13/12/2021
What Myths About Driveline Baseball Do You Believe?
Driveline Baseball Pitching is used extensively in the United States. Most Major League Clubs, plus high numbers of Colleges and High Schools have varying degrees of involvement.
Baseball Australia aligned with Driveline Baseball a couple of years ago, but the general baseball population does not really understand what their training & programming actually entails.
The first and probably most important thing is that it’s designed for “serious competitors” I say this because it’s a training way of life, not something you can do “half heartedly”
People commonly say that Driveline is a weighted ball program or it’s a velocity program. This is not correct. It has a weighted ball component and it has a velocity component. These individually, however only form part of the overall training & programming process.
So why is it a way of life? Firstly there is a daily time component required to complete the daily routines. It encompasses all things to maximise overall performance. From sleep, nutrition, arm care, strength & conditioning, pitch design, velocity improvement, daily recovery routines & rest periods etc.
Velocity is the number one ingredient required for advancement to a higher level. If a male player is 16 years old and throws 65 mph no one is looking no matter how good their curve, change up etc may be. If a 16 year old throws 85mph with minimal command, nearly everyone is looking. High velocity is a prerequisite for advancement. Every year the average velocity of pitchers involved in USA College’s and MLB Organisations increases, without exception.
Here’s the catch. Throwing really hard increases the risk of injury. The goal therefore is to provide training programmes that incorporate a systematic approach to throwing hard and lowering the risk of injury. Driveline Baseball pitching theory and practical application is designed first and for mostly to achieve this goal.
The actual process gets a little bit technical from here. A very simple and general explanation is;
Driveline Baseball programming includes information around correct eating and sleeping habits, strength & conditioning, arm care, velocity development and pitch development. Within the pitching programming pitchers use various types of equipment including, Jaeger Bands, Wrist Weights, plyo balls, weighted balls (heavier and lighter than a baseball), strength & coditioning implements, foam rollers and several other varieties of apparatus related to improving recovery times.
The level of daily training varies dependent on the time of the year, the stage of pitcher development and their previous eposure to Driveline programs. If you take a year as an example. there are periods of programming. e.g. Rest Period (no throwing), Off Season, Preseason, In Season. What is contained in these periods is designed around the pitchers general physical condition. The programming is for throwing, strength & conditioning and recovery & rest.
It should be noted that the correct adherence to Driveline programming has a strong emphasis on recovery. Any training session correctly completely will include approx. 30% of recovery activity. Driveline Baseball is about keeping pitchers healthy through programming that will enhance performance while endeavouring to reduce injury to it’s lowest level.
