Has anyone read "Fastball Fitness" by Tom House? Is the program/exercises clearer and easier to understand than those in "Fit to Pitch"? Thanks.

I would give Jon Doyle a buzz in the strength and conditioning forum. He seems bright and he definetly studies his craft.

Fastball Fitness is an excellent book. IMHO it is easier to read than Fit To Pitch. However, House still likes to speak in technical terms, and doesn't always explain things quite as clearly as he could. Still, this is a very good book.

The gist of Fastball Fitness is that people have not been training the core properly. Velocity is generated in part by linear (extension/flexion) movement, but far more (80% per House) by rotatational movement. Therefore the body should be conditioned for rotational movement. Exercises that train for linear movement are of limited value.

I think Fastball Fitness is dead on with what Jon Doyle has been preaching for a long time. I highly recommend both Fastball Fitness and Unbreakable Abs. I think they complement each other quite well. UA has the advantage of doing a better job of laying out a training schedule for you.

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Originally posted by boyinr:
Has anyone read "Fastball Fitness" by Tom House? Is the program/exercises clearer and easier to understand than those in "Fit to Pitch"? Thanks.

I ahvent seen fastball fitneess but i like fit to pitch quite a bit im actually working on the routines and programs in that right now is fastball fitness better?

Read the paperback version last week and House is careful to suggest his theory is a work in progress. His info suggests power/fastball speed in pitching is 80% stride/torso hips and 20% shoulder/ hand speed. Yet, several chapters are written by co-authors suggesting 120ft long tossing or weighted ball programs will increase velocity in high school/late teen pitchers. Painguys " holygrail " of M or W was not addressed and I didn't think anything profoundly new was brought to the table. Personally, I found enough info to find new respect for the kinetic chain of a pitcher and decided the $18 book cost worth while.