- If you are preparing for an impending game, then you shouldn’t work out before pitching. Instead, you should warm up your entire body to prevent injury.
- There is a common misconception that pitchers only need to work out their upper body in order to be good pitchers; however, this simply isn’t true.
- It takes a full-body workout for you to be the most effective pitcher possible.
Whether you should work out your upper body before pitching is an interesting question.
It is also difficult to answer because we first need to determine whether you mean working out the same day you are going to pitch a game; or if you are talking about a long term plan to prepare your body for pitching in general.
If you are preparing for an impending game, then you shouldn’t work out before pitching. Instead, you should warm up your entire body to prevent injury.
In addition, you will want to throw a ball around to warm up your rotator cuff and your arm so that you can pitch a good game.
That is all that you should do on the day you are going to pitch!
There is a common misconception that pitchers only need to work out their upper body in order to be good pitchers; however, this simply isn’t true.
It takes a full-body workout for you to be the most effective pitcher possible.
What this means is that you will want to lift weights that benefit your entire body.
In addition, in order to increase your stamina, you will also want to include a regular cardio workout into your routine so that you can pitch an entire game while you are in the field and still contribute when it comes to batting and running!
As you develop a workout plan that’s right for you, make sure you have a fitness pro in your corner. Join our Pro plan today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more!
What Kind of Upper Body Workouts Are Best for Pitching?
In order to be successful while pitching, you will want to incorporate upper body workouts into your routine. A problem that many pitchers face, however, is injuring their shoulder muscles because they don’t train their upper bodies correctly.
Bench presses are an excellent way to train the upper body for pitching. However, in order to protect the shoulders, you don’t want to bench press the way a bodybuilder might. What this means for pitchers is that when you do a bench press, your elbows should never go lower than your shoulders, this will prevent injury and prevent you from getting too tight as well.
Some athletes do prefer to use dumbbells for their bench press rather than using a barbell. Part of the reason for this is that it requires more focus and concentration, which means that you are less likely to injure yourself. In addition, dumbbells help to develop balance, something that is very important for a pitcher.
When working your upper body, it is important that you develop back, stomach and arm muscles equally. A well-balanced workout ensures that you keep your body safe and provide yourself with the most benefit when it comes to pitching as well.
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Sign UpDo I Need to Pay Special Attention to My Stomach Muscles?
Yes! You most certainly need to ensure that you have strong stomach muscles when you are pitching. If you have never given your stomach much thought before, try throwing a ball right now with your stomach completely relaxed. Now, do it again but with your stomach tight and strong. See the difference?
Strong stomach muscles will aide in a faster throw, a strong throw, and even a more accurate throw. What’s more, you may have a longer pitching career if your stomach muscles are in good shape.
The reason for this is that if you are using your stomach and the rest of your body to aide in your pitching, then you will not have to use as much force from your shoulder. This is a good thing. It protects your shoulder and helps to prevent injury!
Why Do I Need to Work Out My Lower Body Too?
If you are new to pitching, you may not realize that pitching isn’t just about your arm, it is about your entire body. The force by which you throw starts with your legs! If you don’t workout your lower body, you aren’t going to be the best pitcher that you can be.
This doesn’t mean that you have to become a muscle-bound hulk with big bulky legs in order to be a good pitcher. What you need to do is develop some muscle in your legs as well as some endurance.
Running and squats should be effective in getting your legs in shape and providing you with the leg strength that you need. While your legs won’t be your primary focus, you need to ensure that you keep them strong and healthy to maximize the speed and strength of your pitch.
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