Softball Workout – Workout for Pitchers
Pitchers need to have a whole body workout program.
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Scientific Proof – Effect of whole-body vibration warm-up on bat speed in women softball players.
Whole-body vibration (WBV) may enhance human performance via augmented muscular strength and motor function if used before performance. Because warm-up is a crucial aspect of preparation for performance, it remains unknown if WBV may enhance bat speed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of WBV warm-up on bat speed. Eleven National Collegiate Athletic Association division I and II recreationally trained female softball players volunteered to participate. Subjects randomly performed 3 different warm-up conditions consisting of WBV alone, dry swings alone (DS), and WBV with dry swings (WBVDS). Whole-body vibration was performed on a pivotal vibration platform at a frequency of 25 Hz and an amplitude of 13 mm for one 30-second bout. Thirty seconds after each warm-up condition, 5 maximal bat swings were recorded. There was no significant difference between groups by training status, and there was no significant difference between WBV, DS, or WBVDS conditions. These results indicate that WBV warm-up may be used in place of DS to achieve similar bat speeds. Future research should investigate different combinations of WBV warm-up using various frequencies, durations, amplitudes, and rest times.
Exercise science continues to create new ways to improve performance enhancement and it is always important to test these new innovations. Warming-up is an important part of any activity and it is important that coaches make sure their players have warm muscles before practicing or playing. It doesn’t matter what form as long as the objective of warming is followed.
7 Things You Need to Know Before Tryouts
Jen Croneberger, the CEO/Found of Excellence Training Camps and current college softball coach has some really great tips for player going into tryouts. Some of these things you can use immediately. Others may require a little bit of homework on your part. Get an idea of what coaches are looking for, what catches their eye, and things you can do to improve your chances of making the team!
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Softball Workout- Physio Ball Workout
Using the physio ball during workouts targets the core muscles as well.
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Softball Workout – Resistance Cord Workout
Resistance cords are very good alternatives for strength training equipment when working out.
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Scientific Proof – Kinematics and Kinetics of Elite Windmill Softball Pitching
A significant number of time-loss injuries to the upper extremity in elite windmill softball pitchers has been documented. The number of outings and pitches thrown in 1 week for a softball pitcher is typically far in excess of those seen in baseball pitchers. Shoulder stress in professional baseball pitching has been reported to be high and has been linked to pitching injuries. Shoulder distraction has not been studied in an elite softball pitching population.
Three-dimensional, high-speed (120 Hz) video data were collected on rise balls from 24 elite softball pitchers during the 1996 Olympic Games. Kinematic parameters related to pitching mechanics and resultant kinetics on the throwing shoulder were calculated. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate shoulder stress and pitching mechanics. They found out shoulder distraction stress averaged 80% of body weight for the Olympic pitchers. Sixty-nine percent of the variability in shoulder distraction can be explained by a combination of 7 parameters related to pitching mechanics.
Mental Approach for Hitting Q&A Interview with Jen Croneberger
Here is a Q&A style interview we did with Jen Croneberger which goes along with the 3 Mental Must Haves to Avoid a Hitting Slump report. I suggest you read the report before going through this interview. It will make a lot more sense to you!
Once you’re done reading the report, come back here and go through this interview. If you have any further questions you’d like Jen to answer, she has graciously agreed to do that for you as our Featured Expert this month!
The 3 Mental Must-Haves To Avoid A Hitting Slump
Grab your copy of this 7-page mental game report to find out…
- how you can be more consistently successful at the plate this season
- what is non-negotiable if you want to be a successful hitter
- the 2 things you must do in order to make sure you have the 1st “Must-Have” of hittig
- how to stay the course and avoid distractions from your hitting goals
- what influences success or failure in hitting almost single handedly
- how to overcome your hitting fears
- and a whole lot more
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Softball Workout – Simple Flexibility Exercises For Pitchers
Flexibility is important to pitchers because of the number of pitches she executes in a game. Having a lose and flexible arm will make her pitch easily and thus avoiding unwanted injuries.
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Scientific Proof – Effect of Visual Training on Batting Performance and Pitch Recognition of Collegiate Softball Players
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of preseason visual training on bat velocity, batted-ball velocity, and pitch recognition. Twenty female NCAA Division I softball players were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups 5 weeks before the season began. Group 1 was the control group and received no vision training. Group 2 completed 18 vision-training sessions over the span of 6 weeks. Vision exercises consisted of visual flexibility, visual recognition, and visual tracking. Each session was performed with a game pad controller on a computer and lasted between 10-20 minutes. Prior to the beginning of the 6 weeks, all subjects were tested on body composition, grip strength and vertical jump to assess leg power. Instantaneous bat velocity was recorded and for batted-ball velocity, subjects were directed to hit softballs between a zone away from the back of home plate and set up on the softball field while batted-ball velocity was measured by a radar gun set up behind home plate. Softballs were delivered at a mean velocity from the automated pitching machine 13.1 m or 43 ft away from home plate. Subjects also performed pitching recognition where a softball was delivered from the same pitching machine and called out “ball” or “strike”. An official NCAA “strike zone”, adjusted for each player, was set-up behind each hitter. The number of correct responses was recorded by the pitch recognition score. Both groups were also assessed by a commercial visual training program on their depth perception, eye flexibility, visual recognition, and visual tracking. Once the 6-week training program was completed, all subjects were re-tested on the same parameters previously listed.
Comparing Group 1 from Group 2 revealed significant difference in convergence percentage, visual recognition response time, visual tracking response time, and level 4 depth perception. There were no significant differences in BV, BBV, PR, or other visual components.