Chest Physique Help

[71DarkHorse]

I probably understang why you do not want to focus on arms- baseball. I just got done with my 4th year of college baseball (as a pitcher), and I'm somewhat similar. I do not do very much bicep workout. I do some in off-season and light dumbell working to keep the elbow strong- heavy weights will hurt your arm. I've also noticed as I've increased weight in my bench press, it has started to put more strain on my shoulders AND some of those little muscles around my elbow, so I have backed off the weights in-season.

My best suggestion, if baseball is of greater importance than physique, is to keep lifting, but find that spot where you shouldn't push past. There are some guys on my team that lift 250+ with no problems, and some have destroyed their shoulder from lifting too much (at lighter weights).

There are 'shaping' excercises that some people do for chest, like cross-overs and flies. Dips are good for chest, but they put strain on my shoulder, so they're an excercise I throw in occasionally. Although so many people claim upper body strength isn't good for throwing, I disagree. I think it helps endurance, resists injury (I think strength of chest is good for throwing, especially since it hits your tri's). Forearm strength can never go unnoticed in baseball. Biggest problem is flexibility. Always and forever remain flexible. That is about biggest key in staying injury free.

Good luck.