This professional baseball pitcher is working on keeping his shoulders back (closed), while his back foot pushes against the ground and then his lower half turns. This training helps him to improve movement sequencing, increases hip and shoulder separation, builds arm speed, and helps prevent injuries.
Strength and Conditioning
The stronger a muscle is, the greater the force it can generate. Increase the strength of the muscles involved in the hitting, throwing, or kicking motions; if the body segments are properly sequenced, the end result should be greater force, power, and speed.
Note: 1) It is extremely important to realize that not every muscle in the body is “involved” in a hitting, throwing, or kicking motion. Improving overall total body strength does not equate to improved hitting, throwing, or kicking force, power, or speed. 2) If the hitting, throwing, or kicking motions are not properly sequenced (with good technique and mechanics), there won’t necessarily be any improved force, power, and speed.
The ideal approach to ensure improvements in force and power development to hit, throw, and kick with greater power is to strengthen the muscles in the same movement direction and in the same body movement sequence as the specific sport movement. This will incorporate the training principle of “Specificity of Training” and will maximize the carryover from the training activity into the actual hitting, throwing, or kicking sports skill.
Powercore 360 products provide strength and conditioning while improving technique.