Comparison of Three Baseball-Specific 6-Week Training Programs on Throwing Velocity in High School Baseball Players

Abstract

Throwing velocity is an important baseball performance variable for baseball pitchers, because greater throwing velocity results in less time for hitters to make a decision to swing. Throwing velocity is also an important baseball performance variable for position players, because greater throwing velocity results in decreased time for a runner to advance to the next base. This study compared the effects of 3 baseball-specific 6-week training programs on maximum throwing velocity. Sixty-eight high school baseball players 14-17 years of age were randomly and equally divided into 3 training groups and a nontraining control group. The 3 training groups were the Throwers Ten (TT), Keiser Pneumatic (KP), and Plyometric (PLY). Each training group trained 3 d·wk(-1) for 6 weeks, which comprised approximately 5-10 minutes for warm-up, 45 minutes of resistance training, and 5-10 for cool-down. Throwing velocity was assessed before (pretest) and just after (posttest) the 6-week training program for all the subjects. A 2-factor repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc paired t-tests was used to assess throwing velocity differences (p < 0.05). Compared with pretest throwing velocity values, posttest throwing velocity values were significantly greater in the TT group (1.7% increase), the KP group (1.2% increase), and the PLY group (2.0% increase) but not significantly different in the control group. These results demonstrate that all 3 training programs were effective in increasing throwing velocity in high school baseball players, but the results of this study did not demonstrate that 1 resistance training program was more effective than another resistance training program in increasing throwing velocity.

Efectos del entrenamiento de fuerza en la velocidad de golpeo en tenistas jóvenes / Effects of Strength Training on Hitting Speed in Young Tennis Players

“…Estos resultados son similares a los observados por otros autores quienes en tenis y beisbol observaron mejoras asociadas a un entrenamiento de estas características (Fernández et al, 2013;Genevois et al, 2013;Escamilla et al, 2012). Fernández et al (2013) en un estudio realizado a 30 tenistas varones de categoría junior encontraron que con un entrenamiento de 6 semanas realizando ejercicios de la musculatura del núcleo corporal (CORE), gomas elásticas y ejercicios con balón medicinal, la velocidad de servicio mejoró significativamente (4.9%).…”

“…Genevois et al (2013) en un estudio realizado a 44 tenistas varones adultos observaron que con un entrenamiento de 6 semanas de lanzamientos de balón medicinal mejoró significativamente la velocidad de golpeo de derecha (11%). Por otra parte, Escamilla et al (2012), en un estudio realizado a 68 jugadores jóvenes (entre 14 y 17 años) de béisbol, el grupo que realizaba ejercicios de lanzamientos con balón medicinal y ejercicios con bandas elásticas mejoraron significativamente (2.1%) la velocidad de lanzamiento de pelota.…”

“…Diversos estudios han demostrado que el entrenamiento de la fuerza explosiva a través del entrenamiento del CEA (ciclo estiramiento-acortamiento) permite mejorar la velocidad de golpeo en deportes como el tenis (Treiber et al, 1998;Fernández et al, 2013;Genevois et al, 2013) o el béisbol (Escamilla et al, 2012). En este sentido, diversos autores recomiendan realizar lanzamientos rotacionales de balón medicinal para estimular la velocidad de golpeo en tenis (Roetert y Ellenbecker, 2008;Roetert et al, 2009;Earp y Kraemer, 2010;Baiget, 2011) o la utilización de sobrecargas (Kraemer et al, 2000;Kraemer et al, 2003).…”

Throw Like a Pro V.2.0 mobile app review

“…The videos demonstrate year-round training techniques to enhance performance and decrease injury risk; that is, the ‘Throwers Ten’ video clip illustrates proper form and technique in performing 10 exercises shown to both improve performance and decrease injury risk 3. A group of youth pitchers who employed the ‘Throwers Ten’ training programme significantly increased their shoulder strength and power and their throwing velocity in only 6 weeks compared with a group who only pitched and did not employ the ’Throwers Ten' training programme 3…”

Rehabilitation of the Throwing Athlete

“…Likewise, the throwing velocity in high school baseball players was increased using a program that incorporates a variety of resistance exercises, including plyometric training and a Thrower's Ten training. 75,76 Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Glenoid Labrum Procedures…”