If you want to improve something, measure it. Step 1 to improving anything is objectively measuring
and testing where you are at right now. For Example....Want to Swing faster?Find out how fast you currently swing. Want to hit harder?Find out how hard you currently hit. Want to throw harder?Find out how hard you currently throw. Want to throw with greater distance?Find out how far you currently can throw a baseball.
Want to run the 60 yard dash faster or home to first?Find out how fast you run the 60 yard dash or home to first. Want to improve your pop time?
Find out exactly what your current pop time is currently. It's not rocket science. To improve something step one is getting
objective feedback on how you are right now. Once you know, then it's time to go about improving those numbers.
It's amazing how many players still today, don't know their numbers. Running times, pop times, velocity from the field at their position, bat speeds, exit velocity, or you name it.
How many infielders don't realize that the average runner get's to first base in 4.3 seconds in MLB, yet they never practice fielding a ground ball and getting it to first base in 4.3 or less. Step 2 After You Measure, Now it's time to improve!Get instant and immediate feedback during training. Not once in a while. Consistent and often. A lack of objective feedback during training is a sign you are simply hoping that the current process you have will get you better. Objective feedback is much more powerful than subjective feedback.
Beware of subjective feedback. It can be the enemy. Think about it.
Every coach you run across will have a different opinion on what is right and what is wrong. All of this is subjective feedback.
Make objective measurements and objective feedback a regular part of your training in order to be clear about your improvements or even lack of improvements.
Never, ever hope you're getting better. Hope is Not a plan. Measure, track, and stay on top of your numbers during practice and training. If you're serious about improving anything I listed above, then you need to know exactly where you are right now. That's step 1. If you're serious about improving, you need objective feedback/measurements a regular part of your training.
Not once in a while, and certainly not once a year.
Practice doesn't make perfect. It makes permanent. Keep this in mind when you think getting a thousand reps is the answer. Thousands of reps with little or no objective feedback could be a recipe for disaster.
Make Practice more fun, more purposely, and more valuable, by following these concepts. Anything worth practicing is worth measuring. If you can't measure what you're practicing I would question if you should be doing it.
R.O.T.T
Return on Training Time.
Instant and immediate feedback can give a player a lot better R.O.T.T. Return on Training Time. You only have so many hours in a day, in a week, in a month. Stop guessing. Stop hoping. Let objective feedback be a regular part of your training.
Objective Training Tips -
Know your numbers. (This creates awareness. Then set goals)
Write Them down (Be certain and clear and real about your numbers. Saying you throw in the low 80's could mean anywhere from 79mph to 84mph. That's not specific.
What are your averages? Some players know their best scores, or best times, few know about their consistency. What is your average? This tells us a lot more.
Keep a journal - The great ones keep a notebook. They know exactly what they did. This gives them a clearer picture on where they want to go. Journal practice, training, objective feedback, along with key notes and lessons you learn during practice, training and games. Journal game performances. Percentage of hard hit balls. Track tendencies.
These are just more examples of tracking training...
What is your strike % in your bullpens?What is your hard hit ball % in BP or game?
What is your average ball flight/launch angle?Create a Work Plan....
Set a goal and figure out if you are track to achieve your goal. For example, I want to throw 85mph by August 2025. Figure out where you need to be month by month. Stay on top of it. Are you on track?Think big picture. Focus on making small improvements. Chip away at making a 1% improvement each and every month.
Pay attention to the results. Good and bad. For most players simply paying attention to current results can help improve results.
What is your most common current result when you fail?
Practice these concepts when you fail. Fail differently. Adjust to fail opposite, or in a different way.
Let failing, or adjusting from failures be a regular part of your practice. Fail, and then adjust. The power of objective feedback should be you know exactly how you failed.
Don't avoid failure. Simply Fail in the opposite manner.
It is a huge advantage to have instant and immediate feedback apart of practice and training. Learn from the feedback, and make changes as needed.
At Fastball USA we have had 39 players now go over 100mph. Some of these are exit velocity and some of these are throwing velocity.
We have also have now had 391 players go over 90mph.
Step 1. Measure to Test
Step 2. Measure to train
Step 3. Adapt and adjust for better results.
Remember, if you want to improve anything, then measure it.
Mike Ryan
Fastball USA
www.fastballusa.com
Be Uncommon