Six Pack Abs

Six Pack Abs - strong abdominal muscles are very important in baseball. It is also a common goal in the fitness industry.

If you are a pitcher, having strong ab muscles can add 7-10 mph onto your fast ball.

And when you are at the plate, having strong core muscles can add power to your swing.

One of the keys to Ozzie Smith's success was his strong ab muscles.

Strong ab muscles will allow you have a much quicker torso, which will make you run faster and be more explosive.

I have develop a great ab workout routine called The MVP Abs From Hell. This workout will make your abs burn and will increase your quickness and speed on the playing field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYHeIlbVye8

Give Yourself a Fitness Test

Ozzie Smith's workouts during the off season paid off for him during the season. He did not hit the mid-season lull, like other players do and he avoided nagging injuries.

Are you in tip-top shape for the upcoming season?

Fitness tests are designed to quickly gauge your general fitness level and to act as a benchmark for future testing.

Simply, put the fitness test shows you your current fitness level and shows you the fitness level you should be.

After taking the following test, complete the MVP Baseball Strength and Conditioning Program. Then, take the test again and compare the results.

The test is divided into four sections. Do each part with plenty of rest between to fully recover.

Push-ups to test your upper body strength. – Count how many push ups you can do in one minute. You should do the test “military style” push-up position with only the hands and toes touching the floor.

Sit-up test to test abdominal and core strength. – Count how many sit ups you can do in one minute.

Squats test to test lower body strength. – Count how many squats you can do in one minute.

60 yard dash – See how fast you can run the 60.

Minute Push-up Test
Excellent – More than 56
Good – 47-56
Acceptable – 19-34

Minute Sit-up Test
Excellent – More than 49
Good – 44-49
Acceptable – 39-43

Minute Body Weight Squat Test
Excellent – More than 49
Good – 44-40
Acceptable – 39-43

60 yard dash time
Exceptional - 6.3 to 6.5
Good - 6.5 to 6.8
Acceptable - 7 seconds or less

Practice Core Strength Conditioning

Welcome to MVP Baseball Tips Featuring Ozzie Smith

During Ozzie Smith's playing career he knew that core strength training was vital to his success in baseball.

A-Rod and Ichiro are not excellent hitters because they are weak. They hit ropes because they have developed high levels of core strength relative to their swing. Core strength development assists in your balance ability, decreases the possibility of injury and is the first element that powers your swing.

The majority of your bat speed comes from your midsection.

Strengthening your core is also important in throwing the baseball; according to John Boyle “the average pitcher can add 7-10 mph on their fastball in only 60 days utilizing baseball-specific core training”

“Your midsection, or core, strength can determine how well - or bad - you perform on the field, adds Boyle. “Every single movement and skill in the game of baseball starts with the muscles of your midsection. If your strength, flexibility and endurance are not where it should be then you can forget about regular playing time, let alone becoming a star.”

The bottom line is if you desire to improve your swing and drive the ball into the gap for extra bases, working your abs is must in your training.

I have developed a four minute ab routine called the “Abs from Hell.”

This circuit is guaranteed to make your abs burn and increase your power at the plate and add more speed on your fastball on the mound.

Click here to view the MVP Abs from Hell video.

MVP Abs From Hell 4 Minute Workout