Released on: September 11, 2008, 9:42 am

Press Release Author: Paul Yost

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Baseball Strength Training is a bit behind the rest of the
major sports in terms of training. Just like football players and basketball
players, baseball athletes need to get bigger, stronger and/or faster.

Press Release Body: Baseball strength training is one area of the sports world
that\'s a bit behind in terms of training methodology. Thoughts of training with
light weights, emphasizing stretching only and performing long slow bouts of
endurance training are still around today. It\'s my opinion this idea leads to more
opportunity for injury and reduced performance. This article\'s focus is not on
giving out a cookie cutter program, but about providing ideas for improving your
baseball strength training program.

On that note, baseball is considered a power sport and should be trained as such.
This means focusing on improving the power capabilities of the athlete through
various strength/power training methods. Power cannot be achieved without a base of
strength so more of this quality should always be sought after. Often this requires
lifting heavy loads coupled with plyometric (jump training) and sprint-type
activities for conditioning.

Weight Training for The Baseball Athlete

A baseball strength training program should look similar to training programs of
other athletes. Sport specificity is the big term used today, but really should only
apply to conditioning. The idea of sport specific strength training implies the use
of loading movements associated with the sport. I feel mimicking sport skill under
load is inherently dangerous to the athlete and the load (weight) used during these
activities is typically too low to produce any real result.

The Baseball training program should center around strength improvement. In my
experience most, if not all, baseball players need more strength. Strength is the
foundation of speed, power and endurance. The best way to accomplish this is through
focusing on big compound movements like squats, deadlifts, chin ups, lunges, various
pressing movements, etc. Single joint movements should account for 20% or less of
the total training volume to achieve maximal progress. A few possible
contraindicated exercises for the baseball athlete are as follows:

Overhead Lifting

Some Olympic Lifting Variations

Barbell Pressing Movements

By making strength improvements alone, most baseball players will see significant
performance improvements in one or more

A Word On Unilateral Exercise

Baseball is a sport that promotes unilateral strength dominance/imbalance. This is
because one side does most of the work at the expense of the other, leading to a
potentially large strength imbalance between left and right sides. This significant
imbalance predisposes the athlete for injury.

Training one limb at a time will reduce the strength differential. This applies for
all aspects of the body including the rotator cuff and scapula. I use this specific
example because many pitchers only focus on their throwing side shoulder. They feel
there\'s no need to train the opposite side because it\'s not used for throwing the
baseball. This still, however, makes the athlete susceptible to injury.

In Conclusion

I hope this helps you get a better idea of what a baseball strength training program
should look like. Just remember, baseball is a power sport and needs to
logically/safely be trained as such. Good luck!

Web Site: http://www.paramountfitnesstraining.com

Contact Details: Paul Yost
Paramount Fitness Training
3930 Kirby Drive
info@paramountfitnesstraining.com
979-676-0297