Methods of Upper Body Training to Increase Overhand Throwing Power

Those who have taught motor skills would most likely agree that the overhand throw may be the most difficult skill for students to master and for instructors or coaches to teach. The timing involved when generating power to performing the overhand throw begins in the toes/feet and moves up the leg, hip, thorax (core muscles), arm, and ends in the finger tips. The overhand throw requires the coordination of almost all of the joints in the human body. Another consideration related to the complexity of the overhand throw is that the dominant or throwing side of the body is performing almost a completely opposite movement than the non-throwing side. The overhand throw is analyzed joint by joint followed by methods of increasing power and strength in each area beginning with the fingers and ending in the muscles of the body's core. This paper provides information that suggests various methods of training for increasing power in the overhand throw by developing the core and upper body muscles. Often the overhand throw is performed without the assistance of force generated in the lower body. The focus of this paper is directed towards developing upper body strength to compensate for situations where the lower body is in a situation where it cannot contribution in the processes of developing force in the overhand throw.