I have had a number of people ask me about the long-toss routine Bum, Jr. used to help increase his velocity. He followed the Jaeger method, and I have added a You Tube link which I think every high school pitcher should watch. The pitcher in the video hits 97 MPH after long-tossing! Enjoy.

Jaeger Long-Toss Method

Good video. While I'm not that familiar with the "Jaeger method" the video seems to show what most players are doing anyway. Haven't most coaches been teaching their pitchers to do arm circles, stretches, bands and long toss for years?

"Haven't most coaches been teaching their pitchers to do arm circles, stretches, bands and long toss for years?"

Yes but the technique that they are using isn't normally what you see..the loose all the way out and looking for peak effort on the way in is the hallmark of the method. The coaches I've seen use it don't make it such a systematic drill..just sorta go on out there and chunk the hide.

I have had my kids on Jaeger long toss going on 4 years. My eldest has been to 3 Jaeger camps.

Our guys have been doing all of that and more for years. Non hit 97mph. That is a standard part of our workup every game and practice. Also use medicine ball and front arm circles, wrist circles.
LT starts on 1 knee and isolates wrist then develops into LT as far as you can throw then pull down at dcreasing distances.

Wooooo Hoooooo I'm starting tomorrow and should be hitting 97MPH by when....

Actually I used to LT with my son until last year and it was great for building up my arm for BP. I did get up to a blazing 68MPH. Those kids stood no chance against this arm......from 30ft.

Actually Jaeger stuff is great, their J bands are nice getting on and off and take the stress out of the wrist.

nice link, Bum. we use to think long toss should throw as a straight line instead of an arch. No wonder we can't throw over 250 feet. This video really help us understand how to do a long toss. Thanks!

Okay.....how does a crow hop and a 30 deg launch angle benefit a pitcher?

Actually, a 34-36 degree launch angle optimizes distance.

As explained in the video, the method promotes freedom in the arm by removing false limitations of the throwing motion. Everything is stretched out allowing greater range of motion. I believe this results in a quicker arm.

It is hard to throw a ball for distance if you do not have proper mechanics and a quick arm. Long toss thus promotes repeatable mechanics and trains the arm to throw quicker for maximum distance. The benefit really comes in the pull-down phase when this stretched out, quick arm is being trained to throw on a line for accuracy.

All I can safely say is it has worked wonders for my own son.

KBAT where are the coaches? Can't believe they would stand by and not correct the LT. Go to any game and the other teams are doing LT and I would assume some know how to do it.

I see how it would work, but why wouldn't infielder's do it?

Also, how many minutes is long toss done for?

i still believe thats a bunch of garbage, why throw the ball high into the air? greg maddux doesnt do longtoss at more than 70 feet because it changes your release point and totally alters muscle memory and arm motion... he could throw 95 when he was younger

The whole team does LT.

LT is done at varying lengths so that the realease points are not affected. The LT is done to strengthen the arm and is done in an arc. Our teams do it from a young age and never stop.
I always go to a pro game early to watch and they also LT as well as use the surgical bands before the game.
My bet is that Maddox does LT.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
KBAT where are the coaches? Can't believe they would stand by and not correct the LT. Go to any game and the other teams are doing LT and I would assume some know how to do it.

You know youth baseball, there's not a lot of detailed coaching involved. Everybody assume they know how to do a proper long toss. Every kid try to throw as hard as they can during the warm up. If you throw an arch, coach will say "Hey, don't lolipop it..."
Thus, the kids tried to throw as straight as possible even while they were backing up to 150 feet. There's nobody talk about "promotes freedom in the arm" "stretched out allowing greater range of motion" etc. We 've been emphasizing "straight line" for all these years until today, I didn't see a whole lot of arm strength improvement. That's why I am so thankful that Bum post this up. It's better be late than never.

Unfortunately a lack of good coaching is the norm and not the exception. This is why parents should learn everything they can about the game and conditioning. It can be done by reading some great books that are out there to start. Also attend high level games and watch what the guys are doimg. Pitcher have a definite routine and start their LT by wrist throws and drills that isolate different parts of the arm.
Every game should start with stretches, running and LT. It is important to vary the length of the LT and even the angle because you are trying to develop the whole shoulder capsul.

quote:

Originally posted by bakstop007:
i still believe thats a bunch of garbage, why throw the ball high into the air? greg maddux doesnt do longtoss

Wrong. Greg Maddux most definitely long-tosses, and here is the link to prove it.

Greg Maddux

quote:

Originally posted by bakstop007:
i still believe thats a bunch of garbage, why throw the ball high into the air? greg maddux doesnt do longtoss at more than 70 feet because it changes your release point and totally alters muscle memory and arm motion... he could throw 95 when he was younger

bakstop: What experience do you have in this area to belive it is a bunch of garbage?

I'm new to posting here but am very interested in this topic. How many people how read/seen information about Dick Mills (www.pitching.com)and his pitching ideas. He believes in gaining stength and speed by pitching game speed bullpens as opposed to long toss and other "traditional" methods. I like his thinking and his science based studies.

flyer, Welcome to HSBBW. Please do not subscribe to the "bullpen only" philosphy. We have had many discussions on M**** on this site, and you should do a search to read some of the comments. IMHO if you follow his methods you are doing the worst thing possible for your development. Nearly all MLB pitchers long-toss. How many follow the M**** methodology? Bullpens only, weighted balls, these are not what make you throw hard. Throwing makes you throw hard!

Not sure if my players will throw 97 but I have been using this program for 3 weeks and have seen amazing results from it. I used the same program for 9 years and this is the first time in my coaching career that I have switched and I am sold. I have freshman that could barely throw the ball 90 feet on lob and they are now after 3 weeks throwing 120 feet on a line.