Only “Driveline” Does Driveline

Title: Only DRIVELINE, does Driveline

Let me preface this post with two things,

This idea and concept for this article has stemmed from months of hearing “Do you do Driveline?” “We’re looking for Driveline?” as well as watching facilities market themselves using the phrase or tagline, “We do Driveline”
I was one of the first 50 people to enroll in Driveline Plus this morning, (If Kyle feels like taking the time maybe he’ll tell me exactly what number I was because I’m weird and like to know that stuff) feel free to use the link and enroll yourself. Looks like a great educational tool. We’ve been using protocols from their Hacking the Kinetic Chain book, as well as implementing many concepts and tools they have discovered.

I absolutely do not have any form of proof or quote from Driveline specifically but I do think their front office would agree with the central idea of this article.

This is basically a way to determine if you “Do Driveline” P.S. If you can’t check yes to at least the first 3 of the first 4 then oof… definitely stop saying “We do Driveline” as a marketing tactic.

	Yes	No
Do you use Driveline’s Equipment?	X
Do you use Driveline’s repeatable programs they put out as examples/standards?	X
Do you understand how to use Data and adapt based on what information you’re receiving?	X
Can you implement mobility/strength testing in the same way they do?	X
Is your Name Kyle Boddy?		X
Do you work for Kyle Boddy?		X
Were you taught from somebody in Kyle Boddy’s close network?		X

So, if you can’t check yes to all of those things, I would argue that you don’t “Do Driveline.”

You can execute things like Hybrid B, Hybrid A, and run through weighted bat sets with Axe Bats and their training booklet (which is fire, for the general population and a great way to streamline great training for teams, and something I recommend in team training at most levels, I also really like Chad Longworth’s adjustable Mark 1 program for facilities and the consistent individual training) but, taking ownership over a unique and well refined process that you don’t actually repeat, I don’t think is fair.

What I think has happened, is Driveline has done a phenomenal job putting out great content and essentially becoming, for lack of a better term, a household name for baseball families, coaches, and trainers. They’ve done what Crossfit was able to do in the fitness world, how many times have you heard somebody refer to a workout program as “Crossfit” just because it includes working out. In a similar sense, if you use “Weighted Balls” people are assuming you do Driveline, or people who ONLY do plyo-care are claiming they “Do Driveline”

Let’s back-up a few weeks. I get a call and it starts off with

Dad: “Hi I’m looking to do Driveline with my son, he’s a college pitcher, we did it last year and it worked and we want to do it again this off-season”

Me: “Tell me more”

Dad: “I’m not sure I have to”

Fast forward to our meeting in our facility (something I like to do before we start training anybody)

We show them the trampolines, that say Driveline on them, we show them the wrist weights that say Driveline on them.

Dad: “So I’m understanding this correctly, you do Driveline but with some extra stuff incorporated into it?”

<Insert face palm>

Apparently, the place they “Did Driveline” last year was only doing J-Bands and Plyo-Care, and only doing it 3 days a week.

I don’t want to go into all of the reasons I like the pre and post throwing protocols from Driveline that sometimes we change based on the individual, because that’s irrelevant to the point of this particular article. However, the point being is that some companies/coaches/facilities are using this “Brand” in an effort to market themselves a specific way without including some of the staples of “the program.”

To be clear, at least for our prospective athletes/families, our program is called Velo-Nation, our program has been influenced greatly by the content and research that Driveline has specifically put out and we will continue to be influenced by quality research and modern training methods that are executed across all levels. However, our coaches’ experiences and ability to address specific issues might deviate from any cookie cutter approach in any well recognized brand or program, whether that be Driveline, Florida Baseball Ranch, Full Reps Training Center, among others, we might have a unique case that we need to address just as any other facility might.

For starters we use Ballistic Throwing Balls made by Silverback Sports instead of Driveline’s Plyo-Balls. That particular decision was made based on several factors, largely the fact that the quality, in my experience and opinion so far are at the very least, equal. The pricing structure and relationship we were able to build with the company has been an impeccable experience and while I highly recommend them I don’t want to discredit Drivelines products at all.

Second, you have to address each individual athlete in maybe similar but usually different ways. The most eloquent way that I have heard the answer to this question comes from Scott Swanson the Owner, Founder, and Director of Player Development at Full Reps Training Center in Central Pennsylvania.

Me: “Scott what do you say when people ask you if you ‘Do Driveline’?”

Scott: “For starters, we believe in and assess all athletes based on a Dynamical Systems Theory approach. This means taking into consideration the task, the environment, and the organism. Our program is individualized based on the athlete’s screenings. We implement various training implements such as Driveline, Oates Specialties, etc. with various athletes. Some of our dudes use plyo-balls, others don’t. It all depends on where they are at in their development and what their goals are”

Driveline’s facility, Kyle Boddy and his staff are certainly top notch but my business advice is not to water down YOUR brand or Drivelines brand by taking a cookie cutter approach IF you are a facility that has access to tools and resources for you to help athletes individually. They look at things and solve problems differently than you do. Both solutions might work, and no matter where we learn from, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. To paraphrase Jason Ochart in his recent assessment blog, “Technology won’t replace teachers, but teachers who use technology will.” Your technology might expose an issue that a standard “program” might not address, whether that be weighted bats or plyo-care training.

I personally want an environment where players can come in and we can figure things out together. We can’t do that if we are simply prescribing the same program to everybody whether it be for hitting or pitching, and like I stated above, I THINK, and it is of my OPINION, that Driveline would agree with me on that.

The other factor is that as technology gets better, we are all going to have an understanding of what should be happening in the body in certain instances. Meaning that Driveline could post something you never ever see, and you might end at the same conclusion. To date I would argue they are at the forefront of this and with things like Driveline Plus they are going to continue to share what they learn as they become confident in it, and it will accelerate the game of baseball and learning in general.

So, in conclusion at Johansen Baseball Inc. we don’t ‘Do Driveline’ we run Velo-Nation, our in-house hitting, throwing, and lifting program based on overall health, and performance that utilizes different tools based on different athletes and their assessments. If you’re specifically looking for Driveline, you should probably fly out to Washington. If you’re looking to be assessed under similar principles and have a program designed specifically for your needs where you can train regionally in our area with coaches who are invested in you, we are the place to be if you’re near South Elgin or DeKalb IL.