[mrodock]

If you want to improve your power the best way I know how to do it from my studies is to first improve your strength. In their book, Rippletoe and Kilgore set up programming for this component. Once you have gotten fairly close to squatting, deadlifting, and bench pressing 1.1 to 1.4 times your body weight (according to David Sandler's numbers in Sports Power) then you want to start doing more speed and explosive work. While jump squats and plyometric push-ups are great exercises, if you don't have much in the way of strength you don't have as much potential to gain speed, thus increasing your swing speed. I think having strong forearms, fingers is certainly important though. As a fitness coach I had spoken to said: your body will not let you swing faster than your hands (are strong enough) can handle.

After having said all that, having periods of time where you lift explosively can improve your strength. If anyone has inquiries I can direct you to great resources.