Can you improve arm strength? (2 Viewers)

[Plow]

There's a way, if you're willing to put in the work

 

[ASaintFerLife]

QBs are criticized for their lack of arm strength

He can't make this throw, or that throw

His deep passes float on him or lack zip

Is that something that can be greatly improved in the gym/practice or just slightly, or not at all?

If there is a lineman who just needs to get stronger, no one seems terribly worried about it, just work out and get stronger

But I've never heard arm strength talked about like that before

OP I have wondered that SOOOOO many times in my life it drives me nuts. For example there are kids I know that are pre-teen and can throw a youth football further than I can. And I am stronger in nearly every measurable strength I don't understand it.

As a kid I never had a good throwing arm, my friends would always toss rocks further than me, same for baseballs when I played little league for years.
It just is what it is for me, I am almost 52 and dont care anymore.

 

[COACHTDL]

So, i know that one of the ways you may be able to improve arm "stength" is by improving technique. Example: LSU pitcher Paul Skenes increased his velosity in one off-season by 5 MPH average. That is insane. When asked how, he said he tinkered with his technique. That guy is throw rediculous heat (102+ on ha). Besides focusing on the arm strength, leg strength and core strength can be addressed. That being said, you will still be limited by genetics.

 

[Dallas_Saint73]

Throwing a football recruits fast twitch muscle fibers (vs. slow twitch, which are recruited for endurance type activities such as long distance running).

As you age, you lose a higher ratio of fast twitch fibers as opposed to slow twitch.

This may play a part in the reduction of "zip" a QB may have when throwing.

Injury, loss of mechanics/technique, and muscle atrophy probably also factor into this.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Just remembering back when we traded for Steve Walsh….the knock on him, and oh man was it true, was that his arm strength was pretty average/poor and I remember hoping that he could just find a way to become stronger and we’d have one really good QB. I think he ended up skipping those arm strengthening days at Saints camp.

I don't know if this is true or not but I seem to remember someone saying that Danny Wuerrfel's football IQ was as high as Peyton Manning's, it was his arm strength that would keep him from being a good QB

 

[Rouxble]

So, i know that one of the ways you may be able to improve arm "stength" is by improving technique. Example: LSU pitcher Paul Skenes increased his velosity in one off-season by 5 MPH average. That is insane. When asked how, he said he tinkered with his technique. That guy is throw rediculous heat (102+ on ha). Besides focusing on the arm strength, leg strength and core strength can be addressed. That being said, you will still be limited by genetics.

One thing about pitching, with practice you can have close to perfect technique on every throw. Also, home plate is in the same location and at the same distance throughout the game, pitchers don’t have to hit the catcher in stride or adjust their throw to fit the baseball between defenders.

Besides that, nobody is rushing the mound to take a pitcher’s head off during his windup, and a pitcher doesn’t have to reset his feet or scramble to make off schedule throws in the face of pressure or good coverage.

QB technique can be trained to maximize an individual’s zip and distance for on schedule throws, but more natural arm talent is needed when the play breaks down. Knowing where, when, and how to throw (speed/angle) are probably all more important than arm strength, assuming a QB has the minimum talent needed to throw at the NFL level. More arm talent never hurts, but it needs to be paired with good instincts and football intelligence. That’s why Richardson isn’t projected to go #1 overall, the most important tools he needs are underdeveloped.

 

[COACHTDL]

One thing about pitching, with practice you can have close to perfect technique on every throw. Also, home plate is in the same location and at the same distance throughout the game, pitchers don’t have to hit the catcher in stride or adjust their throw to fit the baseball between defenders.

Besides that, nobody is rushing the mound to take a pitcher’s head off during his windup, and a pitcher doesn’t have to reset his feet or scramble to make off schedule throws in the face of pressure or good coverage.

QB technique can be trained to maximize an individual’s zip and distance for on schedule throws, but more natural arm talent is needed when the play breaks down. Knowing where, when, and how to throw (speed/angle) are probably all more important than arm strength, assuming a QB has the minimum talent needed to throw at the NFL level. More arm talent never hurts, but it needs to be paired with good instincts and football intelligence. That’s why Richardson isn’t projected to go #1 overall, the most important tools he needs are underdeveloped.

I thought the question was about arm strength and not good QB play.

 

[Rouxble]

I thought the question was about arm strength and not good QB play.

It is, and a few have used pitching as an example of improving arm strength, just making the point that pitching is a much more controlled activity than playing QB.

 

[COACHTDL]

It is, and a few have used pitching as an example of improving arm strength, just making the point that pitching is a much more controlled activity than playing QB.

Understand.

 

[AARPSaint]

I just remember being able to throw a baseball really well ( was moved from 2nd base to shortstop) but being awful at throwing a football. I should think that it would be much more difficult to increase arm strength for a QB than for a pitcher. The motion seems quite a bit more complex for throwing a spiral.

 

[Kegger]

'Arm strength' is a misnomer, it is really all about arm speed as others have said. Strength definitely plays a part, but at some point extra muscle actually slows down the throw speed. Those quick twitch muscle fibers are the real determining factor, and they deteriorate over time, so throw speed decreases as we age similar to running speed.

 

[Saints 4 life]

I think so.

 

[Dallas_Saint73]

Technically speaking, you don't lose fast-twitch fibers per se. What happens as we age is that we tend to lose lean muscle mass (natural decline in testosterone and GH), which in turn, reduces the number of fast-twitch fibers available for recruitment.

Inversely, you will see an increase in slow-twitch fibers.

If an aging athlete wants to preserve fast-twitch fibers, they'll need to ensure that they're maintaining or even adding lean muscle mass and incorporating strength training on a regular basis.

In a sport subject to a strict anti-doping policy, it's tough to pack on lean muscle mass in your later years. It can be done naturally, but it's much more difficult vs. an enhanced athlete.

I am not sure, but TRT probably isn't an option for 40 plus men who have declining test levels in the NFL (insert Brady joke here).

 

[Tony1Saintfan]

Tommy John surgery? I have heard that pitchers that have the surgery actually throw harder

I never really looked into it but I’d always thought Tommy John surgery was associated with the elbow.

 

[saveFerris9]

I have always wondered if pool training/swimming would improve arm strength. I know some teams do it but I mean if there was a work out regiment designed for QB and baseball players . Anyone remember Kickboxer with Van Dam ? In the water submerged practicing kicks and punches ? Cheesy reference I know but the theory is sound . QB underwater simulating passes or throwing a football sized weighted ball would increase arm strength and speed , working muscles that you normally wouldn’t . I would think an increase in shoulder strength as well . It would in fact totally increase core and leg strength as well if you simulate moving in the pocket too . A weighted belt or ankle weights and an air supply is all you’d need . I think most teams have a pool . To me it makes sense that doing a workout like that a few times a week with the resistance of the water . Would be similar to a boxer taking off 16oz gloves and going to smaller gloves . For all I know they may already do this but haven’t heard of it .