Posted by: bill c (billc@yahoo.com) on Wed May 4 13:53:08 2005

A couple of exercises I have done since I watched the DVD have been to focus on strengthening and stretching the torso and the shoulder. I've used a 10-lb medicine ball and rotated back and forth at a moderate speed while keeping my chin even with my belt buckle, creating an axis to spin on. This will challenge your obliques, delts, shoulders and even your hand muscles, all important groups for swinging with proper technique. It also serves to improve flexibility and the degree of rotation by stretching you out. The other exercise is simply a cable/rubber band pull, bringing your hand from the opposite side low (at the belt) to shoulder height straight out to the far side, keeping proper posture. This somewhat replicates the path of a swing and puts a strong focus on the lead shoulder. As with all exercises, it should be done bilaterally, of course.

Caution: shoulders and obliques can be delicate if you overdo it.