Pitch Grips
Do you recommend playing other sports throughout the calendar year?
This is a topic that we have touched upon both the past and present, as the common narrative regarding sport specialization is probably a bit misleading in terms of what evidence is presented against specialization. The issue at hand is that better ...
Pitch Grips: Sliders
Sliders are designed to get many swings-and-misses as well a poor contact. The velocity can vary but the movement is similar to a cut-fastball, only more pronounced. A good slider moves downward and to a pitcher’s glove side. The slider grip can ...
Pitch Grips: Splitters
Splitters are similar in nature to changeups. Based off of a wide grip with two fingers, splitters spin significantly less than fastballs, resulting in downward movement and occasional side movement. Because of the wide grip, pitchers are going to ...
Pitch Grips: Cut Fastballs
Cut-fastballs move opposite of two-seam fastballs, to the glove side of the pitcher. The amount of movement can vary with some cutters moving more horizontally and others both horizontally and downwards. The cut-fastball grip is similar to a ...
Pitch Grips: Curveballs
Curveballs are meant to slower pitches that have significantly more vertical drop than other pitches. Most curveballs move in a 12-6 or 1-7 fashion. A good curveball can be paired well with fastballs to take advantage of tunneling. The curveball grip ...
Travel Ball vs. Training- How do I manage my athlete’s needs and what is best for my athlete?
Many words have been written on our FAQ and blog describing the dangers of overusage, year-round throwing, and specialization in response to the stories of workload mismanagement we often hear about from parents and coaches regarding youth athletes. ...
How do you integrate strength with throwing?
When integrating Strength with throwing the first we need to note is Training Economy. The example we like to use is a dollar bill. If you spend .50 cents on throwing then you can only have $.50 worth of training to spend on strength training. This ...
Pitch Grips: Changeups
Changeups are intended to be slower than fastballs, often having downwards or down and arm-side run. Changeups also spin slower than fastballs, meaning they have a lower spin rate. The changeup grip can vary a lot, from circle-change grips to ...
Is strength training different for pitchers and hitters?
Yes and no. The vast majority of the strength training for pitchers and hitter is going to be very similar except there are 3 things we need to account for in each group: Volume, Athleticism, and Exercise Prescription. For more info on this topic ...
Should I lift in season?
The answer is a resounding “yes.” We can lift during the season, but there are considerations we need to make. The first, and most important, is fatigue. We need to be cognizant about the amount of fatigue placed upon our athletes and how that ...
Pitch Grips: Fastballs
The four-seam fastball is traditionally the first pitch that every baseball player learns. By putting your index and middle fingers across the four seams of the horseshoe, you get the fastest and straightest pitch a pitcher can throw. Four-seam ...
Pitch Grips: 2-Seam Fastballs
Two-seam fastballs are often classified by their movement to the pitcher’s arm side and some possible downward sink. They can pair with a straight four-seam fastball to either get a hitter to swing overtop of the two-seam or for them to get on top ...