Pitching Mechanics: Ian Kennedy's Tempo

By Alex Eisenberg
April 20, 2008

Tempo

A pitcher's tempo is often an indicator of the kind of velocity a pitcher throws with. The faster a pitcher's tempo, the more momentum the pitcher carries into foot plant. Another benefit of a faster tempo is it forces the arm to speed up with the body.

Tempo is defined as "the speed in which a pitcher can go from the point to where their knee reaches its upper most point (or when it starts to move downward) to the time of release." Tempo can be measured in frames. Below is Yankee pitcher Ian Kennedy:

Ian Kennedy

Kennedy's tempo is basically the definition of average. Frame 5 is when his knee reaches its upper most point before heading downward. Frame 31 is when Kennedy finally releases the ball.

31 - 5 = 26 Frames....Ian Kennedy's tempo is 26 frames. This basically gives him an average tempo. Not fast to the plate, but not necessarily slow either.

21 Frames or Less - Very Fast Tempo

22 or 23 Frames - Fast Tempo

24 or 25 Frames - Pretty Fast Tempo

26 or 27 Frames - Average Tempo

28 Frames or More - Slow Tempo

Roy Oswalt and Tim Lincecum are examples of pitchers who have very fast tempos.

Florida Marlins prospect Brett Sinkbeil is a pitcher with a very slow tempo, and one of the reasons is because he is a "tall-and-fall" pitcher that reaches his "balance point" and then falls toward home plate. We'll contrast him with Yankee prospect Dellin Betances and discuss balance point in my next article on mechanics.

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References and Resources: Minor League Baseball

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