By Chris Moheno
In our modern world, the idea of getting a good night's sleep is no longer a necessity. Instead, caffeine, energy drinks, and performance pills are being used in place of sleep to keep everyone awake and ready to go. They are not only used by athletes, but by hard workers and even club goers who believe sleep is just a waste of time. This wouldn't cause a problem, except sleep is essential to maintain a healthy life, especially for those interested in sports. Getting a full night of sleep can be beneficial for baseball training, and can even make one more responsive to baseball drills.
What do we do during sleep? Sleep affects the body and mind in many ways, ranging from restoration of vital organs to memory processing. Although the exact functions of sleep are not completely understood, it is widely known that the body requires sleep in order to stay healthy and function on a regular basis. During sleep, vital organs are still working but at a much slower pace. They are able to rest, regain strength, and prepare themselves for the following day. Sleep has the same affect on the mind as well, and a decent night of sleep will prepare the mind to think harder, retain more information, and be able to function without any interruptions.
Sleep indeed is important for your sports performance. Like any physical sport, baseball training requires that each player is well rested in order to perform well. Because baseball is a very physical sport that involves several muscles in the body, they must be able to rest and regain strength before baseball training. Lack of sleep can cause serious problems to those involved with physical sports, ranging from a decreased metabolism to painful physical injuries. With a decreased metabolism, baseball players may struggle with baseball drills due to decreased endurance levels. Also, lack of sleep can trigger excess cortisol to be produced, which can slow down tissue growth which is essential for injury healing. Baseball players as well as all involved in sports require a steady sleep routine, in order to keep their body healthy and their minds sharp.
How Can We Sleep Better? Sleep is controlled by the circadian clock, which is an inner-time keeping device inside every human body. It works directly with neurotransmitters in the brain to produce adenosine, which build up during the day and cause one to become tired. The circadian clock is trained during one's lifetime, in order to tell the body when it is time to be awake and when it is time to go to sleep.
An individual shouldn't have trouble sleeping as long as their inner-clock is used to a regular routine, but those who have poor sleeping habits and late nights may have trouble getting a good night of sleep. By going to bed and waking up around the same time each day, the body will learn how to fall asleep at a certain time and wake up refreshed. This is essential stuff for a good baseball drills preparation.
Anything that can cause one to have poor sleep should also be avoided, to ensure one is getting a full night of necessary sleep. Some items include alcohol, some prescription medications, food, and large amounts of liquid. All of these items can intercept with messages from the brain to the body, which may delay sleep or even cause one to wake up during a sleeping period.
Sleep is essential for every human being, but is especially important for those who use their minds and bodies on a regular basis, like for baseball training. The body must heal after an injury of tiring workout, and also must stay sharp in order to handle day to day life. While it is not always possible to get a full eight hours of sleep a night, it can keep one healthy, refreshed, and ready to take on the world.
Discover more on effective baseball training techniques on baseballtrainingsecrets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
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 bat 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!
The Advanced Youth Baseball Training Tips and Techniques Blog provides youth baseball coaches with free youth baseball drills, tips for coaching youth baseball, youth baseball training techniques and articles on coaching young baseball players.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
7 Tips on How to Become a Better Baseball Player
By Jack D. Elliott
Baseball players everywhere want to know how they can get better. The best way to do this is to look at it your training from a comprehensive perspective. Here, are some pointers to help you up your game.
1. Read and Watch Everything Baseball. Scan books, look over hitting and pitching lessons videos, see games, ask for help from coaches and good players.
www.BatAction.com
2. Practice makes perfect. Do your drills daily for at least 5 to 6 days a week. Feel free to mix up your routine; however, make sure you are developing muscle memory with enough reps of your swing and pitching motion.
3. Pick up something else when the season ends. To avoid burnout, choose another sport or physical exercise in the off-season. It is preferable to pick something you are not familiar with. This will allow you to stay fit and appease any creativity interests you have because of the novelty of the new sport. By the time the next baseball season rolls around, you will find yourself avidly looking forward to playing.
www.AdvancedSkillsTee.com
4. Strength Train Before It Is Too Late. Do not make the mistake of waiting to build strength until your junior and senior years of high school. Do yourself a favor and start working out in the summer after your 8th grade year and work out each summer thereafter. This will allow you to build a base, plateau, and then, build up to yet another plateau. In this way, by the time you are senior, you will be very physically strong and ready to have a great senior season.
5. Get Lessons. A great instructor will save you time, wasted energy, and ultimately give you better results. By learning from a great instructor from the start, you can develop the best techniques from the start and avoid bad habits. Once you learn the lessons, you can practice them and go back only occasionally when you feel a refresher course is needed.
6. Practice with a tee. The basic hitting tee has improve the swing and hitting consistency of many major league players. Learn from their example and use this tee to perfect your ability to hit to the opposite field and fine tune your swing. This along with some waffle ball toss are great for removing holes in your swing.
7. Maximize your speed and power. Plyometric exercises can help develop your speed and explosiveness. Learn from a trained instructor who can give you a regimen that you can practice several days a week. If practiced sufficiently, you will see your speed and power improve. This added boost will carry over into other parts of your game as you have a new found confidence in your baseball abilities.
All these pointers are geared towards making you a top flight athlete by your final year of high school. By using each of these pointers you can expect to maximize your potential for baseball success.
Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/ or Baseball Strategy
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott
www.HurricaneMachine.com
Baseball players everywhere want to know how they can get better. The best way to do this is to look at it your training from a comprehensive perspective. Here, are some pointers to help you up your game.
1. Read and Watch Everything Baseball. Scan books, look over hitting and pitching lessons videos, see games, ask for help from coaches and good players.
www.BatAction.com
2. Practice makes perfect. Do your drills daily for at least 5 to 6 days a week. Feel free to mix up your routine; however, make sure you are developing muscle memory with enough reps of your swing and pitching motion.
3. Pick up something else when the season ends. To avoid burnout, choose another sport or physical exercise in the off-season. It is preferable to pick something you are not familiar with. This will allow you to stay fit and appease any creativity interests you have because of the novelty of the new sport. By the time the next baseball season rolls around, you will find yourself avidly looking forward to playing.
www.AdvancedSkillsTee.com
4. Strength Train Before It Is Too Late. Do not make the mistake of waiting to build strength until your junior and senior years of high school. Do yourself a favor and start working out in the summer after your 8th grade year and work out each summer thereafter. This will allow you to build a base, plateau, and then, build up to yet another plateau. In this way, by the time you are senior, you will be very physically strong and ready to have a great senior season.
5. Get Lessons. A great instructor will save you time, wasted energy, and ultimately give you better results. By learning from a great instructor from the start, you can develop the best techniques from the start and avoid bad habits. Once you learn the lessons, you can practice them and go back only occasionally when you feel a refresher course is needed.
6. Practice with a tee. The basic hitting tee has improve the swing and hitting consistency of many major league players. Learn from their example and use this tee to perfect your ability to hit to the opposite field and fine tune your swing. This along with some waffle ball toss are great for removing holes in your swing.
7. Maximize your speed and power. Plyometric exercises can help develop your speed and explosiveness. Learn from a trained instructor who can give you a regimen that you can practice several days a week. If practiced sufficiently, you will see your speed and power improve. This added boost will carry over into other parts of your game as you have a new found confidence in your baseball abilities.
All these pointers are geared towards making you a top flight athlete by your final year of high school. By using each of these pointers you can expect to maximize your potential for baseball success.
Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/ or Baseball Strategy
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott
www.HurricaneMachine.com
Monday, September 28, 2009
Good As Gold - Techniques For All Baseball Players
By Ruth Cracknell
All baseball players need to learn how to slide properly. There are two basic methods.
1. The Hook Slide (or "fadeaway").
2. The Leg-under, or Bent-leg Slide.
To get the proper form for the Hook Slide, sit down with legs extended. Turn to the right so all the weight is on the right hip. Bend the left leg so that the calf is at right angles to the thigh. The toe of that foot is the "hooking" foot. Now then, raise the hands over the head and lower the trunk until the back touches the ground. Swing the right foot to the right slightly and raise it a few inches. There you have it-a Hook Slide to the right.
Try it on the other side, reaching for the corner of the bag with the toe of the right foot.
When making the Hook Slide, remember to:
spread the weight out as much as possible-get the back down. Keep the outside foot (the one that's not hooking the bag) off the ground! If you don't, the spikes are apt to catch in the dirt. The weight of the body sliding forward will then turn the ankle down and out, causing a severe sprain, or break. When making any slide, don't jump at the base! S-1-i-d-e up to it. Keep your hands up, too.
If your hands strike the ground, you might tear the flesh or get a bad wrist sprain. If you have trouble keeping your hands high, by the way, pick up dirt in each hand when you get on base and hang on to it.
To get the form for the "Leg-under" slide, sit down again with the legs stretched out in front. Double the right leg under the left, so that the right shin faces the "base". Roll over on your right hip slightly. Raise the hands over the head. If the play is going to be close and you plan to go straight into the base, get your back down and reach for the base with the left toe. (Opposite for opposite side.)
If you want to stop at the base, or intend to continue on, ride in on the bent leg until it touches the base. Let the top foot go over the base; bring it down on the other side and with a little upward surge of the body, you'll be on your feet again and ready to continue.
To get a better idea of what we're talking about, sit in the bent-leg position. Ask someone to grab one of your hands and pull you forward. You come naturally to your feet, as you will see.
"Don't Be A Woman!"
There's one absolute rule about sliding which is important for all baseball players. If you're going to slide, slide. Don't start to slide then decide to stand up. As the saying goes-don't be a woman and change your mind.
If a play is being made on you at 2nd or 3rd, always slide. If you over-run the bag, you'll be tagged out. If you slow up so you won't over-run the bag, you'll also be tagged out. You can over-run home plate, of course. But don't try to go in standing up unless you have the throw clearly beaten and the catcher is obviously not going to try to tag you. When in doubt, always slide.
Boys who can only slide on the right (or left) side, should use a hand to tag the base. If, for instance, you are going into 2nd base to beat a throw from left field, the second baseman will leave the left side of the base open. If you can only slide on your right side, do so. But go to the 3rd base side of 2nd and grab the base with your right hand as you go by.
There are two places a boy can practice sliding-at the beach, or in a jumping pit used for track and field events. In either case, boys must avoid jumping at the base, a habit they can form easily in the pit or at the seashore.
All baseball players need to learn to slide!
Want All The Tips And Tricks To Have You Playing Baseball Like A Pro?
Visit: http://www.baseball-training.org/index.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Cracknell
But top quality baseball training equipment at discounte ebay prices. Visit the Baseball Dealz Ebay Super Store.
All baseball players need to learn how to slide properly. There are two basic methods.
1. The Hook Slide (or "fadeaway").
2. The Leg-under, or Bent-leg Slide.
To get the proper form for the Hook Slide, sit down with legs extended. Turn to the right so all the weight is on the right hip. Bend the left leg so that the calf is at right angles to the thigh. The toe of that foot is the "hooking" foot. Now then, raise the hands over the head and lower the trunk until the back touches the ground. Swing the right foot to the right slightly and raise it a few inches. There you have it-a Hook Slide to the right.
Try it on the other side, reaching for the corner of the bag with the toe of the right foot.
When making the Hook Slide, remember to:
spread the weight out as much as possible-get the back down. Keep the outside foot (the one that's not hooking the bag) off the ground! If you don't, the spikes are apt to catch in the dirt. The weight of the body sliding forward will then turn the ankle down and out, causing a severe sprain, or break. When making any slide, don't jump at the base! S-1-i-d-e up to it. Keep your hands up, too.
If your hands strike the ground, you might tear the flesh or get a bad wrist sprain. If you have trouble keeping your hands high, by the way, pick up dirt in each hand when you get on base and hang on to it.
To get the form for the "Leg-under" slide, sit down again with the legs stretched out in front. Double the right leg under the left, so that the right shin faces the "base". Roll over on your right hip slightly. Raise the hands over the head. If the play is going to be close and you plan to go straight into the base, get your back down and reach for the base with the left toe. (Opposite for opposite side.)
If you want to stop at the base, or intend to continue on, ride in on the bent leg until it touches the base. Let the top foot go over the base; bring it down on the other side and with a little upward surge of the body, you'll be on your feet again and ready to continue.
To get a better idea of what we're talking about, sit in the bent-leg position. Ask someone to grab one of your hands and pull you forward. You come naturally to your feet, as you will see.
"Don't Be A Woman!"
There's one absolute rule about sliding which is important for all baseball players. If you're going to slide, slide. Don't start to slide then decide to stand up. As the saying goes-don't be a woman and change your mind.
If a play is being made on you at 2nd or 3rd, always slide. If you over-run the bag, you'll be tagged out. If you slow up so you won't over-run the bag, you'll also be tagged out. You can over-run home plate, of course. But don't try to go in standing up unless you have the throw clearly beaten and the catcher is obviously not going to try to tag you. When in doubt, always slide.
Boys who can only slide on the right (or left) side, should use a hand to tag the base. If, for instance, you are going into 2nd base to beat a throw from left field, the second baseman will leave the left side of the base open. If you can only slide on your right side, do so. But go to the 3rd base side of 2nd and grab the base with your right hand as you go by.
There are two places a boy can practice sliding-at the beach, or in a jumping pit used for track and field events. In either case, boys must avoid jumping at the base, a habit they can form easily in the pit or at the seashore.
All baseball players need to learn to slide!
Want All The Tips And Tricks To Have You Playing Baseball Like A Pro?
Visit: http://www.baseball-training.org/index.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Cracknell
But top quality baseball training equipment at discounte ebay prices. Visit the Baseball Dealz Ebay Super Store.
Friday, September 25, 2009
New Youth Baseball Hitting Drill Makes Batting Practice More Productive
www.HurricaneMachine.com
By Terry Scheele
Hitting a baseball is one of the toughest skills to master. And equally tough to teach. So to help players maximize their abilities and develop into better hitters, it's important for coaches to make batting practice as highly productive as possible.
Traditional "soft toss" has always been a favorite of coaches and is a great timing drill. But I've discovered a far better method that's particularly helpful for players at the youth baseball level who need to learn the basic fundamentals that are essential to proper swing development.
I call it Quick Toss and it's proved to be an excellent teaching and training drill for the young players I coach. It's a little different from traditional soft toss - which uses a slow, arching toss from the side, and may lead to bad habits such as over-striding, casting, and the big wind-up. Instead, Quick Toss suspends the ball directly over the plate and in the "proper hitting zone".
Quick Toss conditions players to react to the ball more instinctively- just as they would at the plate - which results in better timing and mechanics. It also promotes a more compact, consistent swing that develops "naturally" and gives the player a solid foundation to build their hitting skills upon.
Over the years, I've tried many hitting drills and numerous batting trainers. But none of them could effectively re-create the likeness of actually being in the batter's box. And nearly all the batting aids only offered one way to swing at the ball, which didn't do much to help players improve their swing.
So rather than have them practice traditional soft toss or use a one-dimensional training aid, I came up with Quick Toss. And believe me - if practice develops the perfect swing, then this could be the perfect practice.
Using this method, I'm able to target specific areas of the strike zone. This allows me to train my players' to hit the ball on the corners of the plate and give them a better sense of the strike zone..
As I monitor my players' development during batting practice, several noticeable improvements stand out:
* The bat went to the ball much quicker, which improved bat speed.
* They learned to "hit the ball where it's pitched," with improved accuracy and ball contact.
* The timing step was short and quick, improving balance and bat control.
Quick Toss is a new twist on a traditional drill, but it's made a big difference. It's certainly helped my coaches and me make the most out of every practice.
A father of two young athletes and a long-time youth coach, Terry Scheeledeveloped The Quick Hitter to make batting practice more effective and productive. His innovative batting trainer is used by baseball and softball teams nationwide -- from youth baseball to the college level. To view video demonstrations and learn more information on how The Quick Hitter improves hitting skills, visit http://www.quickhitterusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Scheele
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 bat 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!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
www.HurricaneMachine.com
This workout is the absolute best batting practice available today! The workout covers all mechanics and skills required for hitting success. The batter spends just 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week, to become a hitter that dominates the plate.
Directions: Each drill targets a specific part of the body to build strength.
Drill #1- Top Hand Drill- 10 Swings- Batter should work fast taking swings as quickly as possible. Each swing counts whether the bat hits the ball or not.
Drill #2- Bottom Hand Drill- 10 Swings- Batter should work fast taking swings as quickly as possible. Each swing counts whether the bat hits the ball or not.
Drill #3- Hip Turner Drill- 10 Swings- Batter should make sure that the ball is directed at the front side back hip pocket. The batter should take a swing every 10 seconds.
Drill #4- Inside Contact Drill- 15 Swings- Batter should make sure the ball is directed at the batters back foot in the INSIDE CONTACT POSITION. A swing is taken every 10 seconds.
Drill #5- Regular Contact Drill- 15 Swings- Batter should make sure the ball is directed at the batters back foot in the REGULAR CONTACT POSITION.
Drill #6- Away Contact Drill- 15 Swings- Batter should make sure the ball is directed at the batters back foot in the AWAY CONTACT POSITION. A swing is taken every 10 seconds.
Drill #7- Hurricane Hitter “BP” Drill
Drill #8- Hitting Streak Drill
Drill #9- Step-In-And-Hit Drill
Links to other information on the Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine by SKLZ:
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Youth Baseball Drills - Start the Kids on the Road to Success Early
www.HurricaneMachine.com
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
CoachesBest.com
HurricaneTrainer.com
BatAction.com
HandsBackHitter.com
QuickSwingTrainer.com
AdvancedSkillsTee.com
BattingCagesDirect.com
BattingCagesrUs.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Baseball Training - The BatAction Machine Makes Learning to Hit Easy and Efficient!
The BatAction Hitting Machine is the Original Rotational Hitting Machine. The BatAction Machine is a great baseball training device for baseball players of all ages and ability levels. The BatAction Machine has an innovative patented design that has a ball suspended horizontally. This simple design makes learning to hit easy, simple and safe. When a player hits the BatAction Ball, the ball is driven forward and around the machine. The machine then stops the ball and returns it to the player. The horizontal patented design of the machine suspends the ball in mid-air allowing the ball to react to bat contact like a real baseball or softball. The player can hit the ball moving or wait until the ball stops. The batter has ample time between swings to reset and prepare for the next swing. The Bat Action Machine allows the batter work at a comfortable speed and pace. There is no need for another person. The batter has to do nothing but swing the bat. The Bat Action Machine does everything else. These are no balls to gather, no balls to chase and no balls to pick up. There are no levers to press, balls to toss, or pedals to step on. The Bat Action is absolutely 100% energy efficient and it is so much fun to hit! It's no wonder; the Bat Action Machine is one of the most popular and best selling baseball training machines ever!
The BatAction Baseball Training Machine offers 5 great benefits:
1. The BatAction Machine has a large circle of ball movement - This large path of ball movement allows the batter to see, hit and track the ball before and after each swing. The BatAction ball movement closely simulates live pitching!
2. The BatAction Machine allows the batter to read swing contact. The ball is suspended in mid-air without cables, string, or ropes. This unique patented design allows the ball to react to bat contact much like a real ball. The batter receives instant feedback as to the quality and power of every swing. The batter can immediately read the ball after contact to see if the ball hit was a line drive, ground ball or fly ball. This instant feedback is extremely useful and beneficial to rapid skill improvement and bat speed development.
3. Every swing is a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.
4. The BatAction Machine fast moving ball makes every swing a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.
5. The BatAction Machine is a great trainer for planned or impulse training - The BatAction is often used as a hitting station for team training. It is great for these planned activities. But, one of the benefits that makes it one of the most popular home trainers ever, is the fact that it can be set up as a hitting station in the backyard. This makes the BatAction Machine always available to a hitter for fun and recreational use. These impulse workouts can be done alone, even when Dad or Mom is not at home. This is why the Bat Action Machine is often called the Backyard Basketball Goal for baseball and softball players. It is so much fun to hit that kids spend hours and hours of their free time hitting the fast moving ball. These fun workouts are the reason that BatAction Machine owners are some of the most dominate hitters in the game today.
The BatAction Baseball Training Machine offers 5 great benefits:
1. The BatAction Machine has a large circle of ball movement - This large path of ball movement allows the batter to see, hit and track the ball before and after each swing. The BatAction ball movement closely simulates live pitching!
2. The BatAction Machine allows the batter to read swing contact. The ball is suspended in mid-air without cables, string, or ropes. This unique patented design allows the ball to react to bat contact much like a real ball. The batter receives instant feedback as to the quality and power of every swing. The batter can immediately read the ball after contact to see if the ball hit was a line drive, ground ball or fly ball. This instant feedback is extremely useful and beneficial to rapid skill improvement and bat speed development.
3. Every swing is a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.
4. The BatAction Machine fast moving ball makes every swing a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.
5. The BatAction Machine is a great trainer for planned or impulse training - The BatAction is often used as a hitting station for team training. It is great for these planned activities. But, one of the benefits that makes it one of the most popular home trainers ever, is the fact that it can be set up as a hitting station in the backyard. This makes the BatAction Machine always available to a hitter for fun and recreational use. These impulse workouts can be done alone, even when Dad or Mom is not at home. This is why the Bat Action Machine is often called the Backyard Basketball Goal for baseball and softball players. It is so much fun to hit that kids spend hours and hours of their free time hitting the fast moving ball. These fun workouts are the reason that BatAction Machine owners are some of the most dominate hitters in the game today.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pitching Mechanics - Become a Robot on the Mound
By KC Andrus
Alright, so you want to become a robot on the mound. Pitcher's have control over everything that happens on the field, in a lot of regards they are the most important people on the field. Now, everyone enjoys watching a finesse pitcher think his way through a lineup and get people out, but the best way to become a consistent pitcher that consistently gets outs is to throw hard. It is true that certain people have naturally gifted, golden arms but it is also true that everyone can improve their velocity by tweaking some things within their throwing motion.
Pitching mechanics are a living, breathing thing and the most important thing to accomplish within your windup is to establish consistency. The first thing you want to is to find the most comfortable spot on the rubber. Once that is out of the way you are going to want to keep things as simple as possible and try to keep everything going towards home plate. That means take a short, straight step back and then go straight to your balance point. When you reach your balance point you should be able to maintain pretty good balance, don't worry about whether your toe is pointing down or anything like that just make sure you are balanced.
When you land you should be a little more than shoulder width apart. Then it is vital that you fully extend your arm forward and release the ball out in front with a quick flicking motion in your wrist. All of the top power pitchers implement these things into their motions and it not only builds power but also improves command.
Be sure to use all these basic tips to help improve your throwing motion. If you really want to improve your velocity on the mound and add 10 mph to your fastball be sure to follow the link below for all the best professional tips you can get:
Pitching Mechanics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KC_Andrus
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Alright, so you want to become a robot on the mound. Pitcher's have control over everything that happens on the field, in a lot of regards they are the most important people on the field. Now, everyone enjoys watching a finesse pitcher think his way through a lineup and get people out, but the best way to become a consistent pitcher that consistently gets outs is to throw hard. It is true that certain people have naturally gifted, golden arms but it is also true that everyone can improve their velocity by tweaking some things within their throwing motion.
Pitching mechanics are a living, breathing thing and the most important thing to accomplish within your windup is to establish consistency. The first thing you want to is to find the most comfortable spot on the rubber. Once that is out of the way you are going to want to keep things as simple as possible and try to keep everything going towards home plate. That means take a short, straight step back and then go straight to your balance point. When you reach your balance point you should be able to maintain pretty good balance, don't worry about whether your toe is pointing down or anything like that just make sure you are balanced.
When you land you should be a little more than shoulder width apart. Then it is vital that you fully extend your arm forward and release the ball out in front with a quick flicking motion in your wrist. All of the top power pitchers implement these things into their motions and it not only builds power but also improves command.
Be sure to use all these basic tips to help improve your throwing motion. If you really want to improve your velocity on the mound and add 10 mph to your fastball be sure to follow the link below for all the best professional tips you can get:
Pitching Mechanics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KC_Andrus
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
Train Yourself To Become A Complete Hitter
By Sumit Bhatnagar and Parul Aggarwal
Do you wish to become a complete hitter? Well, then, you will have to train yourself well.
A ‘complete hitter’ means the one who can hit the ball to all the parts of the field. After becoming a complete hitter, you are capable of using the whole field. This is vital because if you are a complete hitter, the pitcher cannot pitch you in one particular way.
That is, the pitcher has to work really hard in order to keep you off the bases. The additional advantage of being a complete hitter is that the defense can not shade you to one particular area in the field.
Also, you should try and learn to hit the ball to the opposite field. This is the most important aspect in a hitter’s hitting career.
Following are the tips and guidelines that will help you to hit the ball to the opposite field:
• It is essential to get a pitch that is outside a part of the plate.
• Bear in mind that you should hit the ball deeper in the contact zone.
• The barrel of the bat should be always kept above your hands.
• Always, make sure that you stay inside the ball.
To conclude, to be a complete hitter or a ‘master hitter’, it is essential to develop the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field.
Never pull the ball or hit the ball way out in front. The best way to handle the ball on the outside part of the plate is to wait for the ball to get deeper into the zone.
Easy Baseball Betting - Recreation and Sports: Know more about your favorite sport!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sumit_Bhatnagar
Do you wish to become a complete hitter? Well, then, you will have to train yourself well.
A ‘complete hitter’ means the one who can hit the ball to all the parts of the field. After becoming a complete hitter, you are capable of using the whole field. This is vital because if you are a complete hitter, the pitcher cannot pitch you in one particular way.
That is, the pitcher has to work really hard in order to keep you off the bases. The additional advantage of being a complete hitter is that the defense can not shade you to one particular area in the field.
Also, you should try and learn to hit the ball to the opposite field. This is the most important aspect in a hitter’s hitting career.
Following are the tips and guidelines that will help you to hit the ball to the opposite field:
• It is essential to get a pitch that is outside a part of the plate.
• Bear in mind that you should hit the ball deeper in the contact zone.
• The barrel of the bat should be always kept above your hands.
• Always, make sure that you stay inside the ball.
To conclude, to be a complete hitter or a ‘master hitter’, it is essential to develop the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field.
Never pull the ball or hit the ball way out in front. The best way to handle the ball on the outside part of the plate is to wait for the ball to get deeper into the zone.
Easy Baseball Betting - Recreation and Sports: Know more about your favorite sport!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sumit_Bhatnagar
Friday, September 18, 2009
Youth Baseball - Let the numbers work for you.
Baseball stats prove, year after year, that if a pitcher throws strikes, hitters will find a way to "Get Themselves Out". Pitchers have to make the hitter "Swing the Bat"! The average hitter fails 7 out of 10 times. Give the hitter a chance to fail! Throw strikes! It is hard to "Defense a Walk"! It is important for pitchers to remember these simple "rules" for pitching success!
Get ahead in the count, EARLY! Always make things happen within the first three pitches to a batter. Avoid three-ball counts! JUST DON"T LET IT HAPPEN!
When you fall behind in the count, CHALLENGE THE HITTER! I often use the expression, "ATTACK, DO NOT CIRCLE THE WAGONS!" - This is one of the the most enjoyable aspects of baseball, "SEEING WHAT YOUR ARE MADE OF!". Be a leader! Visualize success and achieve it!
You must have the ability to LOCATE or HIT YOUR SPOTS. That means you must be able to locate your fastball when you are ahead and your off-speed stuff when you are behind in the count! Pitching Success is vital to team success! Most often it can be said, "SO GOES THE PITCHING STAFF, SO GOES THE TEAM!" Pitchers must take their role serious and be great role models for others! They should "Expect to Work and Expect To Win" every time they walk on the field!
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!
Get ahead in the count, EARLY! Always make things happen within the first three pitches to a batter. Avoid three-ball counts! JUST DON"T LET IT HAPPEN!
When you fall behind in the count, CHALLENGE THE HITTER! I often use the expression, "ATTACK, DO NOT CIRCLE THE WAGONS!" - This is one of the the most enjoyable aspects of baseball, "SEEING WHAT YOUR ARE MADE OF!". Be a leader! Visualize success and achieve it!
You must have the ability to LOCATE or HIT YOUR SPOTS. That means you must be able to locate your fastball when you are ahead and your off-speed stuff when you are behind in the count! Pitching Success is vital to team success! Most often it can be said, "SO GOES THE PITCHING STAFF, SO GOES THE TEAM!" Pitchers must take their role serious and be great role models for others! They should "Expect to Work and Expect To Win" every time they walk on the field!
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!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
How to Increase Pitching Velocity and Dominate Hitters
www.BattingCagesDirect.com
By KC Andrus
I am going to start this out with a very unpopular statement, in order to Increase pitching velocity you are going to have to work pretty hard. You are also going to have to do some things you don't want to like condition (run) and lift weights. But I also have some good news, if you are willing to make some sacrifices and work your butt off you will see results and sometimes immediately.
Okay now that I'm am speaking solely to the committed, it is time to tell you how to get the desired results. The first thing you're going to have to do to increase arm strength is to do core weight lifting. This is extremely important because so much of your pitching mechanics depend on a strong foundation, your legs and your abs mostly. Do all the related lifts such as squats and a bunch of ab workouts. The next thing you will need to do is get to running. I know this sucks but being in great shape is part of it, and it will also increase your endurance and command along with your leg strength.
Now when it comes to throwing exercises to improve velocity the most important one is long toss. This should be done about everyday you don't throw off of a mound. You and your partner get as far away from each other as possible and chuck the ball at each other. Don't be afraid to rainbow it every once in a while as this helps stretch out your arm. Once you get through the initial soreness and start to get stronger you will start to see immediate improvement.
These are just a few exercises and if you complete them you will be well on your way to increase pitching velocity. But there is so much more you can add to this and start seeing your MPH go up by double digits. Follow the link for all the info:
Increase Pitching Velocity.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KC_Andrus
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Basics of Swing Building in Baseball
www.HurricaneMachine.com
By John Peter Pero
Build a house or build a swing.it all starts with a good foundation.
You will play as good as you practice!
Writing a single article on something so complex that it causes sleepless nights for the best trained and paid talents in the world is daunting.at least to this coach.
Styles vs. Absolutes
First - I cannot and will not debate hitting styles, though I certainly have my opinion. The reality is that half of the Hall of Fame has an unconventional swing. I will leave this area to you in hopes that you will stay on the straight and narrow and will continue gaining the knowledge it takes to help ALL your players season after season.
Here's a hint
Anything resembling the teachings of Ted Williams or The Mike Schmidt Hitting Study will keep you on the right road.
For every bad swing a hitter practices...it may take three swings to correct!
Here's where I've chosen to start.by making one assumption.
(Be brutally honest with yourself before incorporating the steps below!)
I will assume that your player(s) have a basic working knowledge of good swing mechanics. Players who practice incorrectly not only waste time, but tend to go backwards to the point that it can affect their future success and love of the game. The baseball road is littered with talented players who have been eliminated from the game prematurely when poor youth baseball swing mechanics become overmatched by superior pitching and the improvement of their own teammates.
Let's Get to the Point.And to the Progression
The following are six (6) areas that can simplify this building block process.
many which can be incorporated into a basement, garage or your own backyard.
Mirror Station - Simply put.if a player visually sees what he's doing incorrectly, he will make the adjustments necessary to improve.
I recommend swinging in front of a full-length mirror beginning at 50% power, then 75%, progressing to game speed and maybe even a few swings beyond 100% power.
Be logical about the number of swings depending on the player's age and strength.taking breaks in between. Focus on fewer great swings.less is more!
(yes. take extra precautions when working indoors)
Tee Station - Simply put, you never grow out of hitting off the tee. It is the one station where players can focus on every aspect of the swing.without having to track a moving object. This is critical! Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn said something like, "I do nothing but tee work until January." I wish I could remember the exact quote, but you get the point.
Toss Station - Also known as soft toss or flip drills, this is a basic drill generally done with two players. Balls are hit into a net after being tossed underhand in a short arc and at a 45° angle on the open side of the hitter from a distance of around 6 feet. These consistent tosses (aimed at the hitter's front thigh or hip for straight-away hitting and adjusted for hitting to various areas of the field) incorporate the lessons learned from tee work, adding the skill it takes to hit a moving ball.
This important station allows players to get tons of swings in a short period of time and in a small area.
Hitters get tired quickly when the tosser doesn't allow time between swings. Be patient!
Front Toss & Short Toss - This is another important building block in the progression. A coach or player will sit on a bucket behind a screen and toss pitches from directly in front of the player; usually in a cage or on a baseball field. This can be done from a distance of 15 to 20 feet and then from a 35 foot distance. Pitches should be thrown consistently and to particular zones, allowing the player to duplicate each swing as precisely as possible.
Note #1
Make sure your screen is in place and not in need of repair! Players and coaches should all be cautioned and taught to focus on staying completely behind the protective screen during every pitch.
Note #2
When utilizing short toss drills from shorter distances of 15 to 20 feet, balls should be tossed underhand so that the pitch will come in to the hitter at an angle more resembling that of a live pitch. This eliminates the "loopy" throws which encourage the poor mechanics of an uppercut swing.
Dead BP - (Batting Practice) - Dead batting practice is simply the batting practice you see on every field and at every level. You will see great examples of this when you go to a college or pro game two hours before the first pitch. It is thrown from 55 feet (not the official pitcher-to-hitter distance of 60' 6"), generally from a platform or portable mound. Pitches are thrown straight at around 55 to 65 mph.into particular hitting zones. These consistent pitches are designed for the hitter to repeat his swings over and over with consistency; hitting balls hard and to particular areas of the field.
A ball field and a batting cage with or without a pitching machine is all that is needed.
Live BP - (Batting Practice) - Take dead BP and add the battle of pitcher (coaches or pitchers doing the throwing) versus hitter, preferably in game conditions. In a team practice, I find maximum benefit when all defenders are also playing this as a real game.
The backyard version of live BP incorporates a pitching machine and pitching machine with an autofeeder for single player practices or a batting cage with a live pitcher behind a protective L-Screen.
http://www.baseballtips.com
Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction!It's all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Peter_Pero
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Baseball Training Aids - Finding the Best Ones
www.HurricaneMachine.com
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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Monday, September 14, 2009
Winning Workouts For Pitchers!
By Dan Gazaway
Growing up I was obsessed with Baseball. Just like every other kid, I knew I was going to play major league Baseball. My parents must have spent over $20,000 just on my education about pitching mechanics; that is no exaggeration. As a youth I was always tall so my parents and other high school coaches always tried to get me to play other sports, but I was never all that interested. Baseball was my game and Pitching was what I did best.
When I was involved in little league baseball I pitched the majority of the time. In my mind, pitching was the only thing worth pursuing and it consumed the majority of my time. I don't regret a minute of it because of what I do for a living now. I was simply intrigued by every aspect of the game. Particularly pitching, where, at the early age of 10 I dedicated a lot of my time learning about pitching mechanics and pitching specific workout routines.
www.AdvancedSkillsTee.com
One year, I believe I was in Junior High at the time; I was studying the way Nolan Ryan threw the baseball. I became more intrigued in the way he was working out. I started doing light dumbbell workouts and elastic cord workout programs the way Nolan did them. At the end of that year I must have tried every pitching specific routine available at the time. There was only one problem; I didn't have the time to keep up with all of them at once.
Every pitcher should have a regular workout program. However, you have to pick and choose which workouts are going to be best for you or you will find yourself being overwhelmed with all you have to accomplish. Make sure when you get involved with a new workout program you find a great workout partner. A great partner will be there for you to help you be consistent with your workouts and ensure you are on pace to reach your goals.
Training partners are also good at keeping you motivated when times get tough. I still train with somebody who lifts more than I do or seems to train harder that I do. I love the competition that brings. My point is to find a pitching specific workout routine that works best for you and then find a training buddy that will inspire you to stick with it.
Learn how to throw a baseball with proper pitching mechanics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
Growing up I was obsessed with Baseball. Just like every other kid, I knew I was going to play major league Baseball. My parents must have spent over $20,000 just on my education about pitching mechanics; that is no exaggeration. As a youth I was always tall so my parents and other high school coaches always tried to get me to play other sports, but I was never all that interested. Baseball was my game and Pitching was what I did best.
When I was involved in little league baseball I pitched the majority of the time. In my mind, pitching was the only thing worth pursuing and it consumed the majority of my time. I don't regret a minute of it because of what I do for a living now. I was simply intrigued by every aspect of the game. Particularly pitching, where, at the early age of 10 I dedicated a lot of my time learning about pitching mechanics and pitching specific workout routines.
www.AdvancedSkillsTee.com
One year, I believe I was in Junior High at the time; I was studying the way Nolan Ryan threw the baseball. I became more intrigued in the way he was working out. I started doing light dumbbell workouts and elastic cord workout programs the way Nolan did them. At the end of that year I must have tried every pitching specific routine available at the time. There was only one problem; I didn't have the time to keep up with all of them at once.
Every pitcher should have a regular workout program. However, you have to pick and choose which workouts are going to be best for you or you will find yourself being overwhelmed with all you have to accomplish. Make sure when you get involved with a new workout program you find a great workout partner. A great partner will be there for you to help you be consistent with your workouts and ensure you are on pace to reach your goals.
Training partners are also good at keeping you motivated when times get tough. I still train with somebody who lifts more than I do or seems to train harder that I do. I love the competition that brings. My point is to find a pitching specific workout routine that works best for you and then find a training buddy that will inspire you to stick with it.
Learn how to throw a baseball with proper pitching mechanics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
Friday, September 11, 2009
Weight Lifting For Baseball
By Robert Grazian
A well planned program of weight lifting is an important part of a health and fitness regime for any sportsman. It will improve stamina by building muscle strength as well as specifically targeting the muscles needed for the individual sport concerned. You will find that a program of weight lifting for baseball players will ensure that they achieve peak fitness at the time when they need it. This will help their general strength and also their co-ordination.
You will find that the dedicated and professional players will use weight lifting for baseball long before the season begins. They will have four different programmes which have been designed for body conditioning and stamina levels during the course of the year. In January and February they will be following a regime of exercises which will build strength and stamina in a general way. This will involve a range of weight lifting which includes the whole body. It will not necessarily build bulk or specific muscles but will be laying down a foundation of strength. Weights will be fairly low and repetitions high. This will ensure a lower risk of injury during the arduous season ahead.
Immediately prior to the start of the season, March and April, will see an increase in both repetitions and weights. Players will start to work on specific muscle groups depending upon their disciplines and specialist areas. They will be working towards reaching their peak fitness and strength levels. Now will be the time that their foundation work in January and February will be proving its worth. Their stamina levels should be high and they should be ready for trials and the forthcoming season. At this point, if they have been following a program of weight lifting for baseball in particular, they should be physically and mentally capable of playing through the season in whichever position they play, whether it be pitcher or field.
During the course of the season itself, the players will continue with a training programme as well as playing competitively. The will need to keep their stamina levels high and this can be achieved through a program of weight lifting for baseball players as individuals. Their coach will know the players well enough to be able to give them detailed training plans which will be geared towards their specific needs. It is during the season that the players will be most at risk of picking up an injury and therefore it is important to continue with training.
Once the season is over, the players will be able to relax a little. This is no time for complacency, however, and at this point some weight lifting for baseball players will ensure an easy return to fitness in January when the whole cycle starts once again. A regular and well devised weight training plan is extremely important for players who want to guarantee the level of fitness, stamina and co-ordination necessary to compete in the world of baseball.
Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about baseball visit My Baseball Equipment for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Grazian
A well planned program of weight lifting is an important part of a health and fitness regime for any sportsman. It will improve stamina by building muscle strength as well as specifically targeting the muscles needed for the individual sport concerned. You will find that a program of weight lifting for baseball players will ensure that they achieve peak fitness at the time when they need it. This will help their general strength and also their co-ordination.
You will find that the dedicated and professional players will use weight lifting for baseball long before the season begins. They will have four different programmes which have been designed for body conditioning and stamina levels during the course of the year. In January and February they will be following a regime of exercises which will build strength and stamina in a general way. This will involve a range of weight lifting which includes the whole body. It will not necessarily build bulk or specific muscles but will be laying down a foundation of strength. Weights will be fairly low and repetitions high. This will ensure a lower risk of injury during the arduous season ahead.
Immediately prior to the start of the season, March and April, will see an increase in both repetitions and weights. Players will start to work on specific muscle groups depending upon their disciplines and specialist areas. They will be working towards reaching their peak fitness and strength levels. Now will be the time that their foundation work in January and February will be proving its worth. Their stamina levels should be high and they should be ready for trials and the forthcoming season. At this point, if they have been following a program of weight lifting for baseball in particular, they should be physically and mentally capable of playing through the season in whichever position they play, whether it be pitcher or field.
During the course of the season itself, the players will continue with a training programme as well as playing competitively. The will need to keep their stamina levels high and this can be achieved through a program of weight lifting for baseball players as individuals. Their coach will know the players well enough to be able to give them detailed training plans which will be geared towards their specific needs. It is during the season that the players will be most at risk of picking up an injury and therefore it is important to continue with training.
Once the season is over, the players will be able to relax a little. This is no time for complacency, however, and at this point some weight lifting for baseball players will ensure an easy return to fitness in January when the whole cycle starts once again. A regular and well devised weight training plan is extremely important for players who want to guarantee the level of fitness, stamina and co-ordination necessary to compete in the world of baseball.
Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about baseball visit My Baseball Equipment for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Grazian
Thursday, September 10, 2009
If you know baseball, you know how hard the training in baseball is and how innovative it is to perform weight training which is incorporated in a bas
If you know baseball, you know how hard the training in baseball is and how innovative it is to perform weight training which is incorporated in a baseball training program, you would know how effective this training is in competitions. There are a number of persons though who say that baseball could be a dangerous method in weight training than when you do it slow and accurately in the gym or a fitness center. Many say that most of the coaches commit serious errors that cause traumatic bodily stress or injury in a person who is into a baseball weight training program.
1. Weight training through baseball should take into consideration the limitation of players - Even slight errors in baseball training can already cause injury to an individual. The truth though is that it is not really the training that does not work but it is the coaches who do not understand fully this kind of weight training program. There are many caches of baseball players who just want to increase and increase the strength and stamina of their field players but who do not think of the limitations of these athletes. Often times, the injury comes after severe and successive training in preparation for the upcoming competition. Least they know that their players are already over stressed and over trained.
2. Train but do not strain through overtraining. You should know that overtraining is not good because it not only causes injuries and severe muscle damages on the body but likewise, it defeats the very purpose of an exercise. You should know that like ordinary weight training exercises, the baseball weight training program should observe the same basic principles in weight training such as rest. Rest is as important as exercise and progression. In fact, you cannot progress if your body can no longer tolerate the load that you are putting on it. Challenge is a lot different from damage and that is what you want to avoid.
3. Incorporate variations in the training program. There have be variation in the types of routines that you do and in the intensity of the routines. It would be better to incorporate other exercises that similarly work to strengthen your muscles. Say for example, basketball routines may be incorporated in the baseball routines in order to enhance the flexibility of the body which is much required in the baseball game. There has to be variations as to the speed of your routines in the program. This is one form in which the progression principle can be incorporated in the program.
4. Force = Mass x Acceleration Principle in baseball - Lastly, you should know that the most important aspect in the weight training program in baseball is the force produced. Aside from the strength of the leg muscles and the hand and leg coordination, the program also develops extreme force particularly when one swings the baseball bat. Imagine what huge force you need in order to swing a bat at 90 mph. The very reason why most coaches incorporate weight training in baseball is because force requires mass times acceleration. The acceleration is defined as the speed at which the bar is moved while the mass is the weight on the bar.
This explains exactly how a baseball weight training program will help you achieve - greater force.
About the Author
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Is Mental Toughness Training Right For All Athletes?
By Jay Granat
A lot of athletes, coaches, therapists, parents and sport psychologists embrace the idea of mental toughness. Sports reporters, sports writers and the media like to talk about athletes who are mentally tough. There is no question that being mentally tough can sound like and good and useful concept for athletes. And, in fact, it valuable for many athletes in many sports. I employ mental toughness techniques with many of the people who I counsel in my practice.
However, for some athletes and for some sports, mental toughness can be an invaluable or counterproductive kind of thought.
Some athletes immediately become tense, rigid or anxious when you talk to them about being mentally tough or about mental toughness training. Being rigid, anxious, tense or inflexible is not a good mind set for most sports.
I have seen runners who slow themselves down by being too focused on being mental tough. A better image for them might be to concentrate on being mentally and physically quick.
Similarly, an ice skater I coached did better by being in touch with her body and the ice then she did when she tried to block everything out of her mind.
Some players do better trying to employ ideas like mental creativity, mental flexibility or mental gentleness. For example, one golfer I coached found that when he thought about being tough on the course that he began to grip the club too tightly and started to swing too quickly.
I suggested that he shift his philosophy aware from a mental toughness idea and toward and mental gentleness where he was in touch with his body, the ball and the course. For him, the mental toughness idea was not working because he connected it with tuning out distractions, when in fact he played better when he allowed himself, his mind and his body to join with his surroundings.
When athletes come to see me, we are trying to help them to discover the mental gear which will allow them to play to their fullest potential. For some, mental toughness is the right gear. For others, it is the wrong approach and we have to find another mental state which will work better for them.
A tennis player who I coached replace his stubborn mental toughness approach with an approach which included a good deal of levity, humor and lightness. This shiftimproved his game significantly.
So, you can see that there are instances where a mental toughness approach can be wrong for some competitors.
Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com
He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com
His books include Zone Tennis and Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute. He is also the author of How To Get Into The Zone With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and Bed Time Stories For Young Athletes. Golf Digest named Dr. Granat one of America's Top Ten Mental Gurus. He was recently featured in a documentary film on long distance running. Dr. Granat writes a weekly column for three newspapers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat
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!
A lot of athletes, coaches, therapists, parents and sport psychologists embrace the idea of mental toughness. Sports reporters, sports writers and the media like to talk about athletes who are mentally tough. There is no question that being mentally tough can sound like and good and useful concept for athletes. And, in fact, it valuable for many athletes in many sports. I employ mental toughness techniques with many of the people who I counsel in my practice.
However, for some athletes and for some sports, mental toughness can be an invaluable or counterproductive kind of thought.
Some athletes immediately become tense, rigid or anxious when you talk to them about being mentally tough or about mental toughness training. Being rigid, anxious, tense or inflexible is not a good mind set for most sports.
I have seen runners who slow themselves down by being too focused on being mental tough. A better image for them might be to concentrate on being mentally and physically quick.
Similarly, an ice skater I coached did better by being in touch with her body and the ice then she did when she tried to block everything out of her mind.
Some players do better trying to employ ideas like mental creativity, mental flexibility or mental gentleness. For example, one golfer I coached found that when he thought about being tough on the course that he began to grip the club too tightly and started to swing too quickly.
I suggested that he shift his philosophy aware from a mental toughness idea and toward and mental gentleness where he was in touch with his body, the ball and the course. For him, the mental toughness idea was not working because he connected it with tuning out distractions, when in fact he played better when he allowed himself, his mind and his body to join with his surroundings.
When athletes come to see me, we are trying to help them to discover the mental gear which will allow them to play to their fullest potential. For some, mental toughness is the right gear. For others, it is the wrong approach and we have to find another mental state which will work better for them.
A tennis player who I coached replace his stubborn mental toughness approach with an approach which included a good deal of levity, humor and lightness. This shiftimproved his game significantly.
So, you can see that there are instances where a mental toughness approach can be wrong for some competitors.
Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com
He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com
His books include Zone Tennis and Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute. He is also the author of How To Get Into The Zone With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and Bed Time Stories For Young Athletes. Golf Digest named Dr. Granat one of America's Top Ten Mental Gurus. He was recently featured in a documentary film on long distance running. Dr. Granat writes a weekly column for three newspapers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat
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!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Baseball Field Safety
Good Morning & Happy Labor Day! Here is an informative articles on baseball field safety and baseball injury prevention. I hope that you find it usefula dn informative. The link to the complete articles is found bleow. The article comes from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Takes for visiting, Have a great day, Nick
Baseball is one of our country's most popular recreational sports, with more than 40 million Americans participating in softball and baseball leagues.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, almost 500,000 baseball-related injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and hospital emergency rooms each year.
Children are often injured while playing baseball. More than 203,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 were treated for baseball-related injuries in 2007.
Where are most of the injuries occurring in baseball? Here are some areas that coaches, parents and kids need to know about.
Read the article...Click Here.
Takes for visiting, Have a great day, Nick
Baseball is one of our country's most popular recreational sports, with more than 40 million Americans participating in softball and baseball leagues.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, almost 500,000 baseball-related injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and hospital emergency rooms each year.
Children are often injured while playing baseball. More than 203,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 were treated for baseball-related injuries in 2007.
Where are most of the injuries occurring in baseball? Here are some areas that coaches, parents and kids need to know about.
Read the article...Click Here.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tips on Baseball Pitching Mechanics
By Alan Karpuch
It is a known fact that it is hard for any pitcher to have three innings. A pitcher needs to give up hits and walks, as well as work with fielders who make errors. If you are a pitcher and wants to improve your skill, it is recommended to ask advice on pitching mechanics. Remember that a lot of problems in pitching are due to poor mechanics.
Pitching mechanics can be hard for a coach to analyze at full velocity. If the basic structure is inconsistent, remember that even if you change one feature, the problem is still there. One of the most important things you need to know which motion is wrong and it is essential to solve the trouble in lack of control.
Every pitcher is required to practice everyday and remember that it is impossible to perfect the skill in just one day. Pitching is like any other sport - it requires practice to be good at it.
It is a fact that it is hard to find a new pitcher that has good pitching mechanics. Pitching needs dedication and hard work and you must take care of yourself completely. It is essential to be in perfect shape and pay attention on your arm and you must work on the right pitching mechanics in order to lessen the risk of arm injury. If you are just starting out, make sure to do a lot of throwing in order to develop arm strength.
Aside from physical strength, you must also develop your mental element of pitching. You must also be tough mentally in order to be a skilled pitcher. This element can be developed eventually and it is necessary to examine your performance every game in order to improve more. Always focus on the game especially on the hitter and face any problem appropriately. Remember that with good pitching mechanics, you can ensure your good health and success.
Alan provides information about Pitching Workouts through his website on Baseball Pitching Mechanics
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch
It is a known fact that it is hard for any pitcher to have three innings. A pitcher needs to give up hits and walks, as well as work with fielders who make errors. If you are a pitcher and wants to improve your skill, it is recommended to ask advice on pitching mechanics. Remember that a lot of problems in pitching are due to poor mechanics.
Pitching mechanics can be hard for a coach to analyze at full velocity. If the basic structure is inconsistent, remember that even if you change one feature, the problem is still there. One of the most important things you need to know which motion is wrong and it is essential to solve the trouble in lack of control.
Every pitcher is required to practice everyday and remember that it is impossible to perfect the skill in just one day. Pitching is like any other sport - it requires practice to be good at it.
It is a fact that it is hard to find a new pitcher that has good pitching mechanics. Pitching needs dedication and hard work and you must take care of yourself completely. It is essential to be in perfect shape and pay attention on your arm and you must work on the right pitching mechanics in order to lessen the risk of arm injury. If you are just starting out, make sure to do a lot of throwing in order to develop arm strength.
Aside from physical strength, you must also develop your mental element of pitching. You must also be tough mentally in order to be a skilled pitcher. This element can be developed eventually and it is necessary to examine your performance every game in order to improve more. Always focus on the game especially on the hitter and face any problem appropriately. Remember that with good pitching mechanics, you can ensure your good health and success.
Alan provides information about Pitching Workouts through his website on Baseball Pitching Mechanics
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
How to Use the Batting Cage For Better Hitting
By Jack D. Elliott
Your baseball hitting can be improved by using batting cages and batting practice to develop your timing. One thing to keep in mind while hitting in BP or the cage is to know when you are getting in good hitting. This is important b/c hitting the ball hard is only a starting place for good hitting. One way to improve your hitting is to focus on hitting line drives and hitting the ball on the ground. Over time, this will result in a higher hitting average because there is less of a chance for the ball getting caught in the air.
A technique to help adjust your swing in the batting cages is to score your rounds at BP and batting cage sessions. This is very easy to do as you just need someone to do the scoring while you hit. This can even be done by yourself in your head with a little practice. Here, are a few tips on how to do the scoring:
1. Hit using a three point system. 3 points are given for line drives, 2 points for grounders or low line drives, and 1 point for fly balls.
2. Make three scoring zones. You will need to make some arbitrary zones whether in the BP or the batting cage. The goal should be to make them about even and each zone should be about 6 yards in length. For example, the grounders or low hitting zone would be a horizontal range from the ground to 6 yards up. Line drives would be in the next zone (6 to 12 yards up) and fly balls would be any the final zone for everything 12 yards high up to 18 yards in the air. Anything over this height should not be scored.
3. Use Landmarks at Batting Cages For Zones. If you are hitting in the cages, use any landmarks that exist to help make the zones. For example, you could say the top of the pitching machine begins the middle zone. Bottom line: don't get too caught up in the exactness of the zones. Instead, use the landmarks as a guideline and being scoring your rounds.
4. Score each session. Habitually, score and record each session. This will give you a target to shoot at for your next round and encourage you to out-do your last performance. By making each session a competition, you will get more out of it as you try to get a higher score each time.
5. Scoring Rounds By Yourself. If keeping up with the scoring in your head gets to be too challenging during your hitting. One trick you can do is simply the scoring. By only scoring how many times you hit the ball in the middle range, you can get a pretty good measurement to test your hitting. Once you get your score, you would use this in much the same way as other scoring, you would try to top it on your next round. The focus during all these sessions would be to develop consistency in hitting this middle zone.
Be sure to let your team and coach know about this strategy. If adopted by your team, the whole team could benefit by using it in there regular BP. The scores of each session could even be posted in the locker room to add a little competition and more interesting into your team's batting practice sessions. Just think with a little time your team could be getting more hits and runs by using one simple technique.
Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/Baseball-Hitting or Baseball Hitting Tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott
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!
Your baseball hitting can be improved by using batting cages and batting practice to develop your timing. One thing to keep in mind while hitting in BP or the cage is to know when you are getting in good hitting. This is important b/c hitting the ball hard is only a starting place for good hitting. One way to improve your hitting is to focus on hitting line drives and hitting the ball on the ground. Over time, this will result in a higher hitting average because there is less of a chance for the ball getting caught in the air.
A technique to help adjust your swing in the batting cages is to score your rounds at BP and batting cage sessions. This is very easy to do as you just need someone to do the scoring while you hit. This can even be done by yourself in your head with a little practice. Here, are a few tips on how to do the scoring:
1. Hit using a three point system. 3 points are given for line drives, 2 points for grounders or low line drives, and 1 point for fly balls.
2. Make three scoring zones. You will need to make some arbitrary zones whether in the BP or the batting cage. The goal should be to make them about even and each zone should be about 6 yards in length. For example, the grounders or low hitting zone would be a horizontal range from the ground to 6 yards up. Line drives would be in the next zone (6 to 12 yards up) and fly balls would be any the final zone for everything 12 yards high up to 18 yards in the air. Anything over this height should not be scored.
3. Use Landmarks at Batting Cages For Zones. If you are hitting in the cages, use any landmarks that exist to help make the zones. For example, you could say the top of the pitching machine begins the middle zone. Bottom line: don't get too caught up in the exactness of the zones. Instead, use the landmarks as a guideline and being scoring your rounds.
4. Score each session. Habitually, score and record each session. This will give you a target to shoot at for your next round and encourage you to out-do your last performance. By making each session a competition, you will get more out of it as you try to get a higher score each time.
5. Scoring Rounds By Yourself. If keeping up with the scoring in your head gets to be too challenging during your hitting. One trick you can do is simply the scoring. By only scoring how many times you hit the ball in the middle range, you can get a pretty good measurement to test your hitting. Once you get your score, you would use this in much the same way as other scoring, you would try to top it on your next round. The focus during all these sessions would be to develop consistency in hitting this middle zone.
Be sure to let your team and coach know about this strategy. If adopted by your team, the whole team could benefit by using it in there regular BP. The scores of each session could even be posted in the locker room to add a little competition and more interesting into your team's batting practice sessions. Just think with a little time your team could be getting more hits and runs by using one simple technique.
Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/Baseball-Hitting or Baseball Hitting Tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott
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!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Recommended Baseball Training Equipment for Off-season Practice
The Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer builds bat speed, swing smoothness, and batter confidence. Muscle memory is the key! And this training tool is outstanding for developing correct muscle memory! www.QuickSwingTrainer.com
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