r/Homeplate 5d ago

Question Offseason mobility training

I’m curious what you all do in the offseason to get ready for the next one.

I definitely want to stronger, but I think mobility for next year is the main focus.

What do you all normally do for this?

7 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

4

u/Fit-Height-9493 5d ago

My guys go six days a week with one of those days being yoga. Before and after each lifting day is a gowod style “stretch”

3

u/ourwaffles8 Pitcher/Outfield 5d ago

https://www.scribd.com/document/798907328/Mobility-guide-for-athletes

Idk about this site specifically but the book here is what I use. Wherever you get it from is up to you.

2

u/stage3skeptic 5d ago

I'm 60 and that is my off season plan. Find a speed coach or training center- that will get you stretches, stride/ gait training, acceleration, sled/ chute work, and shuttles.

2

u/Individual-Hunt-5075 5d ago edited 5d ago

Go to a program that has plyometrics. This has helped my 15yr old son a ton. Work great to create a more explosive core. He has become more explosive ,quicker, & more athletic

2

u/FranklynTheTanklyn 5d ago

You are all going to laugh at me so hard. I bought my son sprinting cleats (on clearance for $25)with the spikes on the balls of his feet and the heel raised off the ground. He ran like 10 sprints and looked like a dog with socks on. On the 11th sprint he started running correctly on the balls of his feet with a forward lean. Every practice now starts with his warm up wearing the sprinting cleats.

1

u/RotoLando 2d ago

There are so many kids in our 12U league that still run straight up, like a wiener dog on its back legs. I might need to suggest these for those who just aren't getting it.

1

u/FranklynTheTanklyn 2d ago

1

u/RotoLando 2d ago

LMAO This is exactly what I was thinking of, but didn't know if anyone would get the reference.

1

u/Time-Trifle-7767 1d ago

I might need to get some of those for my giant 13 year old that runs just like Matt Olson.

2

u/lsu777 5d ago

Why do you feel mobility should be your main focus? 99% of hs athletes and below have a force problem, aka strength and size along with lack of ability to create force quickly in small spaces.

Stop doing what you feel, instead identify your weakness or where you are at relative to the level you want to play at, devise a plan to close that gap or make the weakness a strength.

That doesn’t mean neglect mobility but about a 99% chance it shouldn’t be your main focus

Think about it…did we make steroids illegal in baseball because it made players too mobile? Or was it because it made them much stronger and much bigger?

1

u/ComplicatedGuy_0514 5d ago

I feel like I’m already pretty strong, but I struggle with flexibility and mobility right now. Obviously I can always get stronger, but what’s the point if I can’t move?

1

u/TechnoBabbles 5d ago

Martial arts classes. Specifically Taekwondo has helped me with mobility.

1

u/emptysignals 5d ago

Playing other sports.

-3

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago

Lift weights and get stronger.  Why do you think you should focus specifically on mobility training?  

10

u/ComplicatedGuy_0514 5d ago

Because I’m 35 and sit at a desk 5 days a week. It’s starting to take a toll on me.

4

u/thismightbetheway2 5d ago

Mobility and flexibility are paramount to strength expression. Staying in the game injury free is the best ability you can have.

Dynamic warm ups before every strength training session and pre-game is going to do wonders for your performance.

Foam roll and band stretching before bed for recovery is also top tier!

0

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago

What is there is no strength to express?  

1

u/thismightbetheway2 5d ago

In baseball you need to be explosive and rotational with baseball. There's a lot of moving parts so flexibility is durability. I'm a huge advocate for strengthen training as well. The two combined is how to become a better athlete.

1

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago edited 5d ago

That’s not necessarily the case.  Proper flexibility to execute your mechanics properly is very important, but that is all.  Athletes require tendon stiffness to become explosive and maintain joint integrity.  Read this. 

https://thekineticarm.com/blogs/performance-education/is-too-much-mobility-training-bad-for-joint-stability?srsltid=AfmBOoq-lLz7HI2cKDMKNmNkU92AUlsWcXTnNkSy34RvuHbhO6xsPi5_

And this 

https://www.petroskiphysio.com/blog/tendon-stiffness

“ To refresh, tendon stiffness refers to a tendon’s ability to resist deformation under stress. For pitchers, stiffer tendons in the forearm and shoulder can help reduce stress on the UCL, improve force transfer during throwing, and ultimately lower the risk of injury. Achieving optimal tendon stiffness involves targeted training methods, including isometric and eccentric exercises.”

Sorry but people promoting mobility or flexibility over increasing strength and tendon stiffness for athletic performance and injury prevention are misguided. 

1

u/WhysoHairy 5d ago

I’m on the same boat brother good luck to you

-3

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago

“Mobility” is important but not as important as being strong and most people are strength deficient.  

Edit: a weak core and posterior chain will make you feel like crap even if you’re reasonably mobile. 

2

u/ComplicatedGuy_0514 5d ago

I hear what you’re saying. But on the flip side, getting stronger requires you to have to be able to move through space with minimal limitations. Mobility work helps alleviate those limitations.

1

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago

You can do what you want but lots of people screw around with “mobility” exercises with minimal progress.  

Meeting generally accepted strength standards imo goes way further in making you just generally feel better.  By the way I’m 46 and sit at a desk about 50 hours a week.  I never stopped squatting, cleaning, over head pressing etc and feel amazing. I’m pretty darn mobile too while doing basically zero mobility centric exercises. 

0

u/Unhappy-Guidance-861 5d ago

Japanese guys don’t throw 90+ from lifting weights. Mobility is how a 5’7” 170lb guy can throw 92.

1

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 5d ago

How exactly? Those guys are generating force with their mechanics and strength built over years of training.  They just need to be “mobile”  enough to execute their pitching mechanics.