The world record for the fastest pitch ever thrown in Major League Baseball (MLB) is held by the Cincinnati Reds’ Aroldis Chapman, who clocked a fastball at 105.8 mph while playing against the San Diego Padres in 2010.
Six years later, in 2016, Chapman once again threw a pitch going at 105.7mph, and just this year, in 2024, Ben Joyce threw a ball at 105.5 mph, getting close to but not quite smashing Chapman’s record.
Baseball teams, players, and fans alike are all logically impressed when a pitcher lights up the radar gun. With athletes considerably improving their technique and speed over the years, the question remains: will a pitcher ever be able to hit 110mph?
The answer lies in tackling this goal by honing one’s knowledge of physics, harnessing top technology, and pushing one’s limits through training.
Knowing the Physics of Pitching
The physics behind a player’s pitching speed involves the transfer of energy from ground up. The legs and core begin the cycle of energy, transferring it to the ball through their arm.
Key physical principles to know and leverage throughout training include utilizing the right momentum to transfer energy from the body to the ball, employing the best angular velocity during arm rotation, and acing the biomechanics of the throwing motion.
If you enjoy reading about renowned pitchers, then you may know about stars like Trevor Bauer of the Cleveland Indians. Bauer is one of the many pitchers who emphasize the importance of using physics to understand the perfect pitch.
A UCLA engineering graduate, he has used his understanding of physics to improve his pitching style on more than one occasion. For instance, during the off-season between 2017 and 2018, he developed a new slider pitch after studying the gyroscopic spin of a football and manipulating the axis of rotation to achieve the desired ball movement.
He worked for hours alongside his father to determine the optimal grip and release for this new pitch.
Embracing the Power of High-Tech Tools
Today, teams utilize a wide range of technologies to improve pitching speed, including high-speed cameras that analyze mechanics in great detail. Players also wear sensors that monitor their arm stress and fatigue, white radar guns and pitch-tracking systems are used to obtain precise velocity measurements.
One popular tool is the Smart Coach baseball radar gun, which dials in different pitch speeds to keep hitters off balance. When it comes to radar guns, tools like the Stalker Sport 2, with a range of 300 feet, measure ball speeds from 5 to 150mph, capturing both release speed and plate speed.
By trying out different techniques and constantly measuring results, teams can define their strategy and help pitchers embrace the styles that deliver the fastest results.
Training for Success
When it comes to training, pitchers concentrate on three main factors: strength, power, and mobility. The stronger the pitcher is, the more velocity they can generate. To boost power, it is vital for them to use the right techniques and strengthen the muscle groups that are engaged while pitching. These muscle groups include the legs, core, and arms.
Finally, rotational mobility is another key element to consistently improve to throw faster balls. Key joints that can boost momentum include those in the throwing shoulder and the hips and pelvis.
As such, training is centered on strength and conditioning (via weights, squats, and plyometrics), biomechanical optimization (tailoring training to the pitcher’s unique physical attributes), and velocity-centered training.
The latter involves long toss and weighted ball sessions to boost arm strength and taking part in high-intent throwing sessions to train the nervous system. High-intent training includes throwing at 80-100% maximum of a pitcher’s perceived maximum effort, velocity measurements, and resting between throws.
Of course, physical therapy and careful workload management are also vital to reduce injury rates.
As it stands, it is difficult to imagine a pitcher ever throwing a ball at 110mph. However, one only needs to look at the course of history to see that velocities have consistently increased over the years.
To achieve these lofty goals, teams are investing in physics programs, technology, and training to enable pitchers to achieve their very best.
