Elite Cricket Training Academy / Increasing Bat Speed with Heavy Trainer

The Heavy Trainer has been as very useful tool for batting coaching for me at the Elite Cricket Performance Academy and with junior team performance coaching.
In terms of team coaching we have found when playing at grounds with less nets for pre-match batting practice; players could dry drill their shots and work on bat speed, by using other products that did not require a net I could set up 4-6 different batting warm ups to keep everyone active, rather than waiting around or having to split the group for different skills warm ups.
In terms of Academy development of the player, it has been very useful in helping players develop their bat speed. Up to this point there have been sand balls to use (but they are very expensive and heavy for players/coaches to carry in bags), this product has increased bat speed and the exit speeds of the ball by between 2-7mph.  It definitely has made batsmen feel like they can hit the ball further and be positive about clearing the infield or the ropes.
It has been a useful tool for the 2 day games where you have minimal time to get back into preparation to bat after a lunch or tea break, players could swing their bat as they headed back to the pitch that they were playing on, then have a few quick hits or throw downs before heading back out to bat.
When using the product with professional players they could then feel the difference when using different parts of their body to generate more bat speed, so this aided me in helping them understand why the technical changes would work, they often said they were more conscious of their swing with the device on and how cleanly/powerfully they could swing the bat.
All in all for the price and size of the product it is a great product to have in any players kit bag, it gives you the confidence that you can hit the ball harder and this can be using orthodox strokes as well as power hitting. For Parents in the ‘off season’ it is ideal, the player can practice their strokes indoors and work on muscle memory for the strokes.
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Heavy Racquet  Cross Trainer Catches Fire with Lacrosse Players

Designed by Laz Gates, the Heavy Racquet Lacrosse Cross Trainer is a solid piece of molded composite material that slides up the shaft and fits snugly up against the base of the head of the stick..

For lacrosse specifically, the weight is about the same as a lacrosse ball and provides the proper amount of resistance to allow players to develop strength without compromising the technique of their shooting and passing movements.

Similar to a warm-up donut for baseball, the device focuses on building muscle memory, and increasing the speed and flexibility of an individual.  And thanks its design, the Cross Trainer does not slip out of place regardless of the force used to execute a shot or a pass.

Beyond passing and shooting advantages, the Cross Trainer is also ideal for goalies by improving their strength and hand speed, as well as defensemen in practicing stick work.

In the lacrosse community, the product has already caught the attention of some professional players, including Kyle Buchanan.

Kyle, who is entering his second year in the National Lacrosse League and represented Scotland in the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships, quickly began to see the benefits of using the Cross Trainer in some of his offseason workouts.

“I love the simplicity of it, it’s basic to throw on any stick and it slides up perfectly under the head,” Buchanan says.  “I was surprised how much it didn’t move when I was shooting. I like the weight of it, it’s not over bearing, but it’s perfect on where you want to strengthen those muscles in your arms and hands.”

Buchanan added that its simple design does not restrict one’s training on or off the field, while also making easy to forget the weight is even there.  He also chimed in on the benefits of youth lacrosse players using the device to add that extra “oomph” to your workout.

“I think it’s perfect for kids and people of all ages that play lacrosse…you can use it with a ball or without, and that’s what I love about it.  You can go to any gym or any wall and be able to use it and not have too much effect otherwise.”

Staff members of clubs have also taken a look at the patent pending design of Cross Trainer, including Chris Spangler, the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Denver Outlaws.
Introducing the device to youth players at a clinic in the Denver area this offseason, Spangler noted it quickly caught on among the kids.  He added that the weight is a prime alternative to other traditional weight training methods with lacrosse sticks, an area that has seen little research and development compared to other sports.  He hopes to introduce it to the Outlaws later this offseason as well.

“This would be more of an exercise, heavy-weighted item that I think simulates better than the current option which is putting sand in your shaft, which I think puts the weight in the wrong part of the stick.”

David F. Berens USPTA Elite Tennis Professional-Gives His Review

USPTA Elite Tennis Professional – HeavyTrainer

                             “Well worth having one in your bag”

I used the Heavy Trainer in a few swings before my lesson and could definitely tell that I was a little looser and felt that it had increased my range of motion. I felt more flexible. I could also see that making several swings with the gave me a rhythm… I was able to develop what felt like a much smoother swing with just a few repetitions.

Another aspect that I hadn’t considered occurred when I put the Heavy Trainer on a student’s racquet and had her swing through her forehand, her backhand and her serve. She reported that she could tell at once that she wasn’t following through as much without the trainer on her racquet. (ie. she felt that she would swing through the ball better after having felt that feedback.) She said she really liked it and could see the value of having one in her tennis bag to warm up before matches.

Every time I watch baseball, I see the pros in the on-deck circle using a donut – Every. Time. My plan is to continue to use the Heavy Trainer with different students and see what benefits they feel from using it. My instinct tells me that the muscle memory benefit, the stretching/warming up benefit and the rhythm it produces in your swing is well worth having one in your bag.

David F. Berens-USPTA Elite Tennis Professional

Increase Bat Speed Heavy Trainer a must for Cricket

With the need for power becoming an increasingly important string to the modern batters bow, I’m often looking for different ways to create cricket specific power
At The Portsmouth Grammar School all our cricketers have focused strength and conditioning programmes, however the recent addition of the Heavy Trainer provides a fantastic link between physical development and skill development.
Last year we began using the Heavy Trainer with our senior boys, but we’re planning on adding it to all our players’ programmes when the start their winter training schedule. A simple piece of kit to use, the Heavy Trainer has slotted neatly into our programme and is already having an impact on our players power development. Taking up very little space in your kit bag, the Heavy Trainer can be used anywhere, and doesn’t need any adult supervision when working with young cricketers in the same way a gym based power session would. While it’s not going to replace the gym work our players do, it certainly compliments it extremely well.
This winter I’ll be tracking the bat speed of our young cricketers, so hopefully in the near future we’ll have some numbers to support the impact that the Heavy Trainer is having. However, the principles of power development are simple so the improvements should only be limited by the efforts of the individual and their commitment to practice.
The process we’ll be working throughout is the classic “over, under” method. Simply put, players will complete 6 maximal bat swings using their own bat with the Heavy Trainer attached. This is followed by 6 with one of our narrow bats practice bats (these ordinarily weigh a little over 2lb, so they’re lighter than a normal bat). The process is then completed with 6 swings of their own bat. However, this time without the Heavy Trainer attached.
The plan is to recycle this process using 3 main shots; a straight drive, a back foot drive and a pull shot. Although these are the core movements we’re looking to develop power in, a number of players are already planning on adding the reverse sweep / hit to this list, and I’m not going to stop them if they want to do a little extra work.
Tracking the progression is fairly easy if you have the right equipment. We use a pocket radar which is an ideal way to track bat speed.
Suitable for players of all ages and abilities, the Heavy Trainer is a must for any player or coach wanting increase bat speed and strike rates!
Sam Lavery
Cricket Professional & Head of Cricket Academy – The Portsmouth Grammar School

Tennis Test for Six Week Period- Increases Swing Speed

These results are over a six week test period.

Cyril Genevois tested 5 players with mean age 21.4 +/- 1.7 (ranged between 20 and 24), height 172.8+/-6.5, weight 66.8 +/- 9.2.
Mean ball speed at pre test 98.4+/-7.7 km/h and at post test 106.0+/-5.4 km/h so a mean increasing of 7.9+/-3.6 km/h.
The protocol  lasted 6 weeks with two sessions/week. Players had to perform 10 series of 10 dry forehand shots using the HeavyTrainer with 2 minutes rest between series.
Cyril Genevois is a Tennis Coach and Physical Trainer for 25 years, passionate about  high level performance factors.  His scientific research 6 years ago  earned him a Doctorate in Sport Sciences.  Working now to popularize scientific knowledge and to bring coaches practical on-court applications.
Consultant Expert, Tennis Coach, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Researcher (PhD)
Lyon Area, FranceSports
University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, European degree of strength and conditioning training (DUEPP Lyon)