Outdoor Batting Cages

Outdoor Batting Cages
By guest author: Jason Gluckman

Batting cages are a crucial ingredient in any baseball or softball training regimen. They are used both by batting coaches and by recreational athletes to help improve a batter's speed and accuracy in hitting a ball. Outdoor batting cages are a useful and necessary tool for most teams.

Many communities have commercial outdoor batting cages at outdoor public parks and other areas specifically designated for baseball. These facilities are set up on a rental basis. They can be used for both softball and baseball. Prices vary with the amount of time used. Contact your local parks and recreation department for the location of the batting cages near you.

Climate needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing a batting cage, as the elements will affect certain materials differently. A region's humidity level should be noted before ordering a cage made with netting that might mildew easily. Because cold can also affect the durability of netting, make sure that the netting is suited to the region in which the batting cage will be used.

Outdoor batting cages are used more often during the summer. As baseball and softball are historically spring and summer sports, outdoor batting cages can get quite a work out during the warmer months of the year. It is a good idea to have materials on hand with which to mend outdoor batting cages. They may require mending as the baseball and softball season progresses and the cages are being visited more often.

Outdoor batting cages can also be purchased in a portable style. Indeed, if a team is on the road, they may want to take their own batting cage with them, instead of relying on the park where they will be playing. If flexibility is important, portable batting cages are a sensible choice.

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Reasons to Invest in Backyard Batting Cages

Reasons to Invest in Backyard Batting Cages
By guest author: James M Peterson

At $30 to $40 an hour, renting out a batting cage can really burn a hole in your pocket. Backyard batting cages can help save you hundreds of dollars over time.

With an initial investment of around $200 for high quality cage netting and a steel frame, you can be well on your way towards becoming a better hitter than ever before. If you think about it, $200 is just five hours spent at the local cage, whereas if you have a batting cage in your own backyard, you'll be able to use it whenever you want, for as long as you want to.

A common misconception is that the break strength of the netting is directly related to its life span. This is not necessarily true. Break strength refers to the amount of load tension that may be placed on a strand of material before it breaks. Unless you're already playing in the pros, you probably won't have to invest in higher break strength, and anything over 100lb will work fine.

But what if you don't have a training partner to work with? There are a couple of ways to work around buying a thousand-dollar pitching machine until you develop the need to invest in one as well.

The old, toss-it-up-and-hit-it method may seem rather primitive, but there's no denying that it helps batters develop some of the essential skills required in batting such as hand-eye coordination and quickness.

When its form that you need to develop, an adjustable T ball stand will help you improve your stance, weight distribution, and grip.

Backyard batting cages will help you to do of all this without having to waste valuable training time and effort to go and find the ball after each hit.

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Simple Little League Baseball Drills

Simple Little League Baseball Drills
By guest author: Chris Campbell

I've never tried to hit a pitch from a seriously good baseball pitcher, but what I do know, is that it's one of the hardest things to do in all of professional sports. The combination of timing, and reflexes is pretty demanding.

Just look at how many players have a batting average over 400 in the history of professional. Only 8 players have ever done it (13 times amongst them), and no one has done it since 1941. So, any help you can give your little slugger in their early baseball years will be a definite advantage down the road.

While, you can read all day long, on the pros and cons of various hitting styles and swings, there is nothing better for a future hall of fame hitter, than just going out and hitting. The more hours they spend trying to knock one over the fence the better. Its also a great way to spend quality time with your kids, but grabbing a bunch of balls, heading over to the field, and pitch them a few to whack.

If your little ball player, really enjoys the game, then it shouldn't be hard to get them to put a little extra time in. If all they want to do is hit, that's fine, but they're probably bored to death at practice. Most kids just don't get much hitting practice with the team.

While, any hitting is better than not hitting at all, it could also be said that an effective hitting practice is better than just swinging willy nilly at whatever. There are a few pointers to keep in mind.

The Bat Has To Fit The Player

You wouldn't try to catch with a glove that was two sizes too small, or too large. So why would you do the same thing with a bat. Choosing a bat that is both weight and length appropriate for your son or daughter can make all the difference in their batting average.

Try having your little leaguer hold their bat out from their body, but parallel to the ground. If they can't do it for at least 15 seconds, then the bat is too heavy. If they can barely do it, or their arms start to wobble, then it's probably better to try a small bat.

Best Place For A Batter

As in any sports, where you put your feet is crucial to being successful. Hitting a baseball is no different. Too close, or too far from home plate can make it difficult to hit a lot of pitches. Make sure your kids understand the difference, and know where to swing from.

The lesson here is don't just head over to the park across the street for some informal batting practice, with only a bat, a glove, and some balls. Remember to bring home plate with you. Even if you don't have an official home plate, any old thing will work as a place holder.

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Using Practice Balls For Fencing Training

Using Practice Balls For Fencing Training
By guest author: Walter Green

Hitting the target is one of the essential tasks for a fencer. This means that accuracy training is an important part of any fencer's development as an athlete. Unfortunately accuracy comes with practice - lots of practice. Experience in the martial arts suggests that 10,000 or more repetitions of a skill are needed to develop mastery. As you can imagine, your fencing master and your fellow fencers really get bored being a target to get to those sorts of numbers. This means that a training aid that is simple, inexpensive, and portable is worth exploring.

There are a variety of sophisticated target trainers available--the Target Speed is an excellent example and the various flexible arm systems are another. However, these are a reasonable investment for a club, but can be somewhat pricey for the individual. Plastic balls with holes in the shell, the practice ball, offer one option.

These balls are readily available in three sizes: a softball sized ball, a baseball, and a golf ball. Each of these represents a different target. The softball approximates the shoulder in epee or any of the flat surfaces in the primary target zone from low line under the weapon arm, up on the inside of the forward chest. The baseball is an approximate lower arm, the available target as an opponent quickly reverses direction with a parry after seeing the start of the final action of a feint attack, or the target on an opponent with a large bib and a crouching on guard. The golf ball is approximately the exposure of the hand and lower arm on a careless epee guard.

The ball you select as a practice partner depends on the target you are training to hit. But it also depends on the level of your training. Start with the biggest ball available. As you go through the drill progression, go back to the big ball every time you start a new level. When you are hitting it reliably, even when moving, move to the next smaller ball. Read more.

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Indoor Batting Cage Franchises

Indoor Batting Cage Franchises
By guest author: Jason Gluckman

Franchises are a way to get into business with an established brand name, proven method of operation, and a support structure. You can purchase or build a franchise of your own. Indoor batting cage franchises play an integral role in the success of baseball and softball communities.

Other advantages of a franchise include bulk discounts, Internet marketing and commerce system, faster startup, and a steady customer base. The disadvantages of franchises are difficulty in finding purchase financing, significant changes, and failure to identify the right opportunity.

The basic requirement for indoor batting cage franchises is a location for the batting cage. The advantages of an indoor batting cage franchise include the name, support, training, equipment, marketing, and industry expertise. A batting cage business demands an assurance on the part of the business owner. Just as the franchisor attempts to make a profit from the franchises, the latter tries to extract a profit from batting cage users. Indoor batting cage franchises provide publicity to expand the manufacturer's business.

An indoor batting cage franchise is a place where players practice to improve their batting skills. In an indoor batting cage, the players have to pay an hourly rate. Weather conditions do not affect batting practice in an indoor batting cage. Indoor batting cage franchises also engage professional instructors capable of teaching the fundamentals of the game.

Before starting a franchise, one must be aware of the restrictions, the comparative advantages, the fees, and other factors involved. It is always desirable to ensure that the franchisor is profitable and financially sound. The primary step is to contact the local and state governments to find out the requirements and regulations to be followed. Often, franchises need a business license, sales tax license, insurance, and other formalities to be completed before they can become operational. The fact that indoor batting cage complexes are popping up all over the world is proof that the idea is a success.

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Batting Cages For Family Or Professional Use

Batting Cages For Family Or Professional Use
By guest author: Jack M Patterson

Batting cages have become essential for the professional or casual player, as they make batting practice more convenient, thus helping to improve a batter's success rate at the plate. It is also convenient as anyone can simply set up a cage right in the backyard, where a player can practice hits, or a family can have good, clean baseball fun.

Although there are several cages available in the market, what a buyer must first focus on is the cage's frame. There are different types and sizes of frames that can cater to a wide variety of preferences and needs. Depending on how or who will use the cage, one must first determine the correct size of a cage before purchasing one.

If the cage will be set up primarily for fun, one will already be enough. The standard size usually measures about 16 feet wide, 13 feet tall and 55 feet long. However, there are some manufacturers that can offer a wide selection of cages that can be smaller or larger than the standard size, providing customers with broader options.

When it comes to professional use, a single cage will definitely not suffice as batters tend to practice their hits all at the same time. Further, batting cages won't work well if there is only one cage available to batters. In this case, the use of multiple cages is recommended. Such cages are built next to each other, ranging from three to as many as six sections. This will allow batters to maximize their space requirements even greater.

Batting cages of different sizes with different types of frames can be found online. Just by doing a quick research and keeping a lookout on the best manufacturers, customers can find the right type of cage that will suit their needs.

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Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills

Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills
By guest author: Marc Dagenais

Here are some great softball hitting drills for you to use which will improve your performance with the bat:

Drill 1 - Barrier Behind

Purpose: To emphasize taking the hands directly to the ball and keeping the barrel up.

Procedure: The batter's rear foot is parallel to the side of a batting cage and in contact with the net. The batter swings by taking her hands to the ball and keeping the bat barrel up. The bat should not touch the barrier on the swing.

Drill 2 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit

Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.

Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.

Drill 3 - Drop Toss

Purpose: To develop hand speed to the ball.

Procedure: The batter assumes her stance with a partner facing her with the ball held at should height. The batter tells the partner when to drop the ball. The partner releases the ball and pulls her arm up away from the strike zone. The batter takes a full swing. Read more.

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