hey have any of you guys ever used Squeezing tennis balls as a way to work your forearms?Ever since my injury,I have been doing that alot,and I think it has helped a little bit

Sqeezing Racketballs are better....good tennis balls are too hard.

handcrunchers are the best to use. I used tennis balls this summer and didnt really care for them so I started using Handcrunchers. They work great, you can find them at Dollar stores anywhere. STRAIGHT FROM MARSHALL UNIVERSITY'S HEAD COACH AT CAMP THIS SUMMER:

"To make your swing more powerful, squeeze bags of sand,handcrunches,or tennis balls. The best are handcrunches.

Hall of famer Fergie Jenkins always carried a rubber ball to work his hands and forearms.

I believe I read somewhere that Hank Aarons' dad made him squeeze tennis balls while he watched TV.

So how does tennis balls increase bat speed?

how does lifting weights increase bat speed?How does running increase throwing velocity?

Gotcha

Squeezing balls is a nice exercise for hand strength, and IMO if you are doing something to work on it it can't be bad. I know Jon Doyle advocates rope work, whether it be using rope (to climb) or towels (for towel chins, deadlifts, etc.) to engage the whole forearm as part of the chain. He's not big on isolating the forearms, as he feels it doesn't carry over to the diamond.

IMO, if you are doing something like squeezing balls, I;m not going to try and stop you because it won't make you weaker by any means. Just know that there are other, more effective ways to build grip and forearm strength.

PM Jon, I'm sure he'd be happy to talk about forearm strength.

quote:

Originally posted by XFactor:
So how does tennis balls increase bat speed?

More powerful hands, more powerful swing

Oh I know there are more effective ways,but Ive been injured and wasnt cleared until yesterday.My options were either do nothing or squeeze tennis balls every night.

Beemax's post was right on...

FutureCatcher, you had to do something...I've been there and certainly feel your pain (Literally)

How does squeezing balls (not like that "sick-o") not help grip strength? Isn't that directly in use when swinging?

quote:

How does squeezing balls (not like that "sick-o") not help grip strength? Isn't that directly in use when swinging?

Typically squeezing a tennis or racket ball will improve endurance strength, which doesn't have much carryover to the swing, unless your grip strength is extremely weak or you're coming back from an injury.

Ok, whats a good way to build up grip strength. I know about the ropes, but sometimes that is not practical. I need something easier to get or to use. Not looking for the "easy answers" here; however, I need an easier (practicaly speaking) exercise.

I choose the rice bucket drill.

quote:

Originally posted by UpstateNY2008:
I choose the rice bucket drill.

Whats your opinion on it? Do you like it?

I love it, but I need more rice.

What is the rice bucket drill? or is it a joke?

quote:

What is the rice bucket drill? or is it a joke?

Bucket about 3/4 full of rice and you dig and grab the rice. Builds grip strength.

Other simple ways to improve grip strength:

-hang from a bar for as long as possible
-hold a pair of dumbbells as long as possible or for a specific period of time - the heavier the weight the lower amount of time you'll hold it
-use a thick bar (or wrap a towel around the bar) when doing barbell exercises

quote:

-hang from a bar for as long as possible

Mr Doyle, I hate to sound dumb, but how is squeezing a tennis ball for a long time developing endurance strength while hanging from a bar for as long as possible is not developing endurance strength?

Thanks!