Q+A: Hitting for Power
Q: “I’ve always had a pretty good batting average, but never had good power. Any tips for improving batting power? Also, what is the best SPARQ equipment for baseball?”
-Jordan Call
TRAINER ANSWERS: Big muscles of your body move the bat. Little muscles aim the bat. You’ve got a good average, so you’ve clearly seeing the ball and making contact. 
Focus on trunk and core rotations, especially using a Power Ball. The trick is that you want to do as much of these as you can standing, so wood-choppers and rotational, two-handed throws are great. Work with a partner where you’re throwing the ball toward one another (Don’t try to catch it, genius. Let it hit the ground first.) Or you can throw the balls against a sturdy wall. For all these, you want to work at 100% all the time — just like you do at the plate. Each throw should be as far as you can muscle it. Also, try different weights of balls. Heavy Power Balls will help you drive the ball, but they’ll kill what bat speed you have. Light Power Balls will help you keep a quick bat.
July 15th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Which are considered Light power balls and which are considered Heavy power balls?
July 16th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
What would be considered a “LIGHT POWER BALL”?
July 16th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Adrian, Mickey - there are 5 Power Ball weights, ranging from 1 - 5 kg. Usually youth and women SPARQ Test with the 2 kg ball. (4.4 lbs)
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
How much does the Powerball weigh(or what size) at all the SPARQ combines for men?
August 7th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Kurt - In SPARQ testing, men use a 3K (6.6 lb) Power Ball.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
if you want to increase power you have to train functionally and one of the drills that we use is the
1.seated power ball toss:
player sits on the ground and with arm stretched out holds the power ball away from them then throws the ball out front only using their core to toss the ball.
the second is that in order to increase power you have to have strong forearms. And one of the drills we use is from our POWER “V”(TM) program and our D.R.A.F.T.(TM) program.
Hammer Wrists:
Player holding a bat with one hand tilts the bat away from them as if they were hamering with a hammer.
If any one want more drils we are more than happy to help players get better.
Ike Guerrero
Owner/Head Instrucotr
.400Comapny Baseball
www.400company.com
March 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Powerball workouts are great, and make sure that you do them for both sides (as if you were a switch hitter). It’s good to have balanced body strength.
In addition, begin doing tee work with a heavier bat, so that you begin to quicken your big muscles to get the bat through the zone with greater ease.
Don’t forget to take your time with the drill. You will get tired quicker with a heavy bat, so it is important that you continue to use proper form.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Im 12 years old, what power ball should i use