Two Pitchers. Same Velocity. Which One Lasts?
My goal with DVS Baseball has always been to help players.
Help them understand how their mechanics contribute to the health of their throwing arm.
Help them see how improving their DVS Score translates directly into performance.
And most importantly, help them execute this process in a way that leads to sustained game success.
For years, the game has leaned heavily on velocity as the ultimate marker of pitching success. The radar gun has become the centerpiece of development and evaluation, with pitchers judged almost entirely on the number that flashes after release. While velocity is undeniably important, it doesn’t tell the full story. It captures the output but says nothing about how that output was created—or at what cost to the pitcher’s body.
With DVS Arm Impulse Metrics, we’re expanding the conversation. Our goal is to maintain the value of the velocity number but also educate coaches, trainers, and players on the pathway to that number. Because not all velocity is created equal.
The Health Crisis in Pitching
Let’s be honest: in today’s game, pitchers aren’t healthy. Injuries are at an all-time high, and careers are shortened before they ever reach their potential. The obsession with velocity has led to training methods that often chase short-term gains while neglecting long-term sustainability. Pitchers don’t last—but they can.
If two pitchers are the same size and both throw the same velocity, which one is more likely to sustain that performance over time? Which pitcher is at greater risk of breaking down? Those are the questions we need to be asking.
Two Different Paths to Velocity
In the example below, we provide two different pathways to accelerate the throwing arm and generate velocity. Both pitchers reach a similar max wrist velocity, but their methods of getting there couldn’t be more different:
Player 1 builds acceleration gradually and smoothly over time.
Player 2 spikes acceleration in a quick, sharp burst.
At first glance—especially on a radar gun—the results look the same. But one path represents efficiency and sustainability, while the other reflects compensations and stress that are difficult to repeat consistently without consequence.
The Role of Sequencing
Why such a difference? It comes back to sequencing and the pitcher’s ability to generate and apply force in rhythm with the body.
When the arm is on time and sequenced properly with the body, energy flows smoothly, allowing for a longer and more controlled acceleration. This is what we see in Player 1.
When the arm is late or early, inefficiencies build up. To make up for this lost energy, the pitcher often tries to “catch up” late in the delivery, resulting in the kind of short, sharp burst of acceleration we see in Player 2. This compensation increases stress on the arm, decreases repeatability, and often leads to inconsistency and eventual breakdown.
The Physics of Arm Impulse
This is where the Arm Impulse Index provides a breakthrough. In physics, impulse is defined as the product of force and the time it is applied. For pitchers, impulse measures how long acceleration is sustained into ball release.
A higher Arm Impulse indicates that acceleration is being carried for longer, distributing force more effectively through the entire kinetic chain. The result: reduced stress on the arm, improved repeatability, and velocity that is not only achievable but sustainable.
A lower Arm Impulse reflects a compressed, jarring application of force. While it may still produce velocity, it does so in a way that places undue stress on the throwing arm and makes long-term success far less likely.
Arm Impulse Metrics make this dynamic visible for the first time. Coaches and trainers are no longer left guessing about what’s happening inside a delivery—they can quantify it. Pitchers themselves can finally see why certain movement patterns are less efficient and begin making the adjustments that lead to better sequencing and healthier results.
A New Standard for Pitcher Development
The introduction of Arm Impulse Metrics through DVS X-Ray allows us to elevate the standard of pitcher development. Instead of training pitchers only to chase the radar gun, we can now train them to own the path to velocity—one that promotes durability, efficiency, and long-term growth.
This is not about eliminating velocity. It’s about proving how it is created and ensuring that it is added in a way that is both efficient and safe. When pitchers understand this, they gain more than just mph—they gain a foundation for consistency and career longevity.
Moving Forward
Our mission remains the same: to help players build trust in their delivery, protect their arm, and create sustainable velocity that leads to game success. With DVS X-Ray and Arm Impulse Metrics, coaches and trainers now have the tools to validate their programs, while players have a clearer understanding of their own mechanics and the confidence that their velocity is built to last.
Velocity will always matter in baseball. But the way we measure and develop it must evolve. By expanding the conversation with Arm Impulse, we can move the game forward—helping pitchers not only throw harder, but throw healthier, and for longer.
