In the final episode of the year, Ashley Sunshine and Laura McDonald explore the challenges surrounding pitching, pain, and return to play.

They discuss why pitching requires sport specific understanding, how pain is often mishandled in athlete environments, and why return to throw protocols must reflect real training demands. The conversation highlights the importance of communication between coaches and medical staff, the evolving education of athletic trainers, and the need for better collaboration to support athlete recovery and long term performance.

This episode closes the year with an honest and practical discussion for anyone working with pitchers at the youth, high school, or college level.

Pitchers face unique demands that require more than traditional strength training.

In Episode 80 of The OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine, Laura McDonald, and Jamnes Cameron explore how movement quality, fatigue, and strength conditioning shape pitching performance. They discuss why strength coaches play a critical role in both performance and injury prevention and how tracking resilience can help pitchers stay healthy over the course of a season.

This conversation highlights the importance of specificity, collaboration between coaches, and interventions that restore movement quality before injuries occur.

Krista Swip and Laura McDonald break down the science behind force plates, pressure mats, and the biomechanics that shape hitting performance. They discuss what these tools measure, how to interpret the data, and why understanding impulse, stability, and posture matters for athlete development.

Key ideas covered:
• Differences between force plates and pressure mats
• How ground reaction forces influence hitting
• Why more force into the ground is not always better
• The role of stability and posture in performance
• How to apply these metrics in coaching

Meet OGX at NFCA 2025 with Driveline Baseball
Stop by booths 224 and 226 to connect with the team and learn more about player development strategies and tools.
Learn more here: https://go.ogxsoftball.com/nfca2025-7092

In Episode 78 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip, Ashley Sunshine, and Laura McDonald tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in sports: the balance between mental and physical challenges in performance. They explore how athletes are often labeled as having “mental blocks,” when in reality, physical patterns and mechanics are at the root of the issue.

The discussion dives into how perception, decision-making, and movement all work together in skill acquisition. The hosts highlight why coaches must address physical execution, provide context-driven feedback, and train athletes under realistic conditions. This episode is a deep look into the relationship between biomechanics, psychology, and coaching helping both athletes and coaches rethink how performance is developed and supported.

Pitching success starts with arm adjustability.

In Episode 77 of the OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine and Laura McDonald break down how biomechanics, plyometrics, and arm action all work together to create better pitchers. They explain how rigid mechanics and traditional training can hinder development and why adaptability, movement quality, and command are essential for long-term success.

Save 10% on OGX’s Shop with code OGXPOD:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com

#softball #pitching #biomechanics #ogxpodcast

Pitchers have unique training demands, and managing them the right way can be the difference between progress and burnout.

In Episode 76 of the OGX Podcast, Ashley Sunshine leads a discussion with James and Laura McDonald on the intersection of pitching and strength conditioning. They break down how to balance workload, recovery, and performance while improving communication between pitching and strength coaches.

Join the OGX Community to connect with athletes and coaches focused on performance and player development:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/ogx-community-membership

#softball #pitching #strengthconditioning #ogxpodcast

Bat speed or perfect mechanics, which one truly separates great hitters?

In Episode 75 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip and Kealia Wysocki explore hitting mechanics, strength, and bat speed, sharing insights from biomechanical data and real coaching experience. They discuss why chasing perfect form often limits performance and how balancing speed, power, and simplicity can unlock true hitting potential.

Join the OGX Community to connect with the OGX team and coaches:
https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/ogx-community-membership

📅 Community-Only releases drop every other Wednesday at 10 AM CT.

#softball #hitting #athletedevelopment #ogxpodcast

When should athletes start training?

In Episode 74 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip and Laura McDonald explore the timing and readiness of athlete training. They discuss emotional and social maturity, individualized training, and how athletes can take ownership of their development journey.

This episode offers valuable insight for coaches, parents, and athletes navigating the path from team-based to individualized training.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Plyo Program Course: https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com/products/building-an-individualized-plyo-program-for-softball-pitchers
Save 10% with code OGXPOD at: https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com

What does September 1st really mean for athletes?

In Episode 73 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip, Ashley Sunshine, and Laura McDonald discuss the misconceptions around September 1st and the pressure young athletes face during recruiting. They share how data, development timelines, and communication can help reshape how coaches and players approach the recruiting process.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/CReg6U9_Yf4
Or listen wherever you listen to your podcasts each week.

Save 10% on OGX’s Shop with code OGXPOD: https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com

How much can force plates really tell us about pitching?

In Episode 72 of the OGX Podcast, Krista Swip and Laura McDonald explore how data from force plates is changing the way pitchers train and perform. They discuss stride foot dynamics, energy transfer, timing, and the effects of recent rule changes on softball pitching.

Learn how understanding impulse and biomechanics can help athletes move more efficiently and reduce injury risk.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/MZlM0UAjvAw

Listeners can save 10% on OGX’s Shop with code OGXPOD: https://ogxsoftball.myshopify.com