I am wondering what muscles I would need to work out to be able to hit farther.
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Core, Legs, Forearms and Wrists.
Thank you
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Forearms, Forearms, Forearms, do them every night.
plus legs and core.
plus legs and core.
Swing a sledgehammer and you'll get a set of forearms/wrists that will do the job.
Works the whole body.
Works the whole body.
In Texas, most baseball players do a "football" type workout during the high school's off-season. Not many off-season lifting programs are customized with "pulling" excercises vs. "pushing" excercises. I also believe the legs, forearms and core muscles are the most important strength agents for baseball players.
But...... I did a non-sanctioned survey of a major D1 baseball program during the 2008-09 season. Interestingly all the double digit HR leaders for that season were 300lb (+) bench pressers?? Again, I have no quantifiable data, just those two factors were present. Something to think about.
GED10DaD
But...... I did a non-sanctioned survey of a major D1 baseball program during the 2008-09 season. Interestingly all the double digit HR leaders for that season were 300lb (+) bench pressers?? Again, I have no quantifiable data, just those two factors were present. Something to think about.
In the following order of importance:
Hips/Quads/Hamstrings
Core
Forearms/Wrists
Hips/Quads/Hamstrings
Core
Forearms/Wrists
quote:Originally posted by MAXX:
In the following order of importance:
Hips/Quads/Hamstrings
Core
Forearms/Wrists
Incorrect, but at least your finally understanding the importance of the arms.
LA Ball
please explain to me the importance of arms?
please explain to me the importance of arms?
quote:Originally posted by Andrew Dunlap:
LA Ball
please explain to me the importance of arms?
quote:Originally posted by BOF:
Forearms, Forearms, Forearms, do them every night.
plus legs and core.
The most important part of the swing is what innitiates the swing. The hands or forearms do not innitiate the swing. The back hip does.
Posterior chain is 10 times more important than forearms
Posterior chain is 10 times more important than forearms
quote:Originally posted by S. Abrams:
Swing a sledgehammer and you'll get a set of forearms/wrists that will do the job.
Works the whole body.
If your talking about hitting a tire with a sledge hammer, it's actually a great core workout as well.
The hard part is finding a massive wheel to pound on.
A swing that is initiated but has no control or ability to adjust is a poor swing.
All of the ability to adjust to a pitch and drive it is located in the foreams and wrists. It is called Bat Control.
You do not control the club head with your hip, with your legs or with your core. You control the clubhead with your arms and hands.
You can be a decent fastball hitter without learning bat control or acquiring the strength that is required to develop bat control, but you will have limited success when you face the best pitching.
The ability to "read a pitch" and lay off requires great strength in the forearms and wrists.
The abilty "to read a pitch" and adjust during a swing requires great strength in forearms and wrists as well.
Power is going to be generated by the legs (including the hip) and the core. But the ability to be an outstanding hitter is going to require strength in the arms and wrists as well as the ability to "read pitches".
A complete hitter will focus on all these aspects and not just the back hip.
All of the ability to adjust to a pitch and drive it is located in the foreams and wrists. It is called Bat Control.
You do not control the club head with your hip, with your legs or with your core. You control the clubhead with your arms and hands.
You can be a decent fastball hitter without learning bat control or acquiring the strength that is required to develop bat control, but you will have limited success when you face the best pitching.
The ability to "read a pitch" and lay off requires great strength in the forearms and wrists.
The abilty "to read a pitch" and adjust during a swing requires great strength in forearms and wrists as well.
Power is going to be generated by the legs (including the hip) and the core. But the ability to be an outstanding hitter is going to require strength in the arms and wrists as well as the ability to "read pitches".
A complete hitter will focus on all these aspects and not just the back hip.
I am not degrading the role of the forearms and wrists. They are a huge part of a great hitter. But they only guide the bat. If you are thrown a 90 mph fast ball on the inside corner, you must fire the hip in order to get the hands inside of the ball, and hit it with authority. A hitter who starts his swing with his hands will not maximize his power.
If the swing has no control, it doesnt matter what ignitiates it, its obviously a bad swing. I am speaking of a hitter that can let an outside fastball get deep, and fire the hips and drive the ball.
It is combining the two that makes the best hitter. That is why I train fore arms in the same movements that use the hips like a hang clean. Not a handgripper.
If the swing has no control, it doesnt matter what ignitiates it, its obviously a bad swing. I am speaking of a hitter that can let an outside fastball get deep, and fire the hips and drive the ball.
It is combining the two that makes the best hitter. That is why I train fore arms in the same movements that use the hips like a hang clean. Not a handgripper.
Now THIS is a great point to debate.
For the old-timers that remember, Exhibit A for wrist and forearm strength had to be Henry Aaron. I am sure that he had more line driver homers than just about anyone. Exhibit A for hip, core and leg drive had (has) to be Ken Griffey Jr. Long, fluid swing that just seems to explode on the ball.
Obviously, Aaron had strong legs and a strong core, just like Griffey has strong wrists and forearms. Just interesting how the accomplished the same task. This is a question of degree with each being important(and, quite simply, you couldn't do without either one). One constant that biomechanical research shows us, however, is that the athletes that transfer ground force into an activity (at speed, of course) are the successful ones. The question is degree.
For the old-timers that remember, Exhibit A for wrist and forearm strength had to be Henry Aaron. I am sure that he had more line driver homers than just about anyone. Exhibit A for hip, core and leg drive had (has) to be Ken Griffey Jr. Long, fluid swing that just seems to explode on the ball.
Obviously, Aaron had strong legs and a strong core, just like Griffey has strong wrists and forearms. Just interesting how the accomplished the same task. This is a question of degree with each being important(and, quite simply, you couldn't do without either one). One constant that biomechanical research shows us, however, is that the athletes that transfer ground force into an activity (at speed, of course) are the successful ones. The question is degree.
There are still people in this world that believe building up your arms makes you hit a baseball further?
I do not know about that but I do believe that there are folks out here who believe that strong forearms and wrists result in better club head control which in turn will give you tools to make adjustments during your swing or holding off on a pitch that initially fooled you. That I think results in a more effective hitter and a tough out at the plate.
BTW, any hitter that is focused on building up forearm and wrist strength is probably busy building up core strength and leg strength as well resulting in an all around better athlete.
BTW, any hitter that is focused on building up forearm and wrist strength is probably busy building up core strength and leg strength as well resulting in an all around better athlete.
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
There are still people in this world that believe building up your arms makes you hit a baseball further?
Uhhh, what am I missing here.... have you looked at Puljos forearms.
Now if you are talking about>
...these guys could not hit a baseball if their life depended on it.
SultanofSwat,
I agree that it doesn't have to with arms, but can you explain why pro baseball players have huge arms?
I recently saw a picture of Nick Swisher (who isn't known for being jacked) and I was really surprised how toned his arms were.
I agree that it doesn't have to with arms, but can you explain why pro baseball players have huge arms?
I recently saw a picture of Nick Swisher (who isn't known for being jacked) and I was really surprised how toned his arms were.
It might not 'have to do with your arms', but I think a lot has to do with your hands. Strong hands make everything in life easier.
Anybody who thinks upper body strength is necessary to create swing speed and power hasn't seen Tiger Woods' wife and SUV.
quote:Originally posted by Vicarious Dad:
Strong hands make everything in life easier.
Where exactly is a hand muscle? How big are they compared to, say, a thigh muscle?
Those look huge. I bet I could hit 500 foot blasts by making those stronger.
Now, can we please stop talking about hands in the "hitting strength" thread?
Now, can we please stop talking about hands in the "hitting strength" thread?
quote:Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
Anybody who thinks upper body strength is necessary to create swing speed and power hasn't seen Tiger Woods' wife and SUV.
Bravo, sir. Well played.
Hitters should be working out with hula hoops.
Vicarious Dad.......Hula Hoops? For Flexibility?Please Explain........
People who ask "have you seen a MLBers forearms?".....I ask you, have you seen the hips and thighs on those same MLBers?????
quote:Originally posted by LAball:quote:Originally posted by MAXX:
In the following order of importance:
Hips/Quads/Hamstrings
Core
Forearms/Wrists
Incorrect, but at least your finally understanding the importance of the arms.
You're offering the same adolescent knowledge here as you are elsewhere. You need to start doing you're research.
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
There are still people in this world that believe building up your arms makes you hit a baseball further?
Unfortunately yes....
Forearms should definately not be forgotten. However, most people do forearms incorrectly.
The posterior chain is so more important than any other group of muscles. The core comes a close second.
The anterior muscles are for the beach, the posterior muscles are for the MLB.
The posterior chain is so more important than any other group of muscles. The core comes a close second.
The anterior muscles are for the beach, the posterior muscles are for the MLB.
Are there "Popeye" body types prevalent in baseball (muscular forearms, skinny hips & legs)? Maybe I missed them.
I think in "striking/throwing" movements; kinetic energy rules supreme over brute strength. Don't you generate kinetic energy from the ground up?
I don't think today's athlete will leave anything to chance thus, will condition everything! ... and maybe take an extra pill here and there.
I think in "striking/throwing" movements; kinetic energy rules supreme over brute strength. Don't you generate kinetic energy from the ground up?
I don't think today's athlete will leave anything to chance thus, will condition everything! ... and maybe take an extra pill here and there.
Legs and core are powerful, but not efficient at transferring the power. The arms and hands may be weaker, but more efficient at transferring power.
Not trying to add fuel to this fire but....Ted Williams wrote about constantly squeezing rubber balls,etc. in the effort to strengthen his hands and forearms.
It strikes me that if the man many considered the greatest hitter ever thought strong hands/forearms were important then maybe there is a reason. JMHO
Don't think anyone is not saying or disagreeing that the core is the engine that drives the swing... but to ignore the value of strong hands/forearms in a baseball swing is overlooking a vital link in the swing as a whole.
Can't say I've ever seen or heard of a good MLB hitter that did not have stronger than average hand strength. Read an article in SI or Sport magazine a few years ago about Soriano when he was a Yankee and that his measured grip strength was the strongest on the team...why would the Yankess measure grip strength unless they considered it an indicator of some value?
It strikes me that if the man many considered the greatest hitter ever thought strong hands/forearms were important then maybe there is a reason. JMHO
Don't think anyone is not saying or disagreeing that the core is the engine that drives the swing... but to ignore the value of strong hands/forearms in a baseball swing is overlooking a vital link in the swing as a whole.
Can't say I've ever seen or heard of a good MLB hitter that did not have stronger than average hand strength. Read an article in SI or Sport magazine a few years ago about Soriano when he was a Yankee and that his measured grip strength was the strongest on the team...why would the Yankess measure grip strength unless they considered it an indicator of some value?
I am with you S.Abrams. We have done rice bucket work and wrist roll exercises for at least 8 years in this household. The best hitters have the ability to use their wrists to accelerate the bat at contact with the top hand. At least that is how my sons have been taught, and they are all pretty effective hitters, each in their own right.