Ive heard that baseball players should not be doing overhead lifting such as military press?? Is this true or is it just some dumb rumor?
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All of our ball players perform over head lifts, including our pitchers. We do them with perfect form or we don't do them at all. Since throwing a baseball requires your arm to be in an overhead position why not train there?
Coach Dan
Coach Dan
I agree with Coach Dan 100%
thanks
IMO...don't agree that military presses are OK for pitchers!
From Joe DeFranco, (www.defrancostraining.com)
"Now onto your question regarding overhead lifts for baseball players. A lot of coaches rationalize that because throwing is an overhead activity, performing overhead lifts would improve an athlete’s ability to throw. I strongly DISAGREE! It’s important to know that when you press overhead, you’re basically driving the head of the humerus into the acromion. This causes impingement, specifically to the supraspinatus and long head of the biceps tendon. Repetitive impingement can lead to a tearing of these two muscles/tendons. This is a very common injury that throwing athletes suffer from. I refuse to contribute to this injury with the exercises that I prescribe in the weight room! There are just too many other, safer options for improving a pitcher’s ability to throw or their ability to remain healthy. In conclusion, throwing is very destructive to the shoulder joint. Unfortunately, that’s part of the game and we can’t do anything about it. On the other hand, we can choose strength training exercises that do the least amount of damage to the shoulders when we’re in the weight room.
Just because everyone else is doing it; that doesn’t make it right!!!
Joe D. "
I will do a few sets of push press in the off-season but I can't see it benefiting most baseball players nearly as much as some other exercises. JMO.
"Now onto your question regarding overhead lifts for baseball players. A lot of coaches rationalize that because throwing is an overhead activity, performing overhead lifts would improve an athlete’s ability to throw. I strongly DISAGREE! It’s important to know that when you press overhead, you’re basically driving the head of the humerus into the acromion. This causes impingement, specifically to the supraspinatus and long head of the biceps tendon. Repetitive impingement can lead to a tearing of these two muscles/tendons. This is a very common injury that throwing athletes suffer from. I refuse to contribute to this injury with the exercises that I prescribe in the weight room! There are just too many other, safer options for improving a pitcher’s ability to throw or their ability to remain healthy. In conclusion, throwing is very destructive to the shoulder joint. Unfortunately, that’s part of the game and we can’t do anything about it. On the other hand, we can choose strength training exercises that do the least amount of damage to the shoulders when we’re in the weight room.
Just because everyone else is doing it; that doesn’t make it right!!!
Joe D. "
I will do a few sets of push press in the off-season but I can't see it benefiting most baseball players nearly as much as some other exercises. JMO.
y is it bad for pitchers???
in ur opion
After reading article after article and talking with a few college coaches as well as pro scouts, it has been obvious to me that most people perfer that baseball players (especially pitchers) NOT do overhead lifts in the weight room. The one reason that I've heard the most is because it puts too much stress onto the rotator cuff.
quote:Originally posted by eatsleepandlivebaseball:
y is it bad for pitchers???
Can you not read? Actually, if your spelling is any indication...
BTW, great link to DeFranco. That guy is solid.
is it only overhead presses? If i am using a maching that involves pulling down on a bar over my head is that bad?
What is a good substitute for overhead lifting in the weightroom? 
Doing an excercise such as the lateral pulldown is alright as long as you don't pull the bar behind your head. PULL THE BAR DOWN TO YOUR CHEST.
A good substitute for overhead lifting to build your shoulders are the following: Dumbbell lateral raise, Bent-Over lateral raise, and jobe exercises (remebering not to use waits over 3-5 lbs. for jobes).
A good substitute for overhead lifting to build your shoulders are the following: Dumbbell lateral raise, Bent-Over lateral raise, and jobe exercises (remebering not to use waits over 3-5 lbs. for jobes).