research supporting the use of overload/underload training to increase pitch velocity.

BUT: It has to be within a structured program. Going out in the backyard and tossing a weight ball around for 10 minutes isn't going to do anything.

Do you think great arm strength is mostly genetic or can you build it significantly with hard work?

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Almost any child can be taught to throw 50MPH. There are some kids who can learn to throw over 60MPH. There are very few who can learn to throw faster than 70MPH.

Hard work (good training and consistent work outs) can increase a kid's speed by 5 to 10MPH. However, the elite athletes have superior genetics as well as great training and a great work ethic.

Genetics provides an "upper bound" on achievement level.

I can't speak to whether or not this is safe and/or effective though I do know throwing every day is going to increase her arm strength regardless of if you use a weighted ball or not.

DD has not ever used a weighted ball, never thought I was calcified. Good for your DD using them.

DD goes to therapy, we trust them more.

No weight ever. If it worked you could throw a cinder block around the yard to hit 80 on the radar. Arm "strength" is a myth. Endurance is a better word because strength comes from your core and lower body as stated before. Have her PROPERLY do a long toss and pull down regimen 3 or 4 days a week. Long toss will reinforce proper mechanics once distance increases.

Long toss will reinforce proper mechanics once distance increases.

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I agree that long toss is a better way to increase arm strength.

I disagree about the overweight/underweight training...it is effective to help elite athletes increase speed. Tehre is a lot of research in baseball (here it is: Weighted ball research) and it gets somewhere around 5% increase in speed. So, a 60MPH fastball could go to 63MPH.

For a kid reaching the top end of her potential, overweight/underweight training makes sense. For the vast (and I mean vast) majority, it it is a waste of time.

My DD in college had a top end of 67MPH and cruised at 63MPH. She never did overweight/underweight training.

Thanks for all of the replies. I was wondering how all of you have your DD do long toss...underhand, overhand, how many tosses, how often?