- John Bagonzi, Ph.D, The Pitching Professor

Weighted balls have been around for a long time. In doing a previous article, I quoted and referred to over forty studies, published and unpublished, on weighted balls and overload. My own study combined other factors such as free weights and isometric exercise, each of which seemed to increase velocity. For those familiar with statistical analysis, the study utilized a multivariate analysis of co-variance. Scheffe's Test for Multiple Comparisons of the Mean suggested very strongly that weighted balls alone did improve velocity more than the other variables.

This conclusion has been supported subjectively hundreds of times in my pitching camps. With very rare exception, every pitcher placed on weighted balls in these camps improved his or her velocity over the course of a single day.

Some of my pitchers after years of experience have found ways to tailor weighted ball use to their benefit, including as a pre-game warm-up. I myself will loosen up with the black weighted ball (12 oz.) when I want to throw - which incidentally I can still do quite well thanks to my consistent and constant demonstration of technique during the camps.

Weighted baseballs as a form of overload, along with rubber tubing and integrated with a systematic throwing program (which includes long throw) is surely a menu for pitching development. When and where these items become an irrelevant point in the career of a pitcher is an arguable point. Obviously the 95 mph thrower does not need accessories if his velocity is a consistent expression emanating out of arm speed, strength and good mechanics. However, the marginal pitcher who is trying to maintain effective velocity would do well to explore the mysteries of overload. I see it as another weapon in the development and fulfillment of the serious pitcher.


My feeling is that those who advocate against weighted ball use are either misinformed about the of the nuances of overload and simulative exercise or are enmeshed in what they believe is a contrary philosophy or are just simply resistant to making changes in their throwing programs. Fear of arm strain and a disruption of mechanics are often cited by resistant players or coaches.
 Ironically, both of those fears are not only irrelevant but are actually in direct contradiction to the truth.
Of the hundreds of pitchers I have trained, none has experienced arm strain as the result of correct use of the weighted ball. In fact I have found that those pitchers who maintain a consistent year-around throwing program that includes weighted ball use, develop stronger arms and are indeed less prone to injury. Furthermore, the drills when done properly will reinforce proper mechanics. As with any type of neuromuscular activity, the prescription is correct form times repetition.

If one is predisposed to disbelief and/or is predisposed toward miraculous happenings - he should not attempt to utilize weighted baseballs as a training device.


Weighted balls are never the first thing I employ in a training camp. I do not use them with pitchers until I have gone over mechanics thoroughly, particularly the stride drill. If someone has weak mechanics -- and unfortunately this condition does exist in large numbers at all levels of play -- then they are not candidates for weighted baseballs until their mechanics improve. Those with poor mechanics are injuries waiting to happen - not necessarily from weighted balls, but from poor body alignment, lack of proper arm deceleration, lack of balance, and from the kind of overthrowing that results when the whole body is underutilized and the full burden of throwing lies with the arm.


There are few people that teach pitching mechanics correctly and fewer yet that understand the primary fundamentals in the act of pitching. All the same, many profess to knowing much more than they do and their handiwork has led to a plethora of underdeveloped arms, poor control, lack of velocity, absence of movement, and incorrect style as evidenced more often than not in youngsters aspiring to be pitchers today. Arm injury it seems is accepted as the norm in pitching today, and to my mind this is just unacceptable. We live in the information age and hopefully soon in the world of pitching we will learn to make that ultimate distinction between any information and good information. I know I am doing my darn'dest to see that this happens.