Should physical strength be measured

[Vertigo]

Got to be honest - not sure if it is the weight-lifting or the weight gained via weight-lifting that makes the ball go farther when hit. When I was about 6 mos pregnant with dd I was still playing in a slow-pitch co-ed league. I had probably gained about 20-25 pounds by that point. The ball definitely went a lot farther at that point than it did in my non-pregnant state. Same swing, no weight-lifting. Just interesting anecdotal info.

 

[Corleone]

But there is a correlation between playing better and winning. Don't think anyone can argue that being stronger didn't help Barry Bonds, which is why his home run record doesn't count, or Jose Canseco become the first 40-40 player, or Roger Clemens who is disqualified from the hall of fame over his steroid use. The steroid era was probably the most exciting time in baseball history, McGwire vs Sosa in the Home run chase. Sure, strength doesn't make a player good, but it can definitely make a player better.

I said there was no correlation between winning and weight training in baseball or softball.

 

[RADcatchers]

What's More Important: Strength or Power?

Strength and power are often two terms that are often used interchangeably but they are not the same. Learn the differences here.

www.athleticlab.com

 

[chinamigarden]

I said there was no correlation between winning and weight training in baseball or softball. I didn't comment on whether weight training was beneficial to an athlete.

It's like asking if a player flosses their teeth often enough is important. Flossing is important but it's not correlated to winning.

There are a lot of attributes that go into making a winning softball player but the ability to lift heavy things isn't one of them. It's like saying I need all my golfers to deadlift 300 lbs.

Let's rephrase. If you are building the perfect softball player how far down the list do you have to go before you see "weight training"? It's pretty far down.

I think strength training for softball looks different than strength training for other sports. Functional strength is important. While actual weight training is way down the list I bet that being fit snd strong impact lots of points up and down the list.

 

[RADcatchers]

I think strength training for softball looks different than strength training for other sports. Functional strength is important. While actual weight training is way down the list I bet that being fit snd strong impact lots of points up and down the list.

Agree. Which is a really good point! in that when people think of weight training some people are thinking of continually building muscle mass and bulking up big. Is not necessarily everyones goal with weight training.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

While actual weight training is way down the list I bet that being fit snd strong impact lots of points up and down the list.

It's not even in the top 10 attributes for a softball player. Lifting or not lifting weights will not have a meaningful full impact on runs scored or allowed.

Most players are sufficient in terms of strength to play this skill-based game.

You can verify this at your next tryout. Look at the attributes they are concerned about/test for.

 

[RADcatchers]

It's not even in the top 10 attributes for a softball player. Lifting or not lifting weights will not have a meaningful full impact on runs scored or allowed.

Looks like more opinion... that basically you think becoming a stronger body is not meaningful.
That doesn't seem to acknowledge all the Sports programs and players that utilize weight training.

Will go with asking....
Are you saying that you think even if an entire team starts a good weight training development program
that training wont help the productivity of the team?

If I remember correctly...
Have seen you post about how softball is really an individual sport. Yes I agree it has individual statistics and individual performance.
Question please,
Do you think that one person can help their own individual statistics by developing a stronger body?

Point being
A stronger body is connected with speed and Power which are connected with better performance.
Better performance is connected with winning.
Go team training

 

[lostcreek1]

I said there was no correlation between winning and weight training in baseball or softball. I didn't comment on whether weight training was beneficial to an athlete.

It's like asking if a player flosses their teeth often enough is important. Flossing is important but it's not correlated to winning.

There are a lot of attributes that go into making a winning softball player but the ability to lift heavy things isn't one of them. It's like saying I need all my golfers to deadlift 300 lbs.

Let's rephrase. If you are building the perfect softball player how far down the list do you have to go before you see "weight training"? It's pretty far down.

Is she going to be a slapper or a HR hitter?

 

[chinamigarden]

It's not even in the top 10 attributes for a softball player. Lifting or not lifting weights will not have a meaningful full impact on runs scored or allowed.

Most players are sufficient in terms of strength to play this skill-based game.

You can verify this at your next tryout. Look at the attributes they are concerned about/test for.

If strength is not important to a softball team. Why do all the D1 programs have strength training programs for their players? The game is skill based. But the player with skill and power is ahead of the player with skill only. 2 batters who make contact the same amount of time. One hits it consistently to normal outfielder depth is not as valuable to a team as the one who is lining the ball off the fence

 

[RADcatchers]

Here is an article describing in depth studies on muscle strength relationship to hitting mechanics.

@Rolling Hard you may like to read this detail directly relating to hitting

Strength and Conditioning Programs to Increase Bat Swing Velocity for Collegiate Baseball Players

Bat swing velocity (BSV) is an imperative element of a successful baseball hitting performance. This study aimed to investigate the anthropometric and physiological variables associated with BSV and explore strength and conditioning programs to increase ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov