What role do your fingers play in velocity and spin? More than most pitchers and coaches realize.

In this episode of Applied Baseball Science, Dr. Nicholas Serio of VeloU breaks down a 2024 study that used a sensor-embedded baseball to analyze finger strength, rate of force development (RFD), and anatomical structure in college pitchers — and how each contributes to fastball velocity and spin rate.

🔬 Key findings from the study:

• Middle finger force output strongly correlated with velocity and spin
  
  
  
• Rate of force development (RFD) in the index and middle fingers was just as important as peak strength
  
  
  
• Pinch strength (thumb + index/middle) was associated with higher fastball speeds
  
  
  
• Finger length differences — especially between index and middle — influenced spin efficiency
  
  
  

This video explains:

• Why force delivery matters as much as force generation
  
  
  
• How finger mechanics may be a hidden lever in pitcher development
  
  
  
• How VeloU trains finger-specific strength, deceleration, and adaptation
  
  
  

If you’re chasing velocity, spin rate, or just trying to get more out of what your body already produces — don’t overlook the last thing that touches the baseball.

📌 Subscribe for more research-driven breakdowns from the VeloU team.

🎓 Learn more at https://www.velouniversity.com

Thanks for listening to this episode! To stay updated with VeloU and our insights on maximizing performance while minimizing the risk of injury, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @velouniversity.

And if you're interested in training with VeloU, click here to learn more.

Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review to help us bring you more valuable content in the future.

Towel drills are widely used as a “low-stress” tool in throwing programs — especially during rehab or mechanical refinement. But new research suggests they may not be as harmless as we think.

In this episode of Applied Baseball Science, Dr. Nicholas Serio of VeloU breaks down a 2024 study that measured elbow valgus torque during towel drills and compared it to full-effort throws.

What researchers found may surprise you:

• Towel drills using a face towel generated ~80% of the elbow stress seen in live throws
  
  
  
• Arm speed directly predicted torque during drills — but not during actual pitching
  
  
  
• Self-selected effort levels may disguise high joint loads, especially when athletes “over-accelerate” without a ball
  
  
  

If you’re using towel drills in a return-to-throwing plan, ramp-up progression, or rehab protocol, this video is a must-watch. Understanding what these drills actually do — biomechanically — could change how you approach recovery and arm care.

📌 Subscribe for more science-backed baseball insights from VeloU.

🎓 Learn more at https://www.velouniversity.com

Thanks for listening to this episode! To stay updated with VeloU and our insights on maximizing performance while minimizing the risk of injury, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @velouniversity.

And if you're interested in training with VeloU, click here to learn more.

Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review to help us bring you more valuable content in the future.

One of baseball’s oldest beliefs says pitchers should keep their arms warm between innings. But what if cooling down actually helps?

In this episode of VeloUnlocked, we break down a 2016 study where pitchers applied ice to their shoulder and forearm between innings—and ended up throwing harder, feeling better, and holding their velocity deeper into games. We cover what the study showed, possible reasons it worked, and how you can safely test this in your own training.

Is it time to rethink your between-inning routine?

Thanks for listening to this episode! To stay updated with VeloU and our insights on maximizing performance while minimizing the risk of injury, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @velouniversity.

And if you're interested in training with VeloU, click here to learn more.

Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review to help us bring you more valuable content in the future.