In this throw I popped a 1.84. I am generally around 1.85 to 1.95, but I sometimes get over 2.00 or under 1.8. What advice do you have on increasing pop times? Sometimes my times differ from watch to watch depending on who is doing the timing. I also have some days where I really feel like I can be quick with the ball and others where I feel like I am not in the right rythm. What is your advice on being consistent?

pop time

Very much dependent on pitch location. Spend more time on the tougher locations with a stander.Don't worry about varying pop times by different timers. You have no control over that.

Over throwing often impacts consistency.The John Wooden "be quick, don't rush" thought applies here.

The best advice I can give you is to stay under control and just think "tempo."
My JR & SR years in HS I was anywhere from a 1.81-2.01. When I transfered schools after my FR year in college, I was throwing harder, releasing quicker, and going even more out of control. I might have thrown a 1.75 every now and again, but it probably went to the center fielder on one hop, lol.
I started throwing more runners out and was MUCH more consistent when the coach got me to slow down and think tempo.
When I would think "quick" I would rush the throw, however, when I slowed myself down just a hair and thought about "tempo" my times were still consistently 1.85-1.95 and the percentage of runners I threw out went WAY up.
Hope this helps...

Maybe I was a little unclear in my explanation. Most of the time I am on the money as far as the throw, and the only time I am off would be maybe a hair left to right. I threw today and concentrated on just getting rid of it quickly. While my times were better my accuraccy went down. I was wondering if you prefer coming over the back side like a pitcher, which is what my follow through is in this video, or somewhat dragging it. I noticed Yadier Molina kind of drags but he is ultra quick in his release.

I've timed the throw down of dozens of MLB catchers in game situations using the wonders of DVR, which allows accuracy to the 1/60th of a second.

In-game pop times for MLB catchers is always right around 2.00. Often times, depending on pitch location, it is above 2.00.

I have no doubt that high school aged catchers are getting reads of under 1.9 in simulated pop-time measures, but I remain highly skeptical that these times are translating into game pop times that are similar.

There are just too many ways to shave tenths off the time in simulated situations, which is apparent from this video.

Work on footwork and proper transfer mechanics, and most important: work on mechanics from different pitch locations. Getting a good time on a fastball down the middle, when you can pre-set for the throw as you do in this video, doesn't reveal all that much.

Properly handling a rake/throw or the outside pitch, or the curve where you better stay down until you catch it - those are what will translate into more runners caught stealing.

And use video to get your times. Stopwatch measures are very inconsistent and far too dependent on whether dad is holding it.

Jerry you have a PM.

transfer into your hand at your right shoulder as your front side closes -- instead of out in front... this will automatically shave off .08-.12 seconds

crash,

why are you worried if you are under 2.00? I believe what Rob says...the time depends on the finger pushing the button.

Consistency you mention...understand pitch location has a whole lot to do with how you do things and the pop time. also watch out if trying to gain too much ground...looks like that is slowing you down getting rid of the ball. also a little too upright throwing for me but not horrible.

rythmn is important and if you try speeding up the lower body the upper body must speed up also to maintain the sequence. gotta be under control back there. trust your mechanics and trust your arm; being smooth usually gives you the best times.

different theories on ball exchange abound. some teach catching the ball deep,others out in front of the knees. i prefer in front of the knees but both styles have merit. your ball exchange mechanics aren't too bad but is influenced by your gaining ground in the video...if you want to speed it up at all, go old school and get the right hand closer to the glove and up just behind the knee.

catching the ball deep is something that has come into vogue lately and is how the Latin catchers are taught...personally preference aside, it seems to me that many aren't that good at blocking. I like an aggressive catcher and I just don't see many what I call good catchers catching the ball behind the shin guards or close to their chest except on balls to their backhand side with a runner going.

too many coaches cookie cut how they teach...if catching deep is your style, fine. if catching out in front of the knees is your style, fine. I advise learning the advantages of both and how they come to bear on varying pitch locations.

from what I see, there is alot more good than bad in what you're doing. keep it up.

Using sound is also flawed. The speed of sound is slower than the speed of light. Ever see a jet fly over head, and hear the sound of it coming from somewhere "behind" it?

BOF
Can't open your PM.

Crash,
Pretty long lead step(looks to be almost 4' on the football field) leads to long stride( looks to be almost 9' from set up) usually slows things down because you cannot throw until you get your left foot down.Maybe try a little shorter momentum step & see what effect that has on your times.Make it more of "step, catch, throw" momentum.

Keep airing it out & find the right tempo that balances release, ball velocity, & accuracy. IMO catching the ball deep makes more sense since the ball is going to move faster than your hands. If you extend to catch the ball, you are going to ahve to bring your hands back to throw. Also I prefer separation in front of your body as opposed to the side of your body(balls to backhand side the exception)because late separaation often leads to over rotation which leads to slower releases and misalignment.

You got some great advice about working on throwing tough pitches. I would also suggest that you have a stander(both sides) to make it more game like.
JW