68. Are J-Bands and Weighted Baseballs Actually Going To Help Your Pitching? With George Zirkel (PART 2)
PART 2 WITH GEORGE ZIRKEL | SEASON 4, EPISODE 13
Part 2 with George Zirkel discusses how his throwing program has been impacted by new philosophies and technology, along with major takeaways and lessons he has learned during his time as a pitching and throwing coach.
In this episode, we cover:
What J-Bands are and their benefits in training
The history of weighted baseball training and if weighted balls are necessary to throw faster
The disadvantages of mass adoption of popular programs and philosophies
What new approaches have come about in recent years to throwing harder
What tactics are used to address throwing form issues
What the effective ways to talk to athletes are
What George specifically modifies in a player's throwing
How George incorporate's a surgeon's advice when working with throwers recovering from an injury
How George modifies his program "on the move"
What the #1 deficit in mechanics that leads to elbow injuries
The most common thing coaches do wrong that lead to a pitcher's injury
George's #1 tip to throw harder
George is the Director of Pitching and Associate Director of Operations at On Deck George. He was the Director of Pitching at Ascent Athlete for nearly four years, where he coached hundreds of pitchers, including MLB, MiLB, college, high school, and youth pitchers. He also created an internship program in which aspiring coaches received educational training and gained hands-on experience working with athletes. George has spent years coordinating throwing plans with strength and conditioning coaches and physical therapists to ensure his pitchers are getting the best care possible.
In 2022, George completed his Master of Arts in Motor Learning and Control from Columbia University. In 2017, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Susquehanna University. George played collegiately at Susquehanna University.