One 10 oz., 11" Markwort  Softball. You will also receive a sample weighted ball program, compliments of Howell To Sports!

This Product Is Great for:

Increasing pitch velocity 
Loosening the arm before pitching 
Excellent for travel ball teams for pre-game warm-up.
An integral part of your underload training program.
Increasing velocity      



Overload/Underload training is a proven technique for increasing pitch velocity. Most players know about overload training, but not everyone uses the accompanying underload training to increase neuromuscular adaptation. By using underload balls, you are training your arm to move faster, thereby increasing pitch speed. By using overweight balls, you are strengthening "sport-specific" throwing muscles. This is a proven fact from many, many studies. Overload/underload training DOES WORK to increase arm strength and pitch velocity!


Weighted Ball Training 
The following information was adapted from "The Effects of Graded Weighted Baseballs on the Velocity and Accuracy of a Thrown Baseball", an essay by Dr. John Bagnozi, author of The Act of Pitching. For more information on Dr. Bagnozi, visit his website at pitchingprofessor.com


Rule #1: Start light! Call or email Howell To Sports for more information on choosing the correct weighted ball for your age and skill level. Always be conservative in your choices. Throwing a weighted ball should not cause strain in your arm; if it does, stop!


Rule #2: More is not necessarily better. Adhere to the guidelines below. The throwing of the weighted ball should be done in moderation. In the off-season, throw the weighted ball every other day. Do not try to accelerate the process by adding additional repetitions or weight. Do not throw the ball after a heavy workload, and be very careful about throwing it in-season. Avoid the temptation to throw a heavier ball than is advised. Throwing a ball that is too heavy can result in serious injury. A heavier ball will not bring you better results.


Rule #3: Make sure your arm is thoroughly warmed up before starting your weighted ball program.


Rule #4: When instructions call for you to throw the ball "maximally" this does not mean "throw as hard as you can". Instead concentrate on throwing the ball crisply, in a straight line right into the glove. Be sure to always adhere to the rules of good mechanics, which always come before velocity.


Rule #5: Transfer rotation. Always try to get as much rotation on the weighted ball as possible. An intensified effort to achieve good rotation on the weighted ball will lead to great rotation with a regular ball. Great rotation is a strong side-benefit of doing the weighted ball routine.


Rule #6: Weighted balls are not toys! Coaches should be extremely strict about not playing around with weighted balls, and only bring them out when their use is warranted. Younger players should always be supervised.


Rule #7: Weighted balls should only be used by those participating in a regular throwing program. If you haven't been throwing a softball for at least a few weeks, going right to a weighted ball would be very dangerous