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Steve Zawrotny
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Joined EzineArticles on May 3, 2005 Four Little-known Baseball / Softball Training Secrets, Part 3
Recreation and Sports: Baseball • Published: May 11, 2005
Everyone knows that you use more of your body than just your arm to throw a baseball or softball. Yet, when I walk through a gym I always see ball players spending most of their time "working" their upper body. If their motivation behind training this way is that they think this will help their arm strength, well, they are largely mistaken. Studies show that the split between how much you use your arm and trunk to make an overhand throw to be 53% arm and 47% trunk. And, that's defining "arm" broadly to include shoulder and chest muscles.
Four Little-known Baseball / Softball Training Secrets, Part 4
Recreation and Sports: Baseball • Published: May 11, 2005
When performing RESISTANCE TRAINING, strive for STRENGTH BALANCE ACROSS JOINTS AND MUSCLE GROUPS, as opposed to merely developing size and strength. Why does this matter? Because muscle strength imbalances are among the leading causes of sports injuries. For example, pulled hamstrings (back of upper leg) are often the result of quadriceps muscles (front of upper leg) that are stronger due to over-training.
Training to Increase Throwing Velocity
Recreation and Sports • Published: May 11, 2005
As you know, my niche in this industry is improving on-field performance via baseball/softball-specific strength and conditioning. I'm often asked how to help players to throw better or harder. My private lessons usually involve this aspect of training. My advice in this regard is the same: 1) First, improve throwing mechanics. Throwing properly by itself can improve velocity. 2) Train the body core in particular for strength and power.
Over-training: Are We Playing TOO Much?
Recreation and Sports • Published: May 11, 2005
Perhaps you have heard of a concept leadership and management guru Stephen Covey calls 'Sharpening the Saw.' While he was aiming this idea to the business world, it has applicability to those who coach and play sports as well. Basically, the concept goes like this: Don't get so busy sawing that you forget to sharpen the saw. What happens to the saw while you are sawing? It gets dull.
Overload / Underload Training: How It Works & Why Ball Players Should Use This Training Method
Recreation and Sports • Published: May 11, 2005
There are some, particularly online, who continue to spread incorrect and misleading information about weighted ball training. Our discussion here will deal with Overload/Underload (OU) training in general, and its application to baseball and softball in particular. 1. OU Training Defined 2. A Brief History of OU Research and Training 3. Other Sports That Use OU Training 4. The Benefits of OU Training 5. Other Baseball Experts Who Are Proponents of OU Training
Maximizing Game Day Bat Speed
Recreation and Sports • Published: May 11, 2005
If you're a hitter - baseball, slow pitch, or fastpitch softball, you'll definitely find this tip to your liking! I'm a big proponent of appropriate strength & conditioning as a way of increasing GAME TIME performance. This includes generating maximal bat speed. Unfortunately, science says what most of you are doing in the on-deck circle just prior to stepping to the plate is hindering your bat speed and quickness right when you need it most.
Four Little-known Baseball / Softball Training Secrets: Part 2
Recreation and Sports: Baseball • Published: May 10, 2005
Face it, on any given day there are a multitude of factors that can adversely affect your game. The biggest dynamic I see in the game is SPEED - pure running speed. It seems that no matter what else may be going on on the field, it shows up every day, on every play. In our on-going efforts of attempting to dispel the training myths of baseball, so that you can perform better and more safely, adjust your running program to include speed development.
Four Little-Known Baseball/Softball Training Secrets, PART 1
Recreation and Sports: Baseball • Published: May 6, 2005
Baseball and softball are not games of strength, but of EXPLOSIVE POWER. Just how strong do you have to be to pick up a 5 oz baseball, or a 30 oz bat? On the other hand, propelling that 5 oz ball 90+ mph, or hitting a ball 400+ feet with that 30 oz bat requires tremendous power - the ability to perform work. In this case, the work of playing baseball and softball at a high level.