How skinny players can get crazy strong

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]So, we've all watched or played against guys who are skinny as hell, but somehow crazy powerful. And the reality is, while you're probably a little bit better off being bigger, especially at higher levels, there are ways to get skinny strong or wiry strong. So, let's study some physics and how to apply them. First off is timing. It's much easier to bump or resist another player when they're mid-stride and they don't have a full base of support. And this is something guys like Shea have made a living off of. Getting their defenders moving and then hitting them right when one foot or two feet are off the ground.

[00:00:27]Also here, when we look at the momentum formula, we'd much rather bump when a defender is moving in the same direction as us or perpendicular to us than a head-to-head collision where we're both moving like this. Because in this, the player with the most mass is going to win. So, long story short, get defenders moving, you be the one to close the gap, and then develop the feel to bump them at the perfect time. Also, take note of impulse, which tells us that many times whoever can apply that momentum or force for longer wins. So, instead of always looking for a quick collision, look for longer force applications like this.

[00:00:57]Third is sequencing and energy transfer.

[00:00:59]You don't have to be bulky to be strong and stiff through the chain from the ground all the way up through the point of contact. You just got to be super elastic and efficient with leveraging your body. And then lastly, leverage your arms. Learning to win that arm battle and leveraging your arms to pull them backwards and create an advantage is something all the best players have learned. Now, I got all the details in a much longer video on YouTube, so go check that out.