How often have we heard so and so throws hard but his ball is flat? They are talking about movement. Velocity is a pre-requisite but movement and relative movement is the other half of the equation.
Continue reading “Pitch Design… What is Relative Movement? And Why is it Important?”
HS Pitchers Endure Grinding Schedules to Get Special Training and it Pays Off
An inside look at pitchers training at Rockland Peak Performance in Sloatsburg N.Y. (Andrew Maclean | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
By Richard Greco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on April 20, 2018 7:30 AM, updated April 20, 2018 12:20 PM
Continue reading “HS Pitchers Endure Grinding Schedules to Get Special Training and it Pays Off”
Is Your Baseball Coach Keeping up with the Times?
Over thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan went to West Berlin and gave a very famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate. It was about freedom and peace. The Soviet Union was in decline and President Reagan famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall”. Continue reading “Is Your Baseball Coach Keeping up with the Times?”
Training the Force-Velocity Curve with VBT… How it Works – Part 2
As far as athletic performance goes, it’s getting clearer and clearer that strength, speed and power are king (click here for Part 1). That’s why maximizing training protocols for a sport with movements as quick and explosive as baseball is paramount. Increasing strength and power involves:
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- Increasing muscle fiber size and structure
- Increasing the activation and rate of firing time of motor units
Continue reading “Training the Force-Velocity Curve with VBT… How it Works — Part 2”
How to Create a More Powerful Lower Half in Pitching
I’m sitting here in my office analyzing pitching video and thinking to myself “are folks understanding what I’m talking about when I tell them they’re not using their lower half pitching mechanics efficiently?” It prompted me to write this quick tutorial as to how lower half rotation unfolds, helping to initiate the power that ultimately gets transferred through the core and into the arm. As we go through this, we will also review what type exercise might be helpful. Continue reading “How to Create a More Powerful Lower Half in Pitching”
Training the Force-Velocity Curve with Velocity Based Training (Part 1)
Baseball is an explosive sport where things happen fast and hard. This requires massive amounts of power and finding the best methods to get our athletes there is our number one priority. Over the next few months, I will be releasing a 5 Part series on what I believe to be a “game changer” in programming to maximize the potential in pitcher and baseball players with velocity based training (VBT). Continue reading “Training the Force-Velocity Curve with Velocity Based Training (Part 1)”
3 Reasons Why 90 mph is the New 85
10-15 years ago, throwing a baseball 90 mph was huge and basically meant that you’d likely be getting drafted out of high school. Now, it’s the norm. According to FanGraphs, the number of MLB pitchers throwing fastball above 95 mph is rising rapidly. Here is the summary since 2012: Continue reading “3 Reasons Why 90 mph is the New 85”
Summer Velo Program… Are You Ready to Do What it Takes?
When it comes to learning and “buying-in” to a training regimen, most highly motivated and highly skilled athletes are all ears. This is called “athlete education” and nothing can be more rewarding than watching them “do what it takes to be exceptional”, while reaping great results at the same time.
Ramsey High School’s Ryan Vatcher, who is now up at Babson College, is a perfect example. Ryan opted not to play summer ball last year. Instead, he enrolled in our Summer Velo Program choosing to work on his strength and mobility by living in the gym and working on fixing some mechanical issues through an intensive 5 day / week throwing-lifting program. This helped him create a higher velocity ceiling, as well as give him a better chance to succeed coming down the mound. Continue reading “Summer Velo Program… Are You Ready to Do What it Takes?”
Not All Hip Shoulder Separation is Created Equal
One of the main creators of a more powerful throw is the torque we get through a good hip shoulder separation from the upper half. But when it comes to how much, more is not necessarily always better. Today we’ll talk briefly about why, as well as look at some things we can do in the weight room to help. Continue reading “Not All Hip Shoulder Separation is Created Equal”
Do You Want to See the Future in College Baseball Recruiting?
I have seen the future and sorry guys and college baseball recruiting is about to get harder. Continue reading “Do You Want to See the Future in College Baseball Recruiting?”