Hitting a Tire

Yes! So can hitting flat s o c c e r balls. Specifically, hand and forearm strength.

This may sound like a dumb question but are you suppose to hit the tire with it laying on the ground or should it be hanging by a rope?

quote:

Originally posted by ken:
This may sound like a dumb question but are you suppose to hit the tire with it laying on the ground or should it be hanging by a rope?

Both will help. When you hit it on the ground you will use a sledgehammer and it will help overall body strength more. If you hit it hanging from a rope you would use a bat and it would benefit forearm and hand strength more. The hanging tire is also used to understand and feel the difference in body position at contact on different pitch locations and the power difference when using stretch to power the swing.

What about the shock to the arms?

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
What about the shock to the arms?

It's much, much less than hitting a heavy bag with your fists or feet. Actually, there is very little in the way of shock. You can just hear the difference as your swing gets better (hanging tire, no rim).

When we went to the winter camp at Wayne State Un in Detroit, they have 2 tires mounted on a short volleyball pole/weighted base. They drill a hole throught the tread on top and bottom and slide them down on the pole. Then you hit the top one which is just over belt high and drive the bat through.The friction between the 2 tires keeps it from spinning, but, alot of the times, my son would hit it just right and the top tire would spin 180 so it would be ready for the next swing. If you hit it solid, you will know it.

There used to be a guy up in Oregon that sold a long radiator hose, looked like it came off a giant dump truck, hangs from a rope. Called it the power tube. Works great, thicker and heavier than a tire. Have to create some energy to get the barrel through that baby.

I know U of Tennessee uses semi flat s****r balls as a cage station.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
I know U of Tennessee uses semi flat s****r balls as a cage station.

I like that drill too. It is very good for grip strength and learning to get through the ball.

I know people have different theories on this. I don't like the idea of hitting the tire simply because it affects followthrough. I do understand the emphasis is the point of contact. However, I like hitting items that will give you the feedback but will also be conducive to the overall swing. I like hitting things like what we term "kitten balls." I know some companies also make products to hit for greater resistance. JMHO!

Kitten Ball otherwise known as a 16 inch softball:

Are yopu saying that there is no shock to the arms in hitting a suspended tire ?