Don’t cha just love learning new training methods and exercises? That was the case today when we discovered the Band Push, a core-strengthening exercise employed by the Cal State-Fullerton baseball squad, which finished the 2010 season ranked #7 in the country.

Brought to you through the courtesy of Titan head strength and conditioning coach, Greg Vandermade, the Band Push serves as the finishing exercise on days the players train for explosive hip drive [watch the team perform the Hang Clean] as well as upper-body power. For an overview of the day’s workout, view Cal State-Fullerton Baseball’s off-season training episode.
At first glance, the Band Push appears to be a cake exercise. And it may be, if you’re not doing it right.
The most important aspect of the exercise, according to Vandermade, is creating tension with the resistance band—“otherwise,” he says, “it will just be wasted movement if there is no tension. They’re fighting that [band], setting their core, and pushing straight out.”
Perform two sets of 10 reps of the Band Push, and remember to work both sides. In case you were wondering, the Band Push is a beneficial exercise for both pitchers and position players.