Friday, September 3, 2010

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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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

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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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Big Barrel Youth Bats

Big Barrel Youth Bats
By guest author: Glenn Downer

There are trainers and parents who want their little league players to use big barrel youth bats because it will increase their chances of winning the game. However, with so many models and designs available in the market, it is not surprising that you will get confused. Below are some tips to help you when you are making your choice.

1. Weight
The preferred choice is definitely the lightest bat you can find, in order to maximize your swinging power. To make the barrel bat light, the material used is usually aluminum, mixed with other metals to make it strong at the same time. However, such bats will tend to cost more. The less expensive ones are heavier, and are made of lower grade materials.

2. Length
A big barrel bat is typically heavier than other kinds of bats, so if you are getting the longer ones, you have to ensure that the batter is able to handle the weight. A shorter bat has its advantages since it allows the player to swing it faster and quicker.

The acceptable length of the bat for Little League is 33 inches and shorter. If you are unsure of whether the length will be acceptable, you should check with your Little League Organization.

3. Size
The batter will have a bigger sweet spot if he uses a big barrel bat, and it provides more power. The con is that it will be heavier, so it will be more suitable for the bigger players.

The problem that most buyers face, is that you cannot get your child to try swinging the big barrel youth bats when you are shopping for one at the sports shop! The best you can do is to check out the standard chart to see if the length, weigh and size is appropriate for your son or daughter's build.

Alternatively, you can get your child to hold out the bat at shoulder level, and if he or she cannot hold it for longer than 20 seconds, then it is probably too heavy for your child.

For more information please visit Big Barrel Bats

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Monday, August 23, 2010

A Look at Indoor Batting Cages

A Look at Indoor Batting Cages
By guest author: Jason Gluckman

Batting cages play a central role in baseball and softball training. They are enclosures that help control the flight of baseballs and softballs during practice, and can be used to help improve a batter's speed and accuracy.

When shopping for batting cages, many find indoor batting cages to be a convenient and sensible choice. Indoor batting cages are often used in climates where season weather does not permit outside activity. They can be beneficial in keeping batting practice on schedule even with snow on the ground or when there are rainy conditions. Because gripping a bat with cold fingers can hinder batting technique, weather can be an important factor when choosing to use or buy an indoor batting cage.

Certain materials are used more often for indoor batting cages. For example, nylon netting is a popular choice for indoor batting cages. Because the weather is not a concern when practicing in a covered indoor area, the netting does not need to be as strong as when used outdoors. The cage should still be durable, however. In addition, indoor conditions indoors, such as humidity and heat, should be taken into consideration when choosing indoor batting cages. Read more.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

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. Read more.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Reasons to Invest in Backyard Batting Cages

Reasons to Invest in Backyard Batting Cages
By guestr 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. Read more.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tips For Building Batting Cages

Tips For Building Batting Cages
By guest author: Andy Brock
Backyard batting cages provide a tremendous advantage to baseball hitters of all skill levels. I mean, who wouldn't want to walk out to their back door and take a little batting practice. When deciding to build a cage, there are several things to consider.

The first thing that you want to do is consider how much space you have available in your yard. No matter how much space you have, you can get the most out of any cage with effective hitting drills. Secondly, decide how much money you have to spend. This is really the most important decision as it will drive your planning for which type of frame to use as well as the batting cage net.

Once you have decided how much space you have and settled on your budget, you need to start thinking about what type of frame makes sense for your yard. Frames can be made from galvanized steel pipe, plastic PVC or even treated 4 x 4 posts. Also, keep in mind whether you would like for the structure to be permanent or portable.Read more.

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