It’s been a crazy year for everyone, but that didn’t stop us from continuing our efforts to develop great ball players while educating the community at the same time. Here are the top received blogs of 2020.

1. How We Use Data to Develop the Complete Pitcher

Here at RPP, the value and importance of our assessments cannot be stressed enough. When it comes down to creating an athlete’s programming from both a strength and throwing aspect, it’s pretty simple. If you program without a thorough assessment, you’re basically flying blind. Now, with the addition of our new motion capture system from Qualisys, our assessment has just received a major shot of adrenaline…

Click here -> How We Use Data to Develop the Complete Pitcher

2. How’s the Band? 2 Reasons Why Band Work Can Get Ugly!

Learning the correct way to take care of your arm, shoulder and body as a pitcher should be a top priority. Over the years many college coaches have complained to me about how poor band-work looks on their fields! Unfortunately, I know. I have seen it for myself. So today, I decided I would do just that. Here are two main points that I see that causes band work to get “ugly”, not only during the season but year-round as well.

Click here -> How’s the Band? 2 Reasons Why Band Work Can Get Ugly!

3. Putting on the Brakes to Throw Gas… What is Decel?

The ability to decelerate is essential for protecting pitchers and players from high magnitudes of forces experienced on the mound and/or field. Being able to distribute that force away from the ligaments and properly disperse them throughout the tendons and musculature could significantly contribute to increased throwing velocity as well as adding to the longevity of an athlete’s career. RPP S&C coach Nancy Newell does a great job of explaining in this post.

Click here -> Putting on the Brakes to Throw Gas… What is Decel?

4. Engaging the Lower Half to Create Power… The Glute Load – Part 1

Now, anyone who knows even a little about creating an efficient delivery with a higher velocity ceiling knows that one of the key, if not biggest, contributors is the use of the lower half. I don’t mean just engaging it, I mean sustaining it for as long as possible while coming down the mound as well. Two main disconnects I see a lot with poor lower half engagement are as follows:

Click here -> Engaging the Lower Half to Create Power… The Glute Load

5. Questions to Ask When Analyzing a Player’s Kinematic Sequence

As an athlete, you are not able to move efficiently if your body isn’t in a position to do so. In terms of timing, if your lower half isn’t in a strong stable position to efficiently transfer energy and allow the upper half to move, then you will have a tough time hitting at any level. RPP director of hitting Evan Klugerman does a great job here presenting 3 questions to ask when analyzing timing through the Pelvis of a Kinematic Sequence as measured by the K-Vest:

Click here -> Questions to Ask When Analyzing a Player’s Kinematic Sequence

6. An Analytical Guide to Hip-Shoulder Separation… Part 1

Hip-shoulder separation is a major contributor to efficient pitching / hitting mechanics, and a big piece of the puzzle to all thing’s velocity. In this two-part article, RPP biomechanist Courtney Semkewyc reviews the relevance of several metrics on this subject using motion capture data charts…

Click here -> An Analytical Guide to Hip-Shoulder Separation

By the way, please do visit our new store if you haven’t already…

See ya in the gym…

By Nunzio Signore (BA, CSCS, CPT, NASM, FMS)

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