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 Speed - The 60 Yard Dash is Different Than Stealing Second Base

BaseballCoachingDigest.com

By Thurman Hendrix

Although it is very obvious that running a 60 yard dash is different from attempting to steal second base, I often wonder if players understand the differences between the two. Actually, based on my experience with training baseball players to improve their speed, I am fairly confident that most do understand the differences, but fail to make any changes in their strategy when it comes to running their 60 yard dash.

Although every scout or coach may assess the 60 yard dash utilizing different rules, the following are the most popular:


The runner must start in a traditional steal-start position.
The time will begin based on when the runner makes their first movement.

Therefore, it is usually understood that the total distance between a 60 yard dash (180 feet) and stealing second base (under 90 feet after taking a lead-off) is different. However, the most important thing to understand is that you cannot get picked-off when running a 60 yard dash and the only thing that you'll need to worry about is running forward (to your right) and not backwards (to your left).

Even though the rules of a 60 say that players must start in a traditional steal-start stance, they do not say exactly what that entails. The only thing that distinguishes a baseball start from, say a track start, is that in baseball the player starts sideways to where they are running (second base). The player uses this type of start because in a game they have to be prepared to move in either direction. Therefore, in a 60 yard dash, as long as the runner starts sideways to where they are asked to go, they will most likely resemble a traditional baseball start and usually will not be called out for cheating.

With that being said, here are a few changes that should be incorporated into your 60 yard dash start:


The front (right) foot should be pulled back so that the back foot is able to move directly towards the target and not have to go around the front foot.
The front (right) toes should be turned out more so that the runner could push-off immediately and not have to turn it any more upon first movement, wasting valuable time.
The arms should be switched so that the right arm is loaded and ready to fire.

Remember, in a 60 yard dash time usually starts on your first movement. Therefore, you should immediately cover ground and eliminate any movement that simply gets you ready to run.

To learn how to improve your 60 yard dash and baseball specific speed visit: http://www.60yarddash.com

Thurman Hendrix is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and specializes in training athletes. As a former pro baseball player he will help you increase speed in a very short amount of time.

This article may be published on your web sites or other electronic publications assuming it is used in its entirety. The resource box, copyright info, and all references must also be included and all hyperlinks must be HTML clickable.

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

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A Real Workout For the Baseball Player!

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A Real Workout For the Baseball Player!
By Brandon Richey

In my experience as a strength and conditioning professional baseball players don't put enough emphasis on trying to enhance their athleticism. The truth is that all athletes should try to improve their athleticism and baseball players are not an exception. Check out the following 2 kettlebell drills you can implement in order to develop superior hitting power and blazing speed.

1. The Overhead Kettlebell Swing: The overhead kettlebell swing is a fantastic drill for baseball players to include in their strength training program. To execute this drill all you will need is the availability of a single kettlebell of moderately heavy resistance. To begin, simply place the bell right between your feet. Make sure your feet are about shoulder width distance apart in length. From here you will want to execute the hip snap motion. This is done by you smoothly and fluently flexing and extending at both your knees and hips in order to create enough momentum to swing the kettlebell in an arc from between your legs all the way up to above your head. You will develop superior core power by implementing this drill. This will certainly help with your hitting power and explosiveness when running on the field.

2. Kettlebell Figure 8's To A Hold: This drill is a bit sophisticated to look at, but it is actually not as difficult as it may appear. This drill will help you to develop a serious amount of core power and is a tremendous strength endurance lift for baseball players to perform. To begin, simply place the kettlebell between your feet. You will want to flex at your hips and squat down to pick up the bell with one hand. Lets say you start with your right hand. From here simply swing (or hike) the kettlebell between your legs and pass the kettlebell off to your opposite hand behind your left leg. Make absolutely sure that once you catch the kettlebell with the opposite hand that you have a firm grip on it. From here your hips are still flexed and the bell's momentum is carrying it around to the outside of your left leg. Next, explosively extend your knees and hips and swing the bell with your left arm up and diagonally across your body to your opposite shoulder. When you swing it to the opposite shoulder you want to make sure that you catch it at your shoulder with your right hand. From here simply drop the bell into a swing to hike it once again in order to start the whole process over on the opposite side. There is no substitute for a sound strength training program for baseball players. This is a great place to start!

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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Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.

The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!