Tree-Your definition of plyometrics is incorrect. Swinging a bat or throwing a ball is not plyometric (the amortization phase is too long). Many jumping movements, often termed plyometrics in the West, are not even true plyometrics. A plyometric exercise or movement is characterized by the sudden termination of an eccentric contraction by an explosive isometric contraction which produces a myotatic (stretch) reflex, a sharp extension of the passive components of the muscle complex and a subsequent explosive concentric contraction.
I realize that swinging a bat or throwing a ball in itself, is not a plyometric activity.
However, I believe my definition of a plyometric exercises to be correct. I may not have used the full detail, but it works.
For the sake of argument lets assume that medicine ball work is not plyometric but explosive. Sometimes my fingers type faster than my brain. Utilization of explosive exercises will transfer to increased bat speed and arm speed.
Well, not really. Something can be very explosive, and not be plyometric. Also, reaching max strength would be under very low velocity (quasi-isometric) conditions with very high loads. Assuming you meant power though, there still has to be a storage of elastic energy ititiated by an eccentric phase and a rapid switch from eccentric to concentric. If I did a five second pause bench with 50% of my one rep max and then exploded the weight up, even if I let go of it to avoid any decceleration, it still would not be plyometric, no matter how powerful the contraction was.
But, as you said, explosive and power movements will transfer to bat speed.
Tree-
I don’t think any training will teach increased bat speed or arm speed. That would be like saying that we can all have the clubhead speed of Tiger Woods, the arm speed of Roger Clemens, and the bat speed of Alfonso Soriano.
Everyone is giving a natural arm speed or bat speed. In a beginning ball player you can increase arm speed or bat speed minimally(remember bat speed comes from the wrists), however in a higher level athlete I don’t believe this possible. I do believe, though, that you can develop the explosiveness of the core and lower body to develop more raw power in the swing and maybe a mile or two in velocity but you will not increase the bat speed or arm speed.
I have been fortunate enough to play with and monitor many minor league position players who have tried to increase bat speed through the “plyometrics” you mentioned only to find that their bat speed didn’t increase. However they did experience slight increases in their ability to hit with power. As for pitchers, they are harder to monitor as their is no device yet in the hands of professional baseball to measure just arm speed.
While I may not have the technical background that you do, I do have the practical experience to have witnessed the trials and errors of these athletes to know that you will not make those increases.
Tree,
I think we’re on the same page, just using different terminology.
Thanks for the clarification.
How do you explain increased ball velocity and batted ball velocity if there is no increase in arm speed or bat speed? If everyone was born with the maximum arm and bat speed they could develop why bother training? Every MLB team has a strength and conditioning coach in the big league, and typically one in each minor league team as well. A lot of money is being invested in training these athletes to be better.
As a pitcher develops over time he may throw 30 MPH when he is 10 years old and then throw a 90 MPH fastball in his adult years. How does this happen?
If the arm is not moving faster how does the ball move more quickly?
Likewise with the bat, how does one hit for more power without increasing bat speed? I have a laser bat speed device that uses the same technology used to measure the speed of bullets shot out of a gun. Over a 6-week period of time I have improved athletes bat speed by 5-10 MPH, not to mention exit velocity speed of the ball of the bat increasing to at least as much.
The faster the bat speed the more power will be produced.
Actually bat speed is does not come from the wrists. The core produces 65% of an athlete’s power. Try taking a swing with no trunk rotation or arm extension. Bat speed will be very minimal.
Now that?s not to say that you can turn everyone into Randy Johnson, or Big Mac through training, but you can help them get to the highest level they are going to achieve. I still rehabilitate a lot of throwing athletes, but now I focus more on preventing their injuries through training. My professional, practical and tested experience says it’s defiantly possible to do.
I’m with you on the last post, Tree.
Are you training to look good or be good?