Too Bad No One Told Sosa about This
Training Bat…
Baseball/Softball-Specific Strength
Trainer Introduces New Training Bat to Increase Bat Speed and
Hitting Power
Pauls Valley, OK - Jun 25, 2003 (PRN):
Sammy Sosa was wrong using his corked bat in a game, but
he’s dead right to train with it. Clinical studies show that
hitters training with bats of varying weights can increase bat
speed as much as 8 mph in as little as 6 weeks. In fact,
according to these studies, hitters should train at three
weight levels: First, 15 to 20% above their game bat’s
weight to build muscle strength; second, 15 to 20% below their
game bat’s weight to develop speed; and third at their game
bat weight to lock all this into their muscle memory. But,
until now, this kind of training required several training
bats. Now, however, hitters can buy the Big Z Bat Speed Power
Training System and train at all three weight levels with just
one training bat.
“Increasing bat speed is the key to hitting power,” says
Steve Zawrotny, Director of Training for Baseball Fit and
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the
National Strength and Conditioning Association. “Faster bat
speed gives hitters more reaction time at the plate and is how
power hitters like Sosa drive the ball hard and deep. In fact,
every one mile-per-hour increase in bat speed can add 5 feet
to the distance the ball travels.”
Zawrotny, the author of the Baseball/Softball Program to
Increase Bat Speed and Hitting Power and several other
baseball specific training programs, tried weighted donuts and
various weighted training bats but found most were not
properly weighted for bat speed training and could only be
used for either over-weight training or under-weight training
but not both. To fix this problem, Zawrotny designed a
training system using a modified Northern White Ash wood bat
with a hollow core and two precisely weighted Lexan plastic
Resistance Rings that slide onto and grip the barrel of the
bat. What’s different about Zawrotny’s bat is that it is
pre-set to weigh 15 to 20% less than the hitter’s game bat.
The Resistance Rings are then added to make the bat weight
equal to or 15 to 20% heavier than the hitter’s game bat.
The Big Z Bat Speed Power Training System is available through
Baseball Fit’s web site at http://www.baseballfit.com/bat-speed.htm
in two sizes: junior length 20-24 ounce game bat ($69.95) and
adult length 25-30 ounce game bat ($79.95). Custom bat weights
are also available for an additional $10.00. All prices
exclude shipping and handling.
