Effective Training: A Change in Mindset

Are you working yourself to exhaustion between weightlifting, agility training, and intense throwing sessions in order to create more velocity on your fastball?  At DVS Baseball we understand, and we have a better solution for you.  A simple change in mindset and approach will allow you to understand what creates efficiency and optimal function of your body.

DVS Baseball is equipped to seamlessly and simultaneously train pitchers on sequencing, mechanics, and mobility, which is what makes us markedly different from other pitching programs.  Though mobility plays a vital role in surpassing performance or velocity walls, it is often overlooked in the youth population. 

Will Stuligross has been a client at DVS for two years, and he is a prime example of how effective this change in mindset and approach to training can be.  He began with a DVS Score of 17.  The DVS Score is an efficiency scale that determines the amount of injury risk a pitcher’s delivery has. To learn more about the DVS Score go to dvsbaseball.com/dvs-score. Will’s journey through the program started like many others, as he set out to create velocity and longevity while improving his performance as a pitcher. 

Since Will began with a relatively high DVS Score, his potential to gain more velocity was lower than most.  However, his initial mechanical improvements and strength gains showed promise.  His work at DVS, in combination with strength training, helped to transform his body and his delivery, which in turn allowed him to increase his average fastball velocity by four miles per hour.  Unfortunately, in his junior year of high school, he seemed to have hit a point where he was unable to surpass a certain velocity.

As Will grew frustrated, his muscles and delivery tightened, creating less room to accelerate and decelerate.  Josh, one of the DVS trainers that Will works with, helped Will to analyze his mobility during his delivery and convinced Will to attend mobility classes with me twice per week.  

Will’s latest bullpen topping out at 85.2 mph

During Will’s first mobility class, it was clear that he values all types of training that contribute to his success as a pitcher.  His attention to detail as he moved through the stretches demonstrates his willingness to invest in a type of training that is quite different from the typical routine many young pitchers follow as they strive to increase velocity in their fastball.  After only four mobility classes, Will began to consistently throw three plus miles per hour faster.  This means that Will’s work at DVS has allowed him to gain a total of seven miles per hour on his average fastball.  

How is it possible for only four forty-minute sessions to help a pitcher see such improvement? 

Will would tell you, “Mobility classes help me to connect my mind to my muscles and my muscles to my mind.”  

In order to find the most success, pitchers have to focus on maximizing the function of the body, which is where mobility comes into the picture.  

Our mobility classes are designed to improve the function of the body by utilizing movements that contribute to increased mobility and stability.  Every class is unique, yet all classes are linked by core movements and postures that pair with the four DVS phases.  

As an added bonus, in every class, pitchers learn about muscle activation and using their breath to facilitate consistency in their movements.  Will commented, “Breathing has helped me to stretch more deeply, and focusing on stretching deeply has allowed me to trust my body.”  

Watching Will pitch now demonstrates the trust he’s building with his body based on the skill set he already possesses.  He moves more consistently and fluidly through his delivery.  He is more in-tune with the movements of his body as he continues to focus on reaching new goals. 

Will’s initial evaluation compared to his latest bullpen at DVS Baseball

Will is also experiencing the benefits of utilizing mobility classes focused on recovery after intense outings and weightlifting sessions.  These classes are designed to encourage the health and function of the player by including stretches and movements that target throwing-specific muscles.  For many pitchers that play at the highest levels, mobility training is a vital element of recovery.  As someone plays further into their career, increasing amounts of training time between outings is spent in this area in order to prolong the body’s ability to handle the stress from pitching.

Will is bound to see more success as he continues in DVS Baseball’s mobility program.  Integrating mobility training into a pitcher’s routine is a lifelong practice and a lifelong change in mindset.  Yet this simple change can provide pitchers with ongoing advantages, as they will continue to optimize the function of their bodies.  Just as with any other element of a training program, connecting the mind and muscles requires dedication and consistency.

Success comes as a result of a multi-faceted training program. Strength is important, but mechanics, sequencing, mobility, and stability are absolutely integral in maximizing the function of the body and reaching one’s full potential. DVS Baseball’s training program embodies this multi-faceted approach, focusing on the health and success of every pitcher we see.