Baseball Tips - 20 Minutes And Out

Baseball Tips - 20 Minutes And Out

By Chico Reese

These baseball tips can maybe help you think of ways to keep your baseball training and drills productive in the off-season.

This is especially important for catchers who may have just put in a very long summer season behind the plate. Catchers have a greater number of skills that they need to practice compared to other players on the team. This can be a problem if there is a long layoff between the end of the summer season and the beginning of the High School season. The catchers now have to do a lot of training in a short time to get sharp on the throwing, blocking and footwork skills that catching requires.

It's never too early to start the catching training and drills. The trick is trying to keep a young mind and body motivated for most of the year if this is their only sport. The summer season for our team was long last year. It went right into fall ball. Some of the guys also started a conditioning program. There was not a lot of spare time left for our catchers to practice what they needed to and when I did start with them, there was a quick sense of general fatigue and I could tell the guys were "just not into it". I couldn't blame them.

I initially started getting some of the catchers' time after their conditioning, batting, tee work, etc. Bad news. I next tried to find some time for just catching drills and training...no bats. But with their busy schedule, an hour here and there still was too much. I'd hear stuff like, "You said it would only take a little bit last time and we were still there almost an hour." This in itself was the problem.

Here is the baseball tip for this article…I call this little idea, or training method, "20 Minutes And Out." I used it for catchers but obviously you can adapt the idea to anyone. The whole thing is strictly psychological, and it worked great! All I did was set a time limit…I just picked 20 minutes because I knew that I could get a ton of footwork reps done in 20 minutes. I'd only work one catcher on any given day or night and work only one type of drill in that training session, whether it was some type of footwork, blocking receiving or throwing.

I'd tell them something like, "Look, meet me at the training center and we'll do footwork only, and only for 20 minutes. Guaranteed. Twenty minutes and we're out of there. The thing is, you gotta work hard, be focused, no messing around and we'll get some good work in and leave."

Well at first, some of the catchers didn't believe me. But I did this, stuck to it and the results were great.

Sometimes they didn't even realize how fast 20 minutes would go. They'd be ready to do some more and I'd say, "Five more good ones, and we're done." And sure enough, we'd leave…no matter what. That's the key. Promise 20 minutes and get out. If they think they want to stay longer, don't. Tell them you have things to do.

Here's what I see happened and why I think it worked so well.


The time limit guaranteed an ending, always. That's big to teenagers.

As soon as the catcher saw me sticking to the 20 minute rule, he believed that he would truly be done soon and not only didn't mind going and doing the drills, he actually looked forward to it…all because he knew that it wouldn't drag out.

Since the time limit was relatively small, a catcher would really work hard in those 20 minutes and because of the "believable" guarantee he really didn't mind.



The end results were great because of the focusing on one drill each session. It was always a pretty good, intense workout and yet it wouldn't kill them. One catcher in particular improved his footwork tremendously because that's what we'd do each time. Tons and tons of reps for 20 minutes a shot. He really worked hard and got into it. Consequently, his throwing improved a great deal also.

Think about these baseball tips, try something like this and see what happens. This will make the short workout more enjoyable and at the same time you'll get a lot done. And it's all because of the "20 Minutes and Out", really. It's all psychological. Stick to the 20 minutes, no matter what. You'll be amazed how your players respond and what they can get done. You'll appreciate the short workouts too!


Chico Reese has been closely involved in youth baseball, softball and High School Baseball over the last twelve years and enjoys working with young catchers.

For excellent Catching instruction, drills, training and other valuable baseball tips, consider the following sources:

Catchers Instruction, Training and Tips

http://baseballcatcher.baseballgloverestore.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chico_Reese

Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible abt speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!

Youth Baseball Drills - Start the Kids on the Road to Success Early

Youth Baseball Drills - Start the Kids on the Road to Success Early

By KC Andrus

Why Youth Baseball Drills?
Ahh, the joys of youth baseball. What a wonderful sight to behold, the children out there giving it there all, wearing their emotions on their sleeves and the parents in the stands biting their fingernails, overcome with nervousness. The sights and sounds of a little league game are one of the fondest memories of many children's childhoods and also becomes ingrained in the minds of their parents. Whether you are a parent, coach or player, however, it takes steady practice doing the RIGHT youth baseball drills to make your team a winner.

What Youth Baseball Drills are Effective?
Everyone knows that the most glamorous asset for a baseball player's inventory is his hitting skills, it is also his most valuable. So here are some common problems facing young hitters and some drills to help you improve.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball!
It's the first thing you learn as a baseball player and one of the most important. A good drill to improve this is to have someone stand on a mound and throw a ball and have the player track the ball all the way into the catcher's glove. Very simple and effective.

Hit Line Drives
If you're popping the ball up a lot or hitting way too many choppers, it is always one of two things: your timing is off or your swing is off and your bat path isn't straight to the ball. A good drill to make sure your bat path takes you straight to the ball is to practice hitting sharp line drives off of a tee.

My Timing Is Off
If you're struggling with timing and rhythm within your swing one of the best drills you can do to correct that problem would be soft toss. Have someone kneel on one knee out to the side and softly toss the ball up to you while you focus on timing and hitting the ball up the middle squarely.

What Other Measures Should I Take?

There are various other resources that can help you come up with Youth Baseball Drills and provide fantastic coaching tips. In order to get the best information, you have to sift through all of the misinformation on the internet. This is where I found the best information for me, it provides solid tips and even lets you in on some secrets to maximize hitting potential:

Youth Baseball Drills

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KC_Andrus

Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible abt speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!

Baseball Creativity in Your Own Backyard

Baseball Creativity in Your Own Backyard

By Marty Schupak

The sporting goods industry is a multi-billion dollar business, and the cost of equipment can be ridiculously expensive. Every family cannot afford the latest and greatest products (and gimmicks). But the old saying that 'the best things in life are free' can also hold true in sports. Before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a deluxe glove or equipment to help your kids learn a level swing, you should look around your house and see what you can create, cheaply, that will help your kids improve their skills—and still have fun.

When I was a kid growing up, some of my best memories were throwing around the baseball with my older brother in our backyard. Using our imaginations, we used almost every tree and rock in our yard to create fantasy sports and games.

One of our favorite games was something we called 'error' One of us would throw a tennis ball on the roof of our house—within an imaginary twenty foot boundary—and the other would have to catch the ball before it hit the ground. We spent endless hours playing this game. Other then some yelling from my parents (something about too many balls being stuck in the gutter), this game still sticks in my mind as providing some of the most fun in my childhood.

Rushing forward about twenty five years, I found myself with my kids creating some similar games in our backyard (with my own gutter lurking nearby). Most combined fun with affordability. We made use of almost every part of our property.

Instead of spending over a hundred dollars on a hitting net, we put together a comparable apparatus using a 10X14 plastic tarp along with some bicycle hooks, rope and two convenient trees. And we had fun putting it up. The boys would hit balls into the tarp as I did my best impression of a big league hitting coach giving them tips.

Drills such as hitting off the batting tee and soft toss worked out great, too, with the tarp as backstop, but wacky games were also plentiful. We created a game right on the tarp, putting two squares, one inside the other made out of duct tape. This game we called 'toss ball home run derby'. Doing the soft toss drill against the tarp, a ball hit inside the small square would be a home run. A ball hit inside the large square would be a single. Everything else was an out. Three outs a team. This game combined skill building and having fun.

But I'd been inventing games for years. One of the first things I did with both my sons as soon as they were old enough to hold a bat , was to get one of those large red plastic 'whiffle ball' bats. I then bought a bottle of soap bubbles that all kids love. I would blow the bubbles and have my son hit them with the big red bat. We would run up and down the backyard as he chased the bubbles down and tried to break them. I encouraged him to keep both hands on the bat as he swung but if he didn't, so what—he was having fun.

Another game my kids loved when they got a little older was called the 'dive game’.
I would throw ground balls to either their left or right side, and they would have to dive in front of the ball and stop it. I tried teaching them that the goal was to just stop the ball—like a hockey or soccer goalie—and not necessarily catch it. But it was amazing how much effort they put into trying to catch the ball. Aside from explaining the grass stains to their mother, this game was a real hit with them and I even caught them playing it without me a few times which made me feel great.

Another favorite involved a few tennis balls, a tennis racquet and a cinder block. Laying the cinder block flat, we created a simple version of 'Home Run Derby' Standing next to one of my kids as he held the tennis racquet ready to swing it like a bat, I would bounce the ball high off the cinder block. With the ball on the way down, he would time it and hit it as far as he could. Both my kids could not get enough of this game. We were lucky that our backyard was fairly large but some of the tennis balls did travel into our neighbor's yard. The real beauty of this game is that hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racquet almost guarantees success for the fledgling ballplayer.

Families who live in the inner city can also make use of a lot of what's around them. I remember as a child going to visit my grandparents in Brooklyn, New York. My uncle would take my brothers and me to the back of the building and play numerous games off the huge concrete wall. 'Toss ball home run derby' can be played off a wall, as well as a tarp, with the two squares made out of chalk.

Another game which we played, that was made popular just after World War 2, was called 'stoop ball'. In this game we would throw a ball off the stoop (or concrete steps) and see if the other team would catch it before it bounced on the ground. One bounce would be a single, two bounces a double and so on. Inner city kids who have limited room but love sports can still find just enough to play for hours on end.
Baseball need not cost a fortune. And it doesn't have to be all boring instruction, whether it is on a practice field with twelve kids or in your own backyard with just you and your son or daughter. Keep it cheap, if you can, and keep it fun.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills" and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Schupak

Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible abt speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!

Bata Baseball Pitching Machines

Baseball2u.com has the Bata 2 Pitching Machine

Bata Baseball Pitching Machines

By Eugene Rischall

Bata baseball pitching machines have steadily become recognized as the best in the world. Used by San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners.

There are five important factors to consider when evaluating a baseball pitching machine.

1. The type of construction.
Bata machines are made of solid steel. There are no sand-castings or plastic on the frames or stand.
2. The motor and electronics.
Bata uses only high-quality US made permanent magnet motors and solid state electronic control.
3. The wheels.
As explained below, Bata uses the most effective design.
4. Ease of use.
Bata machines are simple to set up, easy to adjust, easy to transport.
5. Capacity.
Machines are suited for players of all levels.

Bata baseball pitching machines are the only machines that use Unique Goodyear Rubber Soft Trend pitching wheels. The soft tread wheels are solid, die cast, flat faced rubber treads, molded and vulcanized onto a machined aluminum core. The result is better accuracy, more speed, and better consistency. The wheels start out with a concise consistent shape, they maintain their shape regardless of the speed, and they are precision balanced to within 1 gram per foot. This makes Bata wheels run smooth and true.

Bata has various types of baseball pitching machines. The Bata 2Pitch3 is capable of throwing up to 95 mph fastball and a 75 mph curveball in one set up. Batting off this machine is like batting off a pro pitcher. When used with the Toggle Pitch Selector, the batter cannot predict which pitch is coming. He can only react to the pitch, as he would against a real pitcher. The Bata 2 Pitch Sidewinder is similar to the 2Pitch3 except that the maximum speed on the Sidewinder is 70 mph on both pitches, and the Sidewinder can pitch left or right handed. The Bata Twin Pitch can also throw two different pitches in one set up. A fastball or change up, or two fastballs to different locations. Ideal for softball. The Bata Starter throws fastballs up to 50 mph. Ideal for machine-pitch leagues and all players up to 12 years of age. The Bata B1-Curveball is the ideal in between baseball pitching machine. It is capable of throwing fastballs, curves, and sliders. The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has three independent pivot locks. This allows you to adjust one axis without disturbing the others. The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has built-in transport wheels, so you do not have to roll it on the pitching wheels.

In conclusion, Bata gives you more for your money. See you in the big leagues.

Author-Eugene Rischall, Owner, Baseball Training Emporium http://www.baseballtrainingemporium.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eugene_Rischall

Product Video Demo - The Hands back Hitting Trainer by SwingBuster

The Importance of Speed and Power in Baseball!

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The Importance of Speed and Power in Baseball!

By Brandon Richey

Today's baseball player is a lot different than yesteryear's player! The best baseball players today are built like football players. This is a testament to the world of strength and conditioning. Speed and power are essential traits for a baseball player to succeed in today's game.

In order to build speed and power you have to know the skills it takes to do so. You see in the past speed and power were traits accepted by the baseball community to be something that you either had or didn't have. The truth is that some guys do naturally have more of these traits than other guys, but everyone can develop these characteristics to a certain point. The importance of speed and power are seen more and more with today's players. Home runs and stolen bases occur in just about every game at an eye popping rate.

Successful athletes and athletic programs understand the REAL reason behind their efforts and it doesn't predominately have anything to do with the improvement of their specific sport skills. The smart players are making themselves better athletes which in turn makes them better players! That is the key difference. The most successful baseball players are finding that they can maintain their specific sport skills (like hitting,catching, or throwing), but by spending their time hitting the weights and mastering the skills of athletic performance and kettlebell training they get better at those specific sport skills! There has obviously been a shift in priorities of these more dominant baseball players.

If you want to join the Elite then please feel free to access the rest of my articles here on kettlebell and strength training. Keep training hard and enjoy!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at: http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Richey





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10 Pieces of Equipment You Will Need to Run Your Practice

So you have your team and you have created your practice schedule. In order to run your practice efficiently you will need to have certain specific types of equipment. 1. Baseballs - one dozen baseballs. 2. Rag Balls. 3. Whiffle Balls. 4. Base Ball "T". 5. Rubber Basses (4). You may already have some of these or you can purchase them. These are items you must have! Without these you will not be able to survive Coaching Little League Baseball. The water Cooler is to take your pain relievers and for your players so they do not dehydrate.

By John R Di Nicola

So you have your team and you have created your practice schedule. In order to run your practice efficiently you will need to have certain specific types of equipment. You may already have some of these or you can purchase them. You might get lucky and and have a fellow coach who might be able to let you use what you don't have.

Equipment needed

The league will provide with helmets, catcher gear, and dozen baseballs.


Baseballs - one dozen baseballs
Rag Balls
Wiffle Balls
One Bat
Rubber Basses (4)
Pitching Rubber
Baseball T
Equipment Bag (league may give you one)
Water Cooler
Advil or Tylenol

Bases, Pitching Rubber and Baseball "T"

These are items you must have! Without these you will not be able to survive Coaching Little League Baseball. Because you have to improvise and create a practice field where ever you can find space to create a Little League Baseball field. You will need your four bases and I would suggest getting a regular home plate. I know I'm asking for a lot try and get a white home plate. Make it real as possible . You will need a Pitching Rubber so your pitcher can practice defense and have a game like setting so that when they go to the regular field there is not that much difference. In order to to be successful you have create a like image of the game when you practice. At this level (7,8,9, and 10 years old) it may be the first time some of them are playing organized baseball. The Baseball "T " is important for when you have your hitting stations. Because you have to teach so many different aspect of the game hitting stations are essential.

Baseballs, Rag Balls, and Wiffle Balls

The league will provide you with at least a dozen baseballs. Some leagues may be more generous and give you two dozen. Most of the time you will get some old practice balls and have to purchase at least a dozen. Rags balls you will use them for hitting off the "T" and doing soft toss during your hitting stations. The wiffle balls come in handy for the"T" also during your hitting stations.

Equipment Bag and Bat

You have to have an Equipment Bag. Some leagues may give you one. Even then you have the Catchers gear, Bats, and Baseball all crammed into this bag. You would be better off having a ball bag and a separate duffel bag for catchers gear. You can put your throw down base and Bats in the Equipment Bag.

Water Cooler and Advil or Tylenol

I saved these two for last. The water Cooler is to take your pain relievers and for your players so they do not dehydrate. As a Little League Coach you will definitely need the Advil and Tylenol for the Headaches you will get and for the muscle you haven't used in a few years unless you still work out on a regular basis. The head aches will be from stress of organizing your team and trying to prepare them for the season. It is a tremendous amount of work and planning. If you have been a coach you will know what I am talking about. As a new coach you will have to be organized in order to survive.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. If you would like further information on this topic or other information you can E-Mail me at: jdinicola@easypitching.com

You can follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/easypitching

Web site: http://www.easypitching.com,

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_R_Di_Nicola

How to Fix - Repair Your Baseball Glove

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Is your baseball glove stopping you from achieving your potential? You should not have to sit on the bench due to a busted-up glove. That is why i am going to teach you to repair/ maintain your baseball glove!

By Jim L King

First, you must diagnose the problem. Usually, in my experiences, the major problem is the strings coming undone or untied. This causes the glove to lose stiffness, so even if the ball does land in the pocket, it will just fall out. Luckily, this is an easy fix! What you will need- Your glove, tweezers, and your own two hands!

Also, it is best to have a properly stringed glove around for an example. First, push the tweezers through the string holes, then place the string into the tweezers, and slowly pull the tweezers back out of the hole. Depending on how many place have become untied, you may have to restring more than one spot. Once you have the glove restringed, the next step is to tie the strings, so they do not just slip back through the holes. The best knot to use is the normal knot! Just simply tie a normal knot, pull the knot really tight, and repeat (if needed, depending on the string length). NOTE: do not pull the strings to tight as they may break, or the glove may become to stiff.

Next, I will talk about maintaining your glove. It really is easy, simply rub your glove with a glove conditioner (some people say shaving cream will work, but I have never tried it), once about every two weeks.

Use the most popular guide amongst coaches! More in-depth repair guide available Here !

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_L_King

Training Your Mind For Baseball

Training Your Mind For Baseball

By Ray Peters

Baseball is a sport which requires the perfection of body mechanics. A baseball player who is in control of his mechanics dramatically increases the consistently of his performance. Practice is of course the most critical aspect, in baseball, to retaining control over your pitching or hitting mechanics. You can tune your body to perform the way it should through practice, but equally important is to train the mind. The difference between quality and average lies in the mind of the player. A baseball player with a strong mind dramatically increments his chances of performing to the peak of his potential. Here are a few tips to working the mind for better performance when it matters, on the field.

Tip1: Practice Silencing the Mind: This technique is a brainchild of zen. The mindless state. When the mind is still your focus on the present mind increases by hundred folds. A noisy mind is the biggest distraction to performance. It is easy said than done though, to silence the mind is not an easy task. Samurai's were known to silence their mind before they went to war to ensure that they were immune to the distractions of emotional interference. Meditation was their method of silencing the mind. In the modern age of coaching mediation is not a alien from warm-ups. In baseball players are taught to meditate to still their mind even before starting their physical warm-ups.

Tip2: Practice Visualization: Before the actual act should come the imagination of what you want the end result to be. This gives focus and clarity of purpose. In your own mind you might be sure of which pitching lane you want to concentrate on but unless you visualize the process of actually pitching the ball through the angle to go through the pitching lane, it may not succeed. Golfers like Tiger woods are known to visualize the entire shot to the end before going for the putt. Its like playing a picture in your mind about the entire sequence of events. This gives focus to your mind. A calm mind will develop a sense of purpose and execute it to perfection. Many baseball players practice this technique of visualization before taking their pitching or hitting stance.

Tip3: The Art Of Concentration: Silencing the mind is one part of enhancing your concentration the second part is to be aware of your body. When you are playing unconsciously you tend to repeat mistakes of the past. Your mind even if its still would work on subconscious control. When you become aware of your body and the immediate surroundings you create a sense of stillness and awareness at the same time. From the awareness comes the instinct to act. Have you ever seen baseball players who are in the zone, you can feel a force of awareness radiating through them. Baseball is as much a mind game as a physical game.

Tip4: Going For the Kill: Your mind should not be meek before entering the field. There should not be a feeling of dullness or lack of purpose. The sense of a hunter going for the hunt should be the vital feeling present inside your body. Baseball like any other sport is a test of character. There is no space for weakness. With such a mindset you will never succumb to pressure and no amount of distraction from the opposition will ever faze you.



Building mind semantics to conquer sports is like entering the zen in sports. Hope this article helps. If you are into baseball you can check out the wide range of baseball gear available at Sport Diamond

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Peters

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2010 Combat Baseball Bat Reviews

2010 Combat Baseball Bat Reviews

By R. Nelson

COMbat (the company) started in 1998 when they began manufacturing softball bats for other brand name companies. COMbat bats were born in the last few years when they decided to put out the same bats they make for other companies in their own name, including baseball bats.

The big news for 2010 is that COMbat finally is offering their most popular bats, the B1 and B2, in Adult and Senior League models. It's hard to believe it took them so long to do this but at least the light bulb finally went on. Also in 2010, they'll finally get to push the B2 which had a delayed introduction last year because it initially did not meet regulations.

Another change for 2010 is COMbat's introduction of a 100% alloy bat. They've been exclusively focused on composite bats since their inception and this is a big move for the company.

COMbat needs to make a name for themselves in high school and college baseball to become a true player in the industry, and offering all their bats in Adult and Senior League models is a giant leap forward. We'll see if the emphasis on big barrel bats can get them some traction in 2010.

Here's the COMbat line-up for 2010:

COMbat Composite Bats

COMbat B2: As stated, the 2009 B2 had a slow start because of approval issues. This is the same design as the "redesigned" version that was finally approved for the 2009 model year. It a one-piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle and a low swing weight. The difference between the B2 and B1 is that the B2 has COMbat's "Variable Stiffness Technology is said to allow for lower barrel wall stiffness on both sides of the normal sweetspot, resulting in an enlarged sweet hitting area." It also has their "Blended Fiber Technology, where Arimid fibers ( found in bullet proof vests ) is combine with carbon and glass fibers in varying proportions and precise angles to get more trampoline effect and absorb vibrations resulting in more energy transfer to the ball and greater distance."

Did you get all of that? My favorite is the bullet proof vest comment. My opinion is this doesn't amount to much and that it's not much different than the B1. The B2 Adult -3 model retails for $369 putting it just below the other top tier composite bats. There are better options in this category and price range.

- COMbat B1: This bat has had the same design for several years; the only news is the introduction of the big barrel models. It's a one-piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle and low swing weight. The B1's claim to fame began in the 2007 Little League World Series when the U.S. team won the championship game on a walk off home run off a B1 bat. Not that it wasn't exciting and a plus for COMbat but is this really that big a deal? First if you're playing in the LLWS championship game you're probably a pretty good player.

Second the fences in Williamsport are only 205 feet from home plate! In the world of 12U travel baseball this is a F7, F8, F9 or double. This is just a bunch of hype based on one dramatic home run and nothing else. I'm sure the folks at COMbat did their best to stoke this magical story. The truly intelligent move by COMbat was pricing the B1 as a second tier composite bat ($299 for the Adult -3 model). Why they didn't do this last year when the B2 was introduced is anyone's guess. The big barrel option and new price might get some Middle and High School players to use it and give them much needed exposure above the age of twelve. It's one of my two recommendations for second tier composite bats.

COMbat Alloy Bats:

- COMbat Exit: COMbat goes metal with the introduction of their first 100% alloy bat, the Exit. It's a one-piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle and balanced design. The bat has "PowerMetal" alloy which is supposed to have been "Developed for Nuclear, Defense and Military Applications'. Once again a bunch of hype but at least they're being creative. Other than that, the bat claims to have a "unique look" and increased durability. The Adult -3 model retails for $199 where it competes with the Louisville Omaha and Easton V12 alloy bats. My recommendation is to go with those options rather than the Exit.

Take a look at Baseball Bat Reviews Blog for all my recommendations.

http://baseballbatreviewsblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Nelson


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Youth Baseball Practice When No Field Is Available

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Can a Little League coach run a practice with his team without a field? One parent who has coached youth baseball for 18 year claims some of his best practices are not held on a baseball field.

By Marty Schupak

How many times do we as coaches call for a practice, meet the team at the field, only to find one team practicing and two other teams waiting to practice. When I first started coaching, this dilemma always seemed to happen to me. I would feel sought of helpless and once even took everyone to another field with my two coaches only to find the same situation there. I made up my mind to be prepared and plan two practices. One for a field and one without a field. The biggest difference is, having a few soft covered balls available and some planned drills for a hard service.

When there is no field available our practices are usually in a parking lot.There are certain things you can and cannot do. Obviously no sliding. Regular batting practice with even soft covered balls is difficult in a parking lot.You can set up some great bunting competition games. We would divide the team in half, set up two cones and each team goes through the batting order and sees how many can bunt between the cones.

The main idea is to be creative and safety precautions are also a priority. You can have a lot of different base running drills and throwing drills. Some of my best practices have taken place in parking lots and backyards. Don't call off practice just because someone is using the field. Come prepared and have a few extra props.

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills" and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills".

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Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills" and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

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Baseball Training Aids - Finding the Best Ones

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Using good baseball training aids can help improve your practices and make you a better player. The difficulty is trying to find the good ones and avoiding the others.

By Jack D. Elliott

All baseball players want to have a quicker bat, throw harder, or run faster. Many Baseball Training Aids sell this vision to baseball players tempting them to by their new product. However, the training aids do not always deliver what they promise. This can not only be frustrating to the young baseball players, but it can also be counterproductive. In some cases, it can even hurt the performance of an aspiring ball player. For this reason, to help combat the proliferation of bad products and to promote the good baseball training aids, I have put together this list of things you should review before buying:

Reputation of the Company or Sponsor

If the company is an established company in the baseball world that has been selling products for a number of years, they are far more likely to put out legitimate and solid products. The reason for this is their reputation as a company is dependent on how customers feel about their product offerings. If they have been in the competitive baseball equipment market for a number of years, odds are they have done this the right way. This essentially means you can be more trusting of their products and you should give a more critical review to new companies offering unproven products.

Look at the performance information that is included

Most baseball training aids will include some type of empirical evidence to show why their training aid is such a great product. If the product fails to include this type of information, this is a sign right away that something may be amiss. Another thing you should look at is to think critically over the source and meaning of the information provided. Essentially, you are trying to determine if the study or numbers are valid. Questions you should think about are what other factors might have caused this spike in performance that is unrelated to the product or who is putting their name behind this product. Often times, the best products will be getting a vote of confidence from former baseball players and coaches. Just a general endorsement by some guy in some town is not enough. What you are looking for is "recognized experts" who are giving their approval. Don't settle for anything less.

Does the baseball training aid have a track record?

Do not be fooled into believing the best things are those that are brand new. The best baseball training aids will be those that have been on the market for a few years and have been field tested by plenty of different people. These are the training aids you should seek out because there will be a number of reviews and comments made about them that you can look over to see if it delivers what it promises. In fact, it is almost always best to let others be the guinea pigs for new products. You reap the benefit by letting them deal with poorly performing products and get to use the products that everyone endorses. In this way, you significantly cut down on the risk that you will get a bad product.

Using this advice, will help you find some quality baseball training aids. One of the biggest lessons in life is to be happy with what you have. By being content with established baseball training aids and not always looking out for the next great thing, you increase your odds off having better practices through using quality baseball training aids and reduce the risk of getting either frustrated or picking up bad habits with poor training aids.

For more information on the best Baseball Training Aids, try visiting http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com - it is a website offering solid tips and information on baseball training aids and baseball instruction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott

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Baseball Strength Training

Baseball strength training and conditioning programs depend on the quality of coaching. The importance of coach is not negligible. If a coach is not well-experienced about baseball strength development, then it may lead to shoulder pain or shoulder injuries.

By Kris Saelen

Baseball strength training and conditioning programs depend on the quality of coaching. The importance of coach is not negligible. If a coach is not well-experienced about baseball strength development, then it may lead to shoulder pain or shoulder injuries.

Normally, it is observed that more attention is paid on traditional body building and weight lifting methods. But in baseball, such traditional workouts create trouble and result in unpleasant incidents.

In baseball strength training and conditioning programs, care should be given in exercise selection. More concentration should be given on rotator cuff exercises. It should not be neglected in any case.

The best training and conditioning programs are divided into two categories. They suggest exercises for upper and lower body separately and consider the sensitivity of all organs. The purpose of the programs is to build strength and not to hold risks. This program teaches you better about risk handling.

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The upper body exercises are carried out with low weight and lower body exercises with heavy weight. In traditional upper body exercises, push ups are more important. They strengthen the shoulder muscles and rotator cuff. Push ups are more preferable than bench presses. However, bench presses can also be done, yet it should be worked out with great care and concern. Only dumbbells should be used instead of heavy weights. Otherwise, injuries may occur.

Force, strength and speed are significant and vital when it comes to baseball. If the thrower is not able to throw the ball at high velocity then his participation in the team will be a question? In the same way, hitter should be able to hit the ball with extra force and power.

The basic and key purpose of baseball strength training program is to build confidence and also get protection from injuries. In training programs, any little things should not be neglected. Smalls things can make conspicuous difference and can improve your performance.

The major objective of every baseball player is to enhance and increase maximal strength in order to give power-packed hits. When better level of energy is produced, they of course help you in hitting the ball with complete strength. In this contest, bigger muscles are not important, instead stronger muscles are essential.

To enhance the maximal strengths, strength training programs should practice of plyometric exercises for both upper body and lower body. Kicking, jumping, quick changes in directions, sprinting are the most important exercises. Medicine ball exercises should also be incorporated in strength programs. It is a good idea and approach to gain strength, and further convert it into sport specific programs.

Baseball is a game in which sudden movements, reactions and variety of angles are involved. The players should have to respond with explosive power in accurate for achieving winning contest. Baseball strength training and conditioning programs should be developed, supervised and progressed by the experts of concerned field.

For more Baseball Articles visit: Baseball Equipment Store.

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