Welcome to "Batting Cage Guide and Reviews". We provide batting cage buyers and users with the latest and up-to-date reviews and information on baseball and softball batting cages. Whether you are looking to buy a batting cage for team, school, or home use, we have detailed information that can help you make the best decision to buy the perfect batting cage for your needs.
Catchers Transfer and Throwing Drills at The Baseball Academy joewilkinscatching Catching Instructor Joe Wilkins (www.joewilkinscatching.com) takes his catchers through a throwing progression sequence at The Baseball Academy Please click to "watch in high quality" at the bottom-right of the screen for best viewing results!
Baseball Swing Mechanics : How to Time a Pitched Baseball expertvillage Timing mechanisms make hitting a baseball easier. Learn the mechanics of timing a swing at a baseball from a hitting instructor in this free video lesson.
Expert: Eric Herrera Bio: Eric Herrera is a hitting instructor in Phoenix. Since playing in the College World Series, he has coached little league teams and provided hitting instructions for five to eighteen year-olds. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels
Blocking Drills for a Baseball Catcher By guest author: Scott Mathewson
The most unheralded position on a Baseball field is the Catcher's position. The reason being you are involved in all the action but receive very little of the glory. If you are truly doing a good job back behind the dish, you have a ghostly appearance. It is those who struggle that are at the forefront and stick out like a sore thumb.
With all this being said, the thing that I see most Catcher's need to work on is their blocking skills. Too many out there try to catch the bouncing ball with the glove. That is mistake #1; because your main purpose at that point is to block the baseball, not catch it. I say this because you shouldn't go into that situation thinking I need to catch this because more can go wrong than can go good. When you try to catch the ball your body tends to rise up, leaving a huge gap between the legs, or in terms of baseball lingo the "wickets". I will bet 9 out of 10 times it find that gap.
So when blocking a baseball the first key is to have the right mindset, next think of your body as a pillow. Drop to your knee's and let your arms fall straight down next to the outside of your legs. Palms up and relaxed the ball will bounce off the ground first and then off you preferably off your chest protector. If you have the perfect form the ball will be within a couple feet of you. Always try to round the ball off angling your body towards home plate. By doing this you can usually avoid the errant bounces to the backstop. Here are some drills that can help catchers blocking skills.
- Practice dropping straight down on your knees in full gear repeatedly and getting back up into the squatting position. This builds quickness and strength. - Use a flat glove and have someone throw balls at you for a period of a couple minutes. This constant repetition in a short period of time builds up your endurance and reinforces the mindset of not trying to catch the ball into your head. - Practice rounding your body off angling it always towards home plate. If the ball is a foot to the right than slide your feet over two feet to the right. Always exaggerate your movements.
I've coached many kids here in Omaha and a good catcher makes the team so make sure you praise them. At our store, PrimeTimeSportingGoods you can find the equipment you need for these drills - like the Mizuno training glove. You may also be interested in our youth chest protectors. For a little baseball commentary, come visit our baseball blog [http://coloradolegionbaseball.org/baseball-cash].
Baseball catcher mitts are a savior for the hands of the player catching the fastballs of the pitcher. This type of glove can only be worn when playing behind the plate. Its unique design will not make it effective in any other position. Actually, it would probably hinder the player trying to use it on any other area of the diamond. When looking at catchers mitts to purchase, there are a few considerations to make to ensure you get work that will be effective for you.
The first thing you should look for when browsing through the variety of catchers mitts is the size. Try on several different brands and sizes to select the best one for you. It is important that the mitt fits properly and can be worn comfortably. There is nothing worse than losing your glove while in your position, with a pitch coming at you at several miles per hour. Proper protection can only be offered by a well fitting catcher's mitt.
The quality of baseball catcher mitts is also an important factor. The glove should be well padded to prevent injury to your hand when catching fast pitches. It is best if the mitt is made with real leather. Softer materials can wear out faster, which can result in having to replace it sooner or risk damage to the palm of your hand. Also, full leather tends to keep your hand safer than other types of mitts.
Check out the padding of the catcher's mitt before you selecting the right one for you. The padding should not be in the way of effective catching. If it is, you risk dropping or missing the ball, which can cause harm to you or can allow the other team to win. There should be more padding found in the area of the fingers than in the palm. This allows you to properly use the glove during game play.
Know what you are looking for when shopping for baseball catchers mitts. As mentioned, these gloves are specially designed and will only work for the position behind home plate. The mitt will not have finger cutouts, and will look more like a mitten than a glove. Also, when buying for youth players, make sure there is enough room in the finger area, but not too much room. Many parents want to purchase a larger mitt for their children to grow into, but this can be dangerous for both the ability and safety of the player.
There are few things you should known before shopping for baseball catcher mitts. It is important to understand the look and feel of a mitt as opposed to the other baseball gloves available on the market. You will want to choose a high quality mitt that offers appropriate protection for your hand to prevent injuries. Select one that fits well to help you catch the ball without hurting your hand.
Nicole Roberts Welcome to ballglovesgalore.com where we sell a variety of baseball catcher mitts to meet the needs of novice as well as the serious player.
Baseball Hitting - How to Improve Your Ability to Be a Clutch Hitter By guest author: Chuck R Stewart
While attending the National Sporting Goods Manufacturing show in Las Vegas, I had the chance to sit down with some heavyweight baseball people. These were people who worked for and represented some of the best names in the game of baseball. They were people who had been around the game their whole life. The conversation started out being about the qualities in a good hitter. We talked about stance, mechanics, quick hands, great eyes, terrific hand-eye coordination, and follow through techniques. This was all great to listen to and participate in the conversation but then one man who had been around the game for more than 20 years said straight out that while all of the prior conversation was correct, the thing that made a great hitter stand out from the rest was confidence.
Confidence is a funny thing among most ballplayers. Most players are subject to ups and downs as they go through a season or even a game. He said that the players who hit the best in clutch situations want to be up in those situations and also have the level of confidence that they can perform. They have practiced their craft enough so that in any situation they are the player who knows they can come through. Confidence is born from repetition and repetition comes from practicing the proper mechanics until it is second nature. Players need to repeat the process of hitting until they are confident that when they swing, they will make solid contact with the ball.
I think this level of desire and confidence is what separates the club players from the recreational players once they get into high school. My son is going through this right now in each of the three sports he plays (football, basketball and baseball). He is watching fellow teammates elect to not play other sports so they can focus on their sport of choice in order to excel. The players who are electing to focus on a given sport are the ones who are spending time, getting the repetitions they need to develop their confidence and become better players. The time to spend on repetition is the key to becoming a clutch hitter.
The conversation then turned to what the right amount of repetition is in order become a great clutch hitter. One coach said it was 200 swings a day. That is was former hitting champ Pete Rose used to take every day so it should work for everyone. The issue that most players face with getting that level of repetition is the reality of who will throw that much batting practice to them during the course of a day, 5-6 times per week. My shoulder aches just thinking about it!
The answer to that question is a pitching machine and a batting cage. Both are needed to become a great clutch hitter. The reason both are needed is that they are the perfect combination. The pitching machine can save the arm of any coaching assistant and the batting cage will keep the balls in a close enough proximity that they can be picked up and reloaded quickly enough to get the workout completed within 30-40 minutes.
Any player who has the desire to be successful can afford to spend 30-40 minutes working on their craft on a daily basis.
Coach Chuck Stewart operates a baseball web site called offering baseball pitching machines, batting cages, training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. Coach Chuck offers a pitching machine for every skill level and budget. He has coached baseball teams for 8 years and enjoys sharing the love of the game of baseball with his players.
Little League Baseball Drills - Base Running Practice By guest author: Chris Campbell
There are so many different roles for each player in the game of baseball, that it can be difficult to become a master of all. But, with some good drills catering to each role, it's quite achievable to become a master of many. Let's take a look at a base running drill. Perhaps not as much fun as hitting practice, but an essential skill none the less.
For drill, it's not necessary to have anyone playing on defense. This is good, as more players can focus on the same drill. It works a number of different base running scenarios, and builds up the conditioning and cardio of the players involved.
Begin the drill with one runner on first base, one runner on second base, and a player in the batters box at home plate. Any remaining players, should queue up behind the runner in the batters box.
You'll need a couple of coaches to run the drill. Position one near home base equipped with a baseball bat and a few baseballs. The other coach should situate themselves near third base. The coach positioned in front of home base will begin the drills by hitting a ball anywhere in fair territory. Fly balls hit count as singles, and ground balls as well will count as singles past the imaginary infielders.
While there is no one playing on defense, the runners on base, and at home will react as if there is another team on the field. The runner at home plate, will do one of two things. If the coach hits a ground ball, then he is to run as quickly as possible to first base, as if the defense is trying to throw him out. On a fly ball, that same runner, will run to first base, and round first base, as if he was considering carrying on to second.
If only a ground ball is hit, the runner at first base will go directly to second base. If a fly ball is hit into the outfield, the runner goes to second, and makes visual contact with the coach on third for his next move. The coach decides what the runner should do next. Either stay at second, or go for third base.
The last runner positioned at second base will do something similar. A infield ground ball will send him directly to third base. A fly ball to the outfield will send him rounding third, and looking to the coach positioned in the third base coaches box for instruction.
If there is a runner at third (can't happen on the first ball hit), and a fly ball is hit, then the runner should tag, and as soon as the ball bounces on the ground, then run for home. On ground balls, and no runner at second, the player waits for instruction from the coach on third.
This is a good drill, that keeps multiple players in motion. Be sure to move as quickly through the drill as possible, to keep everyone working.
Little League Baseball Drills is a great resource for helping your little leaguer get the most out of his or hers favorite pastime. With a little good training, amateur or even professional ball players will see a dramatic improvement in the way they play.
Simple and Straight Forward Little League Baseball Drills By guest author: Joseph Harrison Jr
Batting a baseball is a difficult skill to master. This is often an especially frustrating task for a child. Successful batting requires body control and sound mechanics. In this article I will discuss some basics of hitting and introduce a few simple little league baseball drills aimed at improving technique.
The most important thing your kid can do is to watch the ball all the way to the bat. They should practice watching the ball hit the bat.
One of the many simple little league baseball drills your child can do to improve "picking up the ball" is to stand, chin on front shoulder (for a right handed batter). As they swing the chin should come to rest on the back shoulder. A simple batting tee is helpful in enhancing this skill. Soft toss is an effective alternative little league baseball drill used to teach this technique. Furthermore, this is a good drill for developing bat speed.
The second basic rule of hitting is balance. Your child, or anyone else for that matter, must have balance to be a successful hitter. As a general guideline have your child stand with their feet about shoulder width apart. This is flexible many people feel more comfortable with a slightly exaggerated open stance (feet wide apart) and others a closed stance (feet close together) Whatever their stance make sure they can swing the bat and stay balanced, they will benefit and be more consistent in the long term.
The upper body muscles play a pivotal role in a fluid swing. In fact, bat speed has as much, if not more, to do with hitting for power than lower body strength. Remember to swing quick and compact, hot hard. A simple adjustment of the swing to avoid over extending the arms can help achieve a shorter swing. A shorter swing speeds your bat up through the strike zone, creating more power. Many coaches refer to this technique as throwing the bat at the ball because in effect the batter is throwing the head of the bat at the ball.
The last prime component of the upper body in batting is the hands. Most batters hold their hands around chest level with the bat out in front. Again, this is a general guideline and not a rule, the most important thing is that your child is comfortable holding the bat.
When batting, it is also important to remember to never drop the hands prior to swinging. A lot of players drop their hands before they swing, meaning they dip the hands from the chest to the stomach. This drastically cuts down on reaction time to a pitch. Often batters that swing late do so because they drop their hands. They cannot make up the time they lost by dropping the hands resulting in a late swing. The soft toss drill is one of several little league baseball drills used for developing quick wrists and strong hands. Additionally, a tennis ball can serve as strength and conditioning tool simply by repeatedly squeezing it. Stronger hands equal more bat speed.
The last component to successful hitting is in the lower body. As previously mentioned good balance is mandatory for a proper swing. The biggest mistake hitters make is over striding, resulting in an off balance swing. Instead of taking a giant, clumsy step, have your child lift the front (left foot for a right handed batter) off the ground and simply place it back on the ground. This helps to keep their weight back, a crucial element to hitting well and for power.
The other key role of the lower body is the hip twist. A drill called "squashing the bug" is one of several effective little league baseball drills to teach hip twisting. In this drill, the batter will hold out their left arm (for a right handed batter) in front of their body and hit the left hand with the right mimicking a one armed swing. The drill should be used to emphasize correct usage of the feet and maintaining proper balance. The batter should look to sharply turn the right, or back, ankle as if to squash a bug with the toes.
Remember the core components of hitting, balance; see the ball and careful timing between the upper and lower muscle groups of the body. Hitting and hitting well is a difficult task. Improvement will only come with the development sound habits, practice and work ethic.
I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.
