Today I just wanted to talk a little about learning new skills in general. Especially when it comes to athletics, there are often little things you can do to make certain skills easier but still sort of get the job done. But do you want to just get the job done, or do you want to excel at it? Though it may be tough, and the learning curve may be steep, there are no shortcuts to optimal technique in any skill. More in the video!
Read MoreLast week I discussed what pitches are necessary for pitching in college, and the answer was to play to your strengths, develop the pitches that allow YOU to get batters out most effectively, and not worry so much that a particular pitch isn’t working for you. This, like all skills that take work and practice, is easier said than done. I’ve discussed some of the challenges facing young pitchers trying to learn movement pitches and I know it can be a frustrating process. As I said in the aforementioned articles, you may have to learn all the pitches before you can determine which one or two will be your strength. But how do you know when to abandon a pitch or when to keep going?
Read MoreWe shared this hitting drill in a newsletter several months ago (subscribe to get these things early!), but the beginning of the high school softball season has reminded me just how many softball players swing their bats with a short follow through right after contact with the ball. ACCELERATING and EXTENDING the bat through the point of contact, rather, is critical to hitting with power and to all parts of the field.
Read MoreUnfortunately, nowadays, athletes feel they don’t have enough time to fit in workouts during the season. They, and their coaches, also fear working out will lead to sore and stiff muscles. In this video, I explain how to schedule workouts appropriately around your in-season commitments, and demonstrate a few new exercises that are less likely to leave you sore, while building total body strength.
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard a lot about what pitches you absolutely need to be able to throw in order to make a college softball team. If you’ve bounced around between different pitching coaches or different travel teams, you’ve probably even heard a lot of conflicting information—that college coaches never call fastballs, that you absolutely must have a rise ball, blah blah blah. Well, today I’m going to tell you the truth!
Read MoreLast week I got a great question in the comments of one of my posts. I replied to the comment, but since the question addressed a problem that is EXTREMELY common among pitchers—lifting the shoulder, or allowing the shoulder to engage and control the arm circle—I decided that it would be beneficial for everyone to see my answer.
Read MoreDr. James Andrews is a world famous sports orthopedic surgeon who, in this interview, weighs in on the current state of competitive youth sports. Dr. Andrews brings up some very disturbing trends in youth sports including the rise in injuries and coaches trapping athletes into playing one sport all year round.
Read MoreI’ve received more than one question about what position a pitcher’s hand should be in at various points around the arm circle. Today I’m going to break that down, and also point out the overall arm position at various points in the motion as it relates to timing.
Read MoreMaximizing your push off the rubber is EXTREMELY important for generating speed. In today’s video, I explain why. For a more in-depth explanation of the physical principles behind windmill pitching, read Joe’s post about it here.
Read MoreIn this week’s video, I give you a detailed introduction to the foam roller, a self-massage tool that is used to improve flexibility by reducing stiffness in muscles and connective tissue. Unfortunately, most people never see a foam roller until they are already injured and end up in physical therapy, but I’m telling you to buy one now.
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