Baseball products YOU should be using in 2014 

 Part 1 : Ubersense Video Analysis Tools

At pitchpro we use Ubersense video analysis because it is the best way to demonstrate areas players can improve. You cant hide whats on video, and  when you slow it down, it is the best way to see faults that are too difficult to see at regular speed. Ubersense has a user friendly  interface which can record, edit and playback video for frame by frame analysis. There is also a community of baseball players who post useful videos and drills.  Best of all, it is free to use and operate.  If you have a smartphone or tablet, and want to get better, video analysis couldn’t come easier.

Personally, I struggle with dropping my elbow too low through my delivery and getting underneath the baseball. With ubersense, I can slow my video down, mark the elbow, and pinpoint when my elbow drops and how far it drops. I can record one video and split screen another video alongside of it for comparison. I am amazed by the things I can do with the app.   

I wish a tool like Ubersense was availiable to me when I was really getting serious about baseball and working to perfect my delivery.  I remember specifically putting pictures of my favorite players on my mirror and studying their deliveries until I could mimic them.   I kept a picture of Mark Prior at leg lift, foot strike and follow thru on my mirror and would mimic these movements until my delivery looked similar. If I had a tool like this, I could see an actual video of my self and compare it to that of pro pitchers. 

You can find the ubersense app on the IOS appstore….and its free!!

About the author:  This article was written by Anthony Slama, a professional baseball player for 7 years with the Minnesota Twins. He pitched in the major leagues with Minnesota, and is a contributing partner with PitchPro.  Have a baseball product question or comment?  Leave it in the box below and he will get back to you! 

(Photos and vids: courtesy of blog.ubersense.com)

Build a strong shoulder, and become a stronger pitcher!!

Here is a list of simple rotator cuff strengthening exercises that every pitcher should know. A solid shoulder strength and maintenance program helps prevent injury and works to stabilize the muscles surrounding the all important shoulder capsule. Each movement should be coordinated slowly and purposefully with no more than two or three pound weights.  We recommend our pitchers master these movements along with a tubing program (coming soon) and perform them daily prior to their stretching and throwing programs. 

Six exercises, Eight reps each set   6x8

1. Simple Shoulder Raise

   

Elbows at shoulder height.  Hands at 90 degree angle 

Fully extend arms above crown of the head and repeat 

2. Simple Shouler Fly

Elbows at shoulder height. Hands at 90. Scap retracted

With Elbows shoulder height, bring forearms parallel in front and return to scap retract position.

3. Shoulder "Full Can" Exercise      

Shoulders retracted, arms in neutral position

Keep scap retracted, hold the weights thumbs up (like full soda cans) lift straight arms to shoulder height and back down

                    

4. Shoulder "Empty Can" exercise

Scap Retracted, shoulders pulled back and arms neutral position

Scap retracted, hold the weights thumbs down (emptying out soda cans) lift to shoulder height and back down

5. Bent over rows

Bend back like a hinge, don't arch the back. Hang arms at neutral position

Lift elbows slightly past shoulder height, forming a "W" 

6. Bent Over Swim Fly's

Bend like a hinge, Hang arms at neutral and don't arch your back

Lift weights to chest

From the chest, fly the weights to shoulder height and straight back down to the beginning position

 7. External Rotation

Elbows tight to sides, 90 degree angle with elbows, thumbs up

Keep elbows tight to sides, no gap inbetween side and elbow, rotate weights externally

At PitchPro, we want our athletes to know these like the back of their gloves.....Keep working on these few simple movements until you can do them in your sleep! 

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