3X Force Production is the Driving Force Behind Velocity

force vectorIf you have not purchased the 3X Pitching Velocity Program, then let me tell you what you are missing out on. High velocity pitchers generate more force production through triple extension during the stride phase of the delivery. Pitchers like Tim Lincecum and Aroldis Chapman have stride lengths around 7.5 feet and stride speeds of around .6 seconds. Chapman is considered the hardest thrower in the league because of out of 25 pitches in a 2010 game, he threw everyone over 100 MPH.

To understand how to implement these velocity components into your pitching delivery we must first define these terms.

Force Production

“Generally, nerves stimulate muscles causing the fibers to contract with tension placed on their adjoining connective tissues. Since muscle contractions create the forces necessary to overcome resistance, the nerves represent the control center, whereas the connective tissues transfer the forces to the skeletal system. Ultimately, it is the ability of the muscle to generate forces that determines whether it will perform a movement effectively.” www.nsca-lift.org

Triple Extension

“The force production generated through the extension of the ankle, knee and hip flexor is the most effective and efficient way to move the body. The extension of these three joints is called triple extension.”

What does it take to increase force production through triple extension?

First, you must train your muscles to generate more power. Even better is to train through triple extension. This would include heavy load training using Plyometrics and the Olympic lifts, like jumps and cleans. The reason for the heavy load training is because this has been proven the most effective way to develop more explosive power from your muscles. Heavy load training forces the body to recruit more fast twitch muscle fibers and also will develop more motor units to fire those muscle fibers more frequently.

Second, you must make mechanical adjustments to take advantage of this increased force production. This is because there is two different ways to move through force production. One way is a vertical movement, like a jump and the other way is a linear movement, like in a stride or sprint. In pitching we move with a linear stride and that stride is also moving down hill.  Because we are moving in a linear movement, instead of a vertical movement, we must set what is called our force vector, with our center of gravity, before the launch. The 3X Pitching Velocity Program goes into this more but the basics of this mechanical adjustment is that you must line up your drive leg ankle and knee with your front hip, and these all should be pointing towards the target. Once this occurs, then the force production of triple extension will drive the body in a linear movement towards the target. If this does not all line up, then triple extension will not occur and force production is limited.

The 3X Pitching Velocity Program produces results because it trains you to generate more force production both physically and mechanically as describe in this article. You must have both to effectively increase pitching velocity. The 3X Pitching Velocity Program goes into full detail on how to train 3X and force production and also has many velocity drills teaching you how to do this.

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5 Comments. Leave new

  • Brent, I have been working on trying to get my force vector in line for weeks and it's frustrating. I have a habit of squatting early in the delivery instead of moving forward and squatting at the same time, at the top of my leg lift I try to inch forward but I get off balance and just want to squat straight down and then move forward. Should I rely on the lifts like the power clean, dead lift and squats or should I just keep practicing it until I implement it.

    • The 3X Velocity System and the Fusion System in the Ace Pitcher Handbook support this. Yes, focus on the Olympic lifts and the on knee throwing drills as well. Mechanically work out of the stretch and start with your drive leg knee inside your drive leg foot.

  • Brent, what makes cliff lee a good pitcher.

    • He has good hip to shoulder separation but his triple extension is average. Compare his 3X to Aroldis Chapman and it is not even close. Cliff Lee's stride length is about 80% of his height if I could guess and Chapman's is 125% recorded. This is why Chapman has hit 105mph and Cliff Lee sits low 90's.


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