Exercising which muscles improves hitting ability in baseball?

[Phokus]

I assume the tricep muscles help immensely in being a more powerful hitter. Are there other muscles you should develop to hit harder?

 

[Rudee]

It's all shoulders and forearms.

 

[dadeef]

dont forget wrists too

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Rudee
It's all shoulders and forearms.

I assume that was sarcasm because it definitely isn't.

 

[Miramonti]

Wrists are huge in getting the bat around quickly. Its a hand/eye thing too tho...gotta have good concentration and anticipation.

 

[BigJ]

A lot of sluggers generate power from their legs. That's why you'll see them with tree trunks for legs.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: BigJ
A lot of sluggers generate power from their legs. That's why you'll see them with tree trunks for legs.

Exactly. look at Albert Pujols, for example.

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: BigJ
A lot of sluggers generate power from their legs. That's why you'll see them with tree trunks for legs.

thats what I always thought. When hitting correctly you use your legs the most, especially the thighs. I would do a lot of leg extensions and stuff to strengthen your wrists (whatever that may be:Q )

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Rudee
It's all shoulders and forearms.

I assume that was sarcasm because it definitely isn't.

Forearms are definitely where it's at.

Go to the batting cages and hit 100 balls. You'll find the next day that your forearms and shoulders (particularly the muscles around the shoulder blades) are quite sore.

(I either play ball or hit the batting cages every other day.)

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Rudee
It's all shoulders and forearms.

I assume that was sarcasm because it definitely isn't.

Forearms are definitely where it's at.

Go to the batting cages and hit 100 balls. You'll find the next day that your forearms and shoulders (particularly the muscles around the shoulder blades) are quite sore.

(I either play ball or hit the batting cages every other day.)

I've played baseball in college (admittedly it is in Canada) so I know what I'm talking about. While forearms are important, so are your legs and your torso. Anyone who's played baseball semi competitively can tell you that.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you want to hit more powerfully, work on your wrist/hands/forearms. The vast majority of the power in the swing comes from the release of the wrist cock and the hand rotation. The shoulders and lower body add very little. A guy with strong forearms can hit the ball out of the park flatfooted. A guy with weak forearms can't generate power no matter what his legs, chest, shoulders and upper arms do.

If you want to hit better train your eyes. It doesn't mater how strong you are if you're not making solid contact. What seperates bad hitters from good hitters isn't strength or bat speed, it's eye speed.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Rudee
It's all shoulders and forearms.

I assume that was sarcasm because it definitely isn't.

Forearms are definitely where it's at.

Go to the batting cages and hit 100 balls. You'll find the next day that your forearms and shoulders (particularly the muscles around the shoulder blades) are quite sore.

(I either play ball or hit the batting cages every other day.)

I've played baseball in college (admittedly it is in Canada) so I know what I'm talking about. While forearms are important, so are your legs and your torso. Anyone who's played baseball semi competitively can tell you that.

Oh, I couldn't agree more.

I guess I didn't see the "It's all..." part of the original quote.

 

[Pepsei]

you need to exercise the muscles needed to give youself a shot of steroids.

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
you need to exercise the muscles needed to give youself a shot of steroids.

Yep, just get some Syntex or Searle and some HGH and you'll be GTG.

 

[PoPPeR]

different hitters use different things, but the most common feature in excellent hitters is their ability to snap their wrists. However, strength, rotation, arms, legs, are all factors as well

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Jpark

Originally posted by: BigJ
A lot of sluggers generate power from their legs. That's why you'll see them with tree trunks for legs.

thats what I always thought. When hitting correctly you use your legs the most, especially the thighs. I would do a lot of leg extensions and stuff to strengthen your wrists (whatever that may be:Q )

legs definitely. you have to explode from the legs and twist the hips to generate power, wrists, forearms and hands should just guide the bat to the ball. power comes from the lower body.

 

[Icanoutsmokeany1]

Pilates, that's what's up!

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
If you want to hit more powerfully, work on your wrist/hands/forearms. The vast majority of the power in the swing comes from the release of the wrist cock and the hand rotation. The shoulders and lower body add very little. A guy with strong forearms can hit the ball out of the park flatfooted. A guy with weak forearms can't generate power no matter what his legs, chest, shoulders and upper arms do.

If you want to hit better train your eyes. It doesn't mater how strong you are if you're not making solid contact. What seperates bad hitters from good hitters isn't strength or bat speed, it's eye speed.

I'd like to see a guy with strong forearms hit the ball out of the park using just his upperbody.

 

[jammur21]

I played little league from 1st grade to 9th grade. I consider my physical strength peak to be during 12 grade. For all that time I was always a shallow outfield or sharp infield line drive hitter. I continued to play baseball on the weekends with friends and remained the same type of hitter.

During college I began (gaining weight) and trying to open up my batting stance like Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks. My hitting power has increased tremendously. I'm nowhere near as strong or fit as I was in 12th grade either. Stand with your body angled towards left field, step towards the plate with your left foot but keep your right foot planted. Step into the pitch when you swing, it forces your left foot back out towards left field and makes your hips drive through the swing.

 

[happybelly]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
If you want to hit more powerfully, work on your wrist/hands/forearms. The vast majority of the power in the swing comes from the release of the wrist cock and the hand rotation. The shoulders and lower body add very little. A guy with strong forearms can hit the ball out of the park flatfooted. A guy with weak forearms can't generate power no matter what his legs, chest, shoulders and upper arms do.

If you want to hit better train your eyes. It doesn't mater how strong you are if you're not making solid contact. What seperates bad hitters from good hitters isn't strength or bat speed, it's eye speed.

I'd like to see a guy with strong forearms hit the ball out of the park using just his upperbody.

Me too. It's not going to happen.

It's all about a combination of things, and the lower body is extremely important. You can be the strongest man on earth and not be able to hit a Baseball out of the infield. It has very little to do with pure strength and mostly about good mechanics.

 

[Phokus]

ok thanks guys, i'll keep it in mind (i just joined a softball team and i want to improve my hitting)

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Rudee
It's all shoulders and forearms.

I assume that was sarcasm because it definitely isn't.

For the most part, it most certainly is.

 

[RedPickle]

Well actually if you want to hit a baseball, you first have to learn to SEE the ball. Learn the rotations of the seams of the ball, the arm angles its coming at you from. You'd probably hit a ball better if you guessed with a good eye, rather than hit with gigantic muscles.

 

[Nitemare]

Your right wrist and arm....

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: happybelly

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
If you want to hit more powerfully, work on your wrist/hands/forearms. The vast majority of the power in the swing comes from the release of the wrist cock and the hand rotation. The shoulders and lower body add very little. A guy with strong forearms can hit the ball out of the park flatfooted. A guy with weak forearms can't generate power no matter what his legs, chest, shoulders and upper arms do.

If you want to hit better train your eyes. It doesn't mater how strong you are if you're not making solid contact. What seperates bad hitters from good hitters isn't strength or bat speed, it's eye speed.

I'd like to see a guy with strong forearms hit the ball out of the park using just his upperbody.

Me too. It's not going to happen.

ROFL!! Do you guys even watch baseball? Watch a few games, you'll see dozens of guys who get fooled by curves or straight change-ups get on their front foot and lose almost all of their shoulder turn still hit the ball out with hands alone.