As some of you know I'm new to pitching. I went back to read some posts in past and I see many of you support long toss.

Question is that how often should I do long toss? How far should I throw? Do I simulate my pitching motion while long tossing? Also, is Jaegar long toss program any good (including J-Bands?)? Thanks. Sorry for too many questions as a newbie. I'm taking a baby steps here...

Just as a personal preference, I like throwing 5-10 fastballs at the end of every bullpen session from 65-70ft. Does it literally make me throw harder? Maybe, I don't know... but it does make me get out over my foot more and do some good things mechanically. It's not long toss, but a good way to make sure you use your whole body.

If you are long tossing to build arm strength, i.e. going out to full distance I'd recommend limiting it to 3 times a week. That doesn't mean you can't throw lightly on off days or even throw "light" long toss.

No you don't simulate your pitching motion while long tossing. Throw like an outfielder, crow hop and all, except with more arc on the ball as you work your way out in distance. The key is to only throw hard enough to reach the distance as you work your way out. Let the distance control how hard you are throwing and that will let you work up to throwing quite hard very gradually and relatively safely. Then when you are working your way back in keep throwing with the same effort you had at near max distance and try to throw on a line as much as possible.

The Jaeger program is pretty good and the J-bands are very convenient to use. If you are strapped for cash though you can get other types of bands for less money.

quote:

crow hop

Never have I crow hoped when I long toss, and I even play some outfield (primary LHP). However, this is not because of advise I have recieved, it just makes sense to me that if you are trying to build ARM strength, the crow hop is useless because you it clearly does not use your arm. I think if you just throw max effort with your arm with an arc and then pull it down you are doing yourself more beneift. IMO

PS: the way I longtoss is the following (I have no partner). I throw on an arc max effort, I go get the ball, I throw back max effort on a straight plane, go get the ball, etc... but again I do not know if this is the best way, but I feel that getting multiple different opinions and theories to discuss is always a positive.

I had a session yesterday and tried long tossing before mound work... the thing is that long toss actually ruined by release point and it took about 50 pitches in mound to get my release point back...

I have always been taught to release as far out in front as possible, even in long toss. When I get to a point where I cant throw it on a line and on a hop, then I dont go any farther. As a pitcher it isn't about how far you throw the ball obviously. It's about throwing strikes and maintaing the same release point no matter what you throw. Throwing big looping rainbows when long tossing will hurt you more than it will help you IMO. I release everything out in front, whether I am on the mound or long tossing. Just my 2 cents...