Want to Hit Homeruns? Baseball Players Need an Training Plan

Want to Hit Homeruns? Baseball Players Need an Training Plan
By Guest Author: Ricki Camargo

I grew up playing high school baseball in a small town. I was never the best or worst, but I pretty much got by on athletic ability alone. Then after high school, I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to a junior college. Again, I wasn't best or worst, but I quickly learned that I had to work at least a little in order to be competitive and get playing time.

After a time I realized that players who had less talent than me were passing me by and getting more playing time because they were working for it harder than I was. Growing up, I had always relied on my innate athletic ability, so I didn't really know what steps I needed to take now in order to get better. But I did know that I absolutely loved the game; I knew I had to make a change and no one was going to hold my hand and show me how.

I started to shadow a guy that was starting ahead of me in center field. I was amazed! I always knew he worked hard, but so much went on behind the scenes - staying after practice for extra batting practice, taking extra flyballs before practice and on off days, finishing first in every sprint during practice. It was the little things like that that made him great. After the season was over, I knew that I wanted to come back as a better player the next year. Now I knew the work that I had to put in, and I had a game plan to reach my goal.

Summertime is the best time for high school and college baseball players to improve their skills and get bigger, faster, and stronger. A big problem (and I was guilty of this also) is that players go into the off season with the mindset of - "I'll take a week off and enjoy myself and then hit the gym."

But, the GREAT ones go into the off season saying - "I will work as hard as I can to reach my goal, and no one can stop me or out work me." These are the ones that come back to school in the fall looking like a new player. That's the attitude to have! They also have a detailed workout plan to get them to their goals. This is a crucial part of your off season training.

N.Y. Mets trainer Jeff Cavaliere has put together a great program - that is endorsed by major leaguers like David Wright, Johan Santana and a handful of other Mets players - for any baseball player that wants to improve their skills. His book, which includes input from former and current Mets players about what really works for them, lays out the exact sets, reps, and exercises complete with color pictures for each, detailing step by step how to get the most out of them. You also get access to his blog that's loaded with more valuable tips like nutrition and injury prevention.

I still give private hitting lessons and incorporate many of the exercises he describes in detail, so I know first hand that following this program really provides results. If you're a player who knows he/she can get more out of their ability or a coach looking for individual player workouts or even a parent trying to unlock your child's hidden potential, Jeff's program is a great place to start.

As a former baseball player and coach, I now train high school and collegiate players. I review the latest baseball training drills, workouts, and nutrition tips as well as provide places to go online to read and view some of the best coaching advice in the nation. Refer to my website often for these training tips and more. http://www.baseballconditioning.us

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricki_Camargo

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Strength and Conditioning - The Single Best Lift For Baseball Players!

Baseball Strength Training
By Brandon Richey

Having worked with many baseball players and coaches in the past that have all these crazy misconceptions on how a baseball player should train to be a better athlete makes me sick! The fact is that if you have a coach or trainer that tells you that overhead lifts are bad for your baseball career then I feel sorry for you. Now I'm not saying that you should go against your coach because this wouldn't be an extension of professional courtesy on my part, but if you can properly learn how to execute overhead kettlebell snatches in your own time then I strongly encourage you to do so!

Best Lift For Baseball Players, Period!

Now one of the main problems I have experienced with baseball players and coaches in the past is the fear of executing overhead lifts. The last time I checked the game of baseball was played by you having to hit the ball, catch the ball, and to throw the ball! All of these skills are performed by you having to have a strong powerful core, hips, and complete shoulder stability. If any of these areas are weak or unbalanced you are going to end up with an injury, period! If you want to strengthen these areas then you have to have a smart strength and conditioning plan and this is why I want to introduce to you the kettlebell snatch!

The kettlebell snatch lift is the ultimate kettlebell lift for baseball players in my opinion. This lift is executed by you having to pull the bell from either the ground or from between your legs up to above your head in one smooth explosive movement. The key to doing this properly involves you having to engage your hips and knees in a state of forceful flexion and then immediate extension in an attempt to generate the necessary force to elevate the bell to a high pull position lateral to your head. This "high pull" position should mimic you pulling back on a bow, like with a bow and arrow. Once the bell reaches this particular peak of the movement it will stall out or reach a point of what I like to refer to as "zero gravity." Once the bell reaches this point you will then want to vertically punch your palm towards the sky and allow the bell to smoothly roll over the back of your forearm and lock it out overhead. This incorporates tremendous shoulder stability and core strength.

If you haven't already started to implement the overhead kettlebell snatch into your baseball strength and conditioning program then you are failing to meet your body's fullest potential. Take the time to learn more by accessing more of my articles on the subject for free. Remember that most any baseball player can train hard, but only the champions train smart!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at: http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey

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Baseball Training For Power Hitting

By Vic Read

Watching a 5' 8", 160 pound shortstop hit a 400 foot bomb is always amazing. Sure, the 6' 4", 235 pound first baseman has the natural strength to put the ball out of the yard, but how does the smaller player do it? What does he possess to produce such power? And how do some larger players consistently hit for distance, while others just have the occasional home run?

The three main components to hitting the baseball consistently and for distance are:

1. Proper mechanics - feet comfortably spread apart, hands back, and a smooth transfer from load to swing.
2. Good eye-hand coordination - seeing the ball all the way in and watching the ball hit the bat.
3. Good bat speed - the faster the bat, the faster the ball flies out.

Each one of these components can be improved upon by every baseball player.

1. Proper Mechanics - Watch some major league games and check out the different styles of batting stance. Then grab a bat and see what is most comfortable for you. Being tense at the plate cuts down on your reaction time. And when that fastball is coming in, you have to be relaxed and ready to release the perfect swing. Once you have found a stance you like, go hit off the tee and then take some cuts at a batting cage and continue to refine your mechanics. Once you like your stance, then do some research and learn about loading up, staying back on the ball and swinging thru the pitch.

2. Good eye-hand coordination - soft toss, which is hitting a ball into a net when tossed by someone from a short distance, is a good tool to work on and improve your eye-hand coordination. Have the person toss the ball at different angles and different locations. Start off with slow tosses, and then increase the speed.

3. Good bat speed - there are many methods to help improve your bat speed. Try using a heavier bat or a wood bat during practice or in the cages. Swing off the tee using only one hand. Take a medicine ball, hold it out in front of you and rotate your hands like you were swinging a bat. The idea is to get your hands and hips moving faster to strike the ball at a greater speed.

Once you find that comfortable batting stance, and you have worked on the eye-hand drills, and you have improved your bat speed, than take a 100 swings a day. It can be off a tee, during soft toss, in a cage, or just in the backyard swinging at the air. But take a 100 good swings a day to make your swing as natural as breathing.

After my many years of coaching, watching and traveling to out of town baseball games, I decided to share my baseball tips and stories that I have learned and experienced along the way. To check out more articles that I have written, please visit my website at http://baseballknowledge.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vic_Read

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