Baseball Coaching and Training Equipment Blog

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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Proper Throwing Mechanics: A Must for Young Players

Please Teach Your Young Players the Proper Throwing Mechanics!!!

The single most important skill that a child needs to learn when he or she starts playing the game of baseball or softball is how to throw correctly. If a child does not learn how to throw correctly from the start, it makes teaching them the correct way down the road MUCH more difficult.

Learning to throw correctly at an early age is important because it will help prevent arm injury in years to come. Proper throwing mechanics along with developing and building arm strength as a child gets older also help to prevent arm injury. Having good solid throwing mechanics typically means more arm strength and accuracy, which enables a child to have the oppurtunity to play multiple positions when coming up through the Youth baseball ranks and in High School. If a child has "no arm" or cannot control where the ball is thrown, that will eventually limit what position he or she can play. For example, someone who has an inefficient throwing motion and a weak arm would not be a good candidate for SS or 3B. And would probably not fair well as a Pitcher. What I'm trying to say here is that if a player learns the proper throwing mechanics at a young age, it will give that player a greater opportunity to be on the playing field when they get older and help them to avoid arm injury.

There are several key things to teach a child when learning to throw:

1. Grip on the Ball: Remember that the child's hand will be small when in Tee-Ball. So all we can do with the grip is to make sure the fingers are on top and the hand is behind the ball. Also, watch to make sure that when the ball is released, the hand and fingers stay behind the ball.
We will discuss this further in the "Release" section below.

2. Front Shoulder & Elbow: Make sure the front shoulder closes down and points directly at the intended target. As this is done, the front arm comes up and points the elbow directly at the target also. If the player does not do this step correctly, there is ZERO power or accuracy on the throw.

3. Make the Circle: The actual throwing motion should be a circle. The throwing hand should be brought down by the hip (we actually teach players to brush the hip as they start the circle) and travel to the power position, which is at the top of the circle. (see photo below) As the hand is traveling towards the top of the circle, the ball and palm should be pointed AWAY from your body as seen in photo. The circle is completed by bringing the ball forward while keeping the arm at 90 degrees. Make sure the elbow is above the shoulder during the actual throwing motion. This will help avoid elbow and shoulder injury in years to come.



4. Step & Throw: Make sure that the player steps directly at the target. This step is just a comfortable step. Nothing big that will make a player become off-balance. Just a smooth comfortable step towards the target.

5. Release: The release of the ball should be out in front and the hand and fingers should be on top and behind the ball as mentioned in the "Grip" section above. Make sure the throw has backspin on it. As players get older, that backspin should get tighter and tighter. If the throw has sidespin of some sort on it, the player does not have their hand behind the ball upon release.
Also, make sure that upon release, the players arm is fully extended out front. A "long arm" circle with good extension is ESSENTIAL to proper throwing mechanics.

6. Follow Through: As I mentioned, make sure the arm is fully extended at the release point. As you release the ball, let the back leg and back side come through to create a good follow through. The back leg and foot should end up in front of the stride foot when the whole throwing motion is complete. Without a good follow through, there will be no power on the throw.

If you think a child needs assistance on learning the proper throwing motion, please check out a product called the Throwmax at http://store.baseball2u.com/throwmax.html.
The Throwmax will put a player's arm in the correct position throughout the throwing motion.
You still will have to watch and make sure the child does the other key elements in throwing correctly, but the Throwmax will benefit a young player tremendously.

Have a great day, Nick

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Home Batting Cage: Giving your player the best chance to succeed.

Does your baseball/softball player get enough batting practice during team practices?

Does your ballplayer play in a league where the onfield practices are short and scheduled due to a limited number of ballfields and multiple teams to use them?

Would you like to give your ballplayer the best chance to succeed as a hitter?


If you answer YES to any of the above questions, you should seriously consider purchasing a Home Batting Cage. A Home Batting Cage allows your players to get all the swings they need to make them the best hitter possible. With a Home Batting Cage, your players can take batting practice whenever they want. I think that being able to practice whenever a child gets the urge is very important. Also, you can have your child's whole team over to get extra practice in order to help the team be more successful.

A Home Batting Cage is the most logical and productive thing you can do if your son or daughter really loves the game of baseball or softball. Buying a cage can be like "putting-money-in-the-bank" if your child shows the potential to be a college player.

It is a known fact that players that have Home Batting Cages, on the average, have more hitting success than those players that do not have Home Batting Cages. I will admit that there are always exceptions. I am sure that we can all name a couple of excellence hitters that did not have a batting cage in their backyard.

However, a high percentage of today's collegiate baseball and softball players had daily access to a batting cage when they were gowing up. Many of those players had their very own backyard batting cage.

If you can afford it and you have a secure place to set up a cage, you would be well advised to order a cage as soon as you can. www.CoachesBest.com specialize in selling "Total Batting Cage Packages" that have both the net and frame included. Buying a cage this way saves you time and money and insures that you will have a top quality batting cage at the best price possible. Buy one of our systems and you buy a net and frame that are "made for each other". This insures quality performance and longevity.

www.CoachesBest.com has complete Home Batting Cage packages measuring 40', 55', 60' and 70' long. These packages are mixed with #21, #36, and #45 Poly Netting (depending on which package you choose) in order to give you options when selecting that important investment for your child. You can view these Home Batting Cage packages at
http://store.baseball2u.com/basob.html.

Remember, a Home Batting Cage can give your player or players a significant edge over the competition and give them more of a chance to get that scholarship so many parents dream of for their kids.

Good Luck to your ball players and have a nice day, Nick.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

New Product Review - The Derek Jeter Strikeback

Good morning. The development of baseball defensive skill, arm strength, and baseball throwing accuracy takes a lot of practice at an early age. It is important that kids first learn the correct fundaments for catching and throwing a baseball before they are turned a loose on their own.

Once you are confident that your son has the correct baseball fundamentals and skills mastered the next step is to provide a way for your son to practice his baseball throwing and catching skills alone. The newest and latest new toss back trainer is the Derek Jeter Baseball Strikeback Toss-back Trainer. This innovative new design in baseball toss-back training net has a adjustable net angle and "spinning targets" that kids love! Check out his great new trainer today!

Have a great day, Nick.

Monday, July 21, 2008

A Guide To Safety For Young Atletes

Each year, more than 3.5 million sports-related injuries in children under age 15 are treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital emergency rooms in the United States, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the number of baseball related injuries involving children ages 5 through 14 yeears of age is over 250,000 injuries.

Click here for their Guide To Safety For Young Athletes.

Have a super day! Nick

Friday, July 18, 2008

The other huge All-Star Game that was played this week!

The 2008 Major League All-Star Baseball Game played at Yankee Stadium received all of the fanfare this week. However, the 59th MLB All-Star Game was not nearly as much fun for the players as was the 2008 Little League Baseball Tee Ball All-Star Game played on the Whitehouse lawn.

This as a great All-Star game. As baseball players, parents and coaches, we all remember the fun, the innocence, and the excitement of playing Tee ball. President Bush welcomed children from all 50 states to the White House's South Lawn for an All-Star Tee Ball game. It was a great event.

The game was played Wednesday, July 16. You can access the links below for video hightlights, slideshows, and news coverage

Have a great weekend, Nick

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Nolan Ryan - One of Top 10 MLB Pitchers of All Time

Hello,
After running this morning, I sat down for my morning dose of Mike and Mike on ESPN. Mike Greeny was discussing two of the greatest "Ryans"
in Major League Baseball History. Nolan Ryan and Ryan Sanberg, two Major League Baseball Hall of Famers. These two Major League Baseball Greats are two of the greatest MLB baseball players to ever put on a pair of cleats. Mike Greeny had the priviledge of having conversations with both when he was covering the 2008 Major League All Star Game in Yankee Stadium.

On "Mike and Mike", Greeny was discussing how Nolan Ryan dominated the inner half of the plate and intimidated Major League Baseball Players. Sanberg even said that he was intimidated by Ryan to the degree that if he got a hit or got on base that he would not look at Ryan for fear that he will make Ryan angry. Click Here is Hear Mike and Mike's Show's High Lights for this morning.

The "Nolan Ryan Express" is a baseball pitching machine that offers the same great benefits as the "high priced" machines but at a fraction of the cost. Check out the Nolan Ryan Express Baseball and Softball Pitching Machines. You will like what you see.

Have a great Day, Nick.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Check Out the Hands Back Hitter Baseball Training Tool

Hello,
I hope that you have had a great day! I know that you enjoyed the Major League All-Star Game last night as much as I did. Boy, that alarm clock sure did seem to ring early this AM...
-----
Make sure to check out the New Hands Back Hitter Baseball Training Tee. The HandsBack Hitter teaches the mechanics of the perfect baseball swing. It teaches hitters the proper "stride and swing" fundamentals for correctly hitting a baseball.

Testimonials:
"Finally a fun batting trainer that teaches the correct swing."
- Mike Epstein, hitting instructor

"We use the Hands Back Hitter to teach separation between stride and swing." Coach Woody Hunt,
(Cumberland University) 2004 NAIA National Champs

See the Hands Hitter at CoachesBest.com.

We have used three of these with my high school team at Boaz High. The Handsback Trainers added a greating hitting station that the kids loved. The Hands Back Trainer is great for teaching players to "trigger and load" to get the hands back to the launch position.

Thanks, Have a great day, Nick.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

What a great day for baseball!

Tonight I was deeply touched by the introductions at the 59th Major League Allstar Game. Seeing such a great collection of Major League Allstars on the field for the National Anthem will always be a memory that I will cherish. This is truly America's game.

It was great to see Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, and Lance Berkman all start the game.

We sell products that carry the name of each..
Derek Jeter - Hurricane Baseball Training Machine, ZipnHit Pro Baseball Trainer, and the Baseball Target Trainer
Albert Pujols - Sweet Spot Baseball Training Bat, LiveWire Baseball Training Bat, and the Quick Stick Training Bat
Joe Mauer - Quick Swing Trainer Baseball Training Aid
Lance Berkman - Muhl Tech Training Bat, Muhl Tech Baseball Trainers

Monday, July 14, 2008

New Products: Albert Pujols Baseball Training Bats

There are several new baseball training bats, endorsed by Albert Pujols, that have recently hit the market. These include the "Sweet-Spot" baseball training bat, the "Live-Wire" Bamboo Small Barrel Training Bat, and the "Quick Stick" Training Bat. The Sweet-Spot teaches and reinforces good mechanics by forcing players to get the barrel through the zone and to learn to use a bats sweet spot for better contact. The Sweet-Spot can be used to take batting practice with real baseballs. The "Live-Wire" is a small barrel training bat made of bamboo that can be used to hit real baseballs. It is a popular bat to use when hitting small baseballs. The "Quick Stick" is a small barrel, metal training bat, that improves bat speed but can only be used to hit plastic balls. The "Quick Stick" has variable length and weight adjustments. All of these bats come in various lengths and youth and adult models. To see photos of these training bats go to Baseball2u.com or AlbertPujolsTrainers.com.
See ya later. Have a great Day, Nick.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Coach Nick's First Post...

Hello this is Nick from CoachesBest.com. This is my first official post. I am starting this blog as a service to our baseball customers. I will be providing baseball training product information, reviewing new baseball training aids, reviewing new baseball coaching and training books and DVD, and introducing new promotions and new products.

I will also include some great baseball coaching tips and training drills for coaching hitters and pitchers. Thanks for stopping in. Make sure to come back often. Bookmark this blog for your future use.