James Rule
How Better Force Production Helped James Rule Break Through a Velocity Plateau
Starting the Journey
When James Rule first began his Driveline journey in Arizona as a junior in high school, he was a clean mover on the mound. His initial assessment in April 2024 showed he topped out at 87.8 mph—a respectable number, but short of where his mechanics suggested he could be.
Mechanical Potential
The athlete report confirmed it: James posted an impressive 113 Mechanical Composite Score, scoring above average in every component of his delivery. Based purely on his mechanics, he had an estimated velocity ceiling of nearly 90 mph. But he wasn’t reaching that mark consistently—and the reason why quickly became clear.
A Force Production Gap
In the High Performance portion of his assessment, James had a composite score of just 28, placing him in a very low percentile for force production. His velocity ceiling based on athletic output alone was estimated at just 80.5 mph. The discrepancy was striking: James’ efficient mechanics were outpacing what his body could support, leaving his velocity lower than it could be with improved athleticism.
Shifting Focus
That mismatch defined the path forward. With clear mechanical efficiency already in place, James’ focus shifted entirely to physical development—improving strength, speed, and force output.
The Summer Transformation
Over the next four months, James trained through the summer in Driveline’s high performance program. When he re-tested in September 2024, the results spoke for themselves:
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His High Performance Composite Score had jumped to 85, a 200%+ improvement.
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His fastball velocity climbed to 90.3 mph.
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His Mechanical Composite Score ticked up further to 118, showing continued refinement.
Realizing Potential
By improving his athleticism, James unlocked the velocity his delivery had always promised. It was a textbook case of high performance training closing the gap between potential and output—turning a solid foundation into a complete package on the mound.
Ongoing Progress
James’ progress hasn’t ended there either. In the spring of his senior year, his velocity has continued to climb into the mid-90’s, putting him in a great position to advance to the next level and continue his baseball journey.