He meants hitters are having problems to hit your son's pitches well. He got a lot of pop outs, and weak grounballs. Pitchers with a heavy fastball don't allow to many HR. They look like are throwing stones and not baseballs.
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights". Benito Juarez
Pitchers who throw unusually hard give the impression to the one catching it that the ball is heavier than normal. It's an old phrase in baseball to say "he throws a heavy ball".
Posts: 54 | Location: midlakes | Registered: November 13, 2003
My son is a pitcher and I have watched many pitching lessons. When my son's mechanics are "on" the ball reaches the plate with much more movement and perceived velocity.(I say perceived because the gun doesn't measure it there) When he's "off" the pitch looks weak. I have had a gun on him during his last few lessons and was suprised to find some of the weaker looking pitches he actually had faster gun readings. This leads me to the "heavy fastball" description. I think when you use proper mechanics you more effectively transfer energy to the ball. That's what I think a heavy fastball is. When you don't have good mechanics you may have arm speed, but it may not be transferred to the ball.
"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet" Bobby Unser
Posts: 137 | Location: midwest | Registered: December 27, 2002
All I know is a Heavy Ball isn't alot of fun to catch. Both my husband and son's coach don't like to throw w/ him anymore.
_______________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer
It is intersting that everyone has a different spin (pardon the pun) of what it means to have a heavy baseball, but everyone does agree that it is a good thing to have.
Posts: 553 | Location: Chesapeake, VA | Registered: December 30, 2002
From what I've always heard when it's been said about me, it includes several of the above. I think the main thing is the fact that most of the time the ball is riding down in the zone. Staying down, moving, and with velocity.
Brice
Posts: 148 | Location: Texas Creek, CO, USA | Registered: September 23, 2003
My understanding, from many a former minor league players is that kids who have heavy fastballs generally dont lose a lot of speed from their arm to the plate. Their pitch may read read 88, but if it comes in at 78, its lite because it only feels like 78, not 88. while you will lose speed, the less lost, the heavier the pitch. I've ALSO heard it reffered to when they talk about two-seams that sink. I think this term should be formally defined by some scouts, haha.
NJ Pitch
Posts: 274 | Location: Short Hills (Millburn), New Jersey | Registered: January 31, 2004
