The Truth About Velocity and How It Matters

By Kolten Smith –

There are two sides to a coin in terms of what people think about velocity. One side is the idea that control is more important than velocity. I heard this a lot growing up: “Don’t worry about throwing hard, Kolten! Just focus on throwing strikes, and the outs will come.” While this can be good advice depending on the pitching situation, it doesn’t nearly paint the whole picture. 

The other side is the idea that velocity is more important than control. But this also doesn’t give a complete picture. No coach needs a player who can throw hard but not accurately over the plate. 

You’re probably thinking, “So what’s the truth?”. 

The truth, like many things, is somewhere in the middle. 

The reality—and most would agree—is that velocity opens doors. But what coaches, parents, and players often miss is just how much they value velocity in the overall equation. 

The Truth:

When a college coach or scout evaluates a pitcher for the first time, what do you think they notice? It’s not the shape of your off-speed pitches. It’s probably not your command. It’s the number that flashes on the Stalker.

Velocity, to most decision makers, is a filter. Coaches use it to decide who’s worth a closer look. 

For example:

A 17-year-old sitting at 86–88 mph will catch way more eyes than someone sitting at 80–82, even if the lower-velo guy has better command.

Now, that’s not to say the pitcher throwing 80-82 is not going to get any looks—it’s just going to be from smaller-school coaches. 

So yes, velocity matters. It always will.

Here’s Where It Gets Misunderstood:

Some pitchers hear this and think they need to chase velocity at all costs. They buy a one-size-fits-all weighted ball program online and expect it to work for them. Or they believe throwing multiple max-effort bullpens each week is the answer. 

While these methods may gain players a few “ticks” in the short term, they’re building this velocity on a very shaky foundation. This could cause players to lose the velocity they’ve gained, go backward—or worse, injury. 

With all of this said, it is clear to me: velocity might get you in the room, but it won’t keep you there.

If you’re 90+ mph but you can’t command the ball, have an ineffective off-speed, or you become inconsistent after 20 pitches, coaches won’t trust you in the big spots. 

And trust is everything to coaches.

So, What IS The Path Forward?

At the Texas Baseball Ranch®, we don’t chase velocity blindly—we train with a purpose. Every athlete we work with receives a hyper-personalized plan that addresses:

• Mechanical inefficiencies
• Mobility, flexibility, and stability issues
• Arm care and recovery
• Mindset and approach

Velocity is a big part of the process… but it is not the whole process. At TBR, we start by addressing the source of the pain and then help athletes sustainably gain velocity.

Don’t ignore velocity—but don’t obsess over it either. Instead, understand where it fits within the bigger picture of your development. Yes, you should absolutely be working towards throwing harder. But more importantly, you should be trying to become a complete pitcher—one who stays healthy, has good command, and effective off-speed pitches. 

Our analysis and hyper-personalized plans have helped thousands of athletes become better pitchers than they were before driving through our gates. If any of this interests you or your son, come see us at The Ranch. We’ll identify your constraints, guide you on how to address them, and set realistic goals to achieve post-camp. 

The Ranch helped me in this way as a player—and I continue to see it every day as a coach.

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Important TBR Updates

 

• We’re wanting to acknowledge the spring successes of our Ranch athletes.  If you received a postseason honor, please let us know by sending the details and a picture to info@texasbaseballranch.com.  

 

• There are still several dates remaining this summer to join us at one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and take advantage of our world renowned training. Upcoming dates include: 
  June 20-22 (Fri-Sun)
  July 4-6 (Fri-Sun)
  July 18-20 (Fri-Sun)
  Aug. 1-3 (Fri-Sun)
  Aug. 30-Sept 1 (Sat-Mon)
  To register or learn more CLICK HERE

 

• Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but are still on the fence? To help, we have a detailed information package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the summer, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.

 

• Coach Wolforth is hosting a new special 90-minute webinar – “4 Costly Mistakes in Pitching Development: How Athletes & Parents Unknowingly Sabotage Success” on Monday at 7pm CST.  If you’d like to attend the next webinar, CLICK HERE to register.

 

• Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”?   Join us for 2-11 weeks this summer.  For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form visit https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/tbr-summer-program/.

 

• Would you like to participate in the Ranch Summer Program but can’t find 2+ weeks in your schedule?  We have an option for you!  Attend one of our 3-Day EPBC’s and add the summer program week after.  It’s seven days of training and is a great option for those players with an extremely busy summer schedule.  Give us a call and we can provide you with more details – (936) 588-6762.

Tagged as: Baseball, baseball pitching, baseball training, Kolten Smith, perspective, Texas Baseball Ranch, The Ranch, Velocity