“The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli
While the games have stopped for now, fall baseball will start soon. The time is now to start building on the foundation you built during the summer. Following are some pitches you don’t want to miss in order to be ready for the fall.
Pitch No. 1: Take the next seven days to focus on developing your hip flexors
Strong hip flexors will enable you to stabilize your body and produce power. Power starts from the ground up. If your lower body doesn’t work, your upper body won’t.
Hip flexor exercise
1. Lay on your side with one leg resting on the other
2. With control, raise your leg 2 feet, and then lower it to the resting position
To develop strong hip flexors, repeat this exercise with each leg for 50 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 8 to 11). Repeat this exercise with each leg for 100 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 12 and up).
Pitch No. 2: Use the next seven days to build your shoulder muscles
Strong shoulders enable you to get your hands in a proper loaded position, which will allow for a short approach.
Shoulder exercise
1. Hold one end of your bat at the barrel, and one end at the handle
2. Extend your arms chest high
3. With control, lower the bat to your thigh, and then back up to chest high
To develop strong shoulders, repeat this exercise for 25 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 8 to 11). Repeat this exercise for 50 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 12 and up).
Pitch No. 3: Take the next seven days to focus on strengthening your forearms
Your forearms are one of the most important parts of your body. Even though you use them during your swing, most players don’t develop them to their fullest potential.
Strong forearms will help you develop a short approach and create more bat speed, which will produce more power. It also will allow you to control the barrel more when adjusting to a breaking ball.
Forearm exercise
1. Choke up 2 inches on your bat
2. Extend your arm chest high with the bat perpendicular to the ground
3. Rotate the bat from left to right so that it’s parallel to the ground
4. Each rotation equals one repetition
To develop strong forearms, complete this exercise with each hand for 50 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 8 to 11). Complete this exercise with each hand for 100 reps, every day, for seven days (for players ages 12 and up).
For more information on how to bolster your game, join us online today at diamonddirectors.com.
BIO:
C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, CJ has more than 12 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J Stewart has a proven system of development and track record of success that can work for you.
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