Different Ways to Utilize Softball Pitching Machines

Different Ways to Utilize Softball Pitching Machines
By guest author: Lincoln Hawk

As a softball coach or a player, it's important to practice with the best all-around equipment, and an example of this would be softball pitching machines. This piece of equipment is very versatile in that it can be used to help improve your skills in many different aspects of the game. Here are a few ways that softball pitching machines can be used to improve your overall performance:

Outfielding

One way to use softball pitching machines is to adjust the machine to throw pop-ups to your outfielders. You can practice catching pop-ups, as well as chasing down pop flies that are "hit" away from you. You also could lower softball pitching machines to simulate line drives to the outfield that need to be fielded and thrown back to the infield. It's as important to field the ball in the outfield as it is to catch pop flies.

Infielding

To work on taking ground balls in the infield, you can set softball pitching machines to fire line drive grounders. You can also adjust the speed of the machines to simulate weakly hit grounders that infielders will need to run in on.

Hitting

The most obvious use is for throwing pitches so you can work on improving your hitting. You can adjust the machine to practice hitting pitches with lots of arch to them, or to pitch softballs that are a little bit flatter. If you are a fastpitch player, you can increase the speed of the machine to help you improve your contact as a hitter.

Team Drills

You can utilize softball pitching machines to work on team fundamentals. One way is to set up situational drills, such as having a runner tagging up from third trying to score. Use the machine to throw pop-ups to the outfielders. Have the outfielders catch it and relay it in back to a middle infielder, who will in turn fire it back to the catcher to tag out the tagging runner.

You could also simulate a game by having the players who aren't starters in the field act as base runners. You can then adjust the pitching machine to "hit" the ball to different parts of the field as the base runners advance. You can make a game out of it by making the fielders have to run laps or do pushups if the base runners score so many runs. This will encourage the fielders to pay more attention to what they are doing on the field, which will hopefully translate onto the field during a real game.

For more information on where to find softball pitching machines, check out pitchingmachines.zoostores.com.

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

========================
Thanks to our sponsors:






SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Baseball & Softball Coaches Equipment - Magnetic Lineup Board Review

Baseball & Softball Coaches Equipment - Magnetic Lineup Board Review
By guest author: Jim Moyer

If you don't have an easy to read line-up posted in the dugout you are hurting yourself, your players, and subsequently your team by allowing yourself and the team to be distracted from the game. Let's face it, it's information that you want to have ready access to, and you want your players to have ready access to as well. So why are you keeping this vital information on a scratch piece of paper or on a carbon copy that is barely legible?

The best magnetic lineup board is about 8.5" x 14" and consists of a position diagram of the softball field on the top, positions for a batting order on the bottom, and a hook so it can be easily hung in the dugout for everyone to see. You simply place magnets with the player's names in the position on the diagram that they will be playing. If you will be subbing in to a position you can go ahead and put the sub's magnetic above or below the starter's magnet. The same is true with the batting order. If you know you will be subbing in for a hitter just put the sub's magnet next to the starter's magnet.

The real beauty to a magnetic lineup board is before the game has started when you are putting together your game strategy. After making your initial batting order it's very easy to adjust for who's hot and who's not, or if you need a bunter in the second or third position, and if you change the batting order will that change who you want to play on defense and where you can make those changes. You can also see the effect your substitutions will have on positions and the batting order. What you used to have to envision in your mind you can now see on the board, both offensively and defensively and for the entirety of the game not just the start of the game. It let's you create your game strategy prior to the game. It's called HAVING A PLAN.

Hey Coach, Listen Up

The decisions you make in determining your lineup WILL AFFECT the outcome of the game. Once the game has started there's not much opportunity to correct a poor batting order. Sometimes it's easy to put together a line up. Other times, we've spent 10 or 15 minutes maneuvering players around on our magnetic lineup board to assess the strengths and weaknesses and determining what we needed for the upcoming game. I can't imagine going through this exercise with paper and pen.

Whether your fastpitch softball team, or baseball team, is a beginning team or a highly skilled tournament team, putting your players in the right positions, building the best batting order, and having a plan for your substitutions, will decide the outcome of many fastpitch softball games. A magnetic lineup board costs about $20.00. Twenty dollars is a cheap investment to KNOW that you have given your team their best opportunity to win. Hey, it's worth the twenty bucks just not to have to answer the question "who do I bat after" 500 times during the season.

There are two magnetic lineup boards on the market. The Easton brand and the Coacher brand. They both cost about $20.00, HOWEVER, the Coacher board is the clear winner. The Easton board does not have a field diagram which prevents you from visualizing the starting defense and, just as important, the defense after substitutions have been made. The Coacher board does have the field diagram.

In conclusion, I would grade the Easton board a C because it is better than using a piece of paper. The Coacher board gets an A+ as it is the complete package and the superior product. For the same investment, you have the choice of the Mercedes or the Pinto.

Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Coach Jim decided to put his insight online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience. At http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/coaching-fastpitch-softball-successfully.html he has compiled a comprehensive list of softball game strategies, softball drills, softball tips, and techniques that are sure to help any coach become successful.

Visit http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/softball-equipment.html for numerous reviews on softball equipment, softball bats, pitching machines and other essential coaching tools, to make your team a Winning team. Before you make any softball equipment purchases be sure to read Jim's review to make sure you don't buy the wrong equipment.

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

=======================
Thanks to our sponsors:






SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Episode 52 - Infielder Faceguards Review - The Fastpitch Softball TV Show

Episode 52 - Infielder Faceguards Review - The Fastpitch Softball TV Show
Uploaded by FastpitchTV http://Fastpitch.TV - On this episode the Batbusters softball team helps us review fastpitch faceguards for infielders. See which one they choose as their favorite. They choose from the D Mask, The Rip it, The Gamerface, and The Bangers.

All the facemasks in this video can be found at http://www.FastpitchFaceguards.com

Visit the Fastpitch TV Show's website at http://Fastpitch.TV

You can find our softball iPhone App at http://FastpitchApps.com

Don't forget to visit our other softball websites

The Fastpitch Radio Show - http://Fastpitch.FM

The Fastpitch News Blog - http://Fastpitch.US

Free fastpitch video drills http://FastpitchDrills.com

A search engine for softball - http://FastpitchSearch

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, in whole or in part, in any manner you like so long as you give credit to Gary leland, Fastpitch.TV and link to http://fastpitch.tv

For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit http://softballjunk.com/.

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to FastpitchTV@Gmail.com, or visit his personal website site at http://garyleland.com for more information on Gary

Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at http://fastpitch.tv.

Our Facebook page is http://Facebook.com/FastpitchTV

Our Twitter page is http://Twitter.com/FastpitchTV

Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV@gmail.com. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal.

=======================
Thanks to our sponsors:

Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog

Softball Training Equipment - Tips to Improve Game Performance

Softball Training Equipment - Tips to Improve Game Performance
By guest author: Olivia Stanford

If you're a serious softball enthusiast, or even if you're just helping your son or daughter develop some strength and accuracy for little league, then you're probably on the lookout for softball training equipment.

There are actually many items available to help you improve your performance as a softball player. This article will discuss some of the softball training equipment that's out there in order to help you decide what may be of benefit to you or your kids.

Softball Training Equipment Starts With the Basics - Balls and Bats

Every softball game needs a ball. And since every softball player will handle the ball at some point, there are weighted softballs that can help to increase strength as well as improve accuracy.

Imagine training with a ball that is 9, 10, 12 ounces or more. The heavier ball allows players to develop a strong arm and increase pitch speed. As the player gets accustomed to the heavier ball, he also learns to throw with greater accuracy. A set of 4 weighted training softballs will have an approximate price of $25.

Whether you're an outfielder or a pitcher, weighted training softballs can help you throw better, faster, and get the ball to your intended target - not overthrown or underthrown. When you get into the game and throw the regulation 6.5 ounce softball, it will feel like you're throwing a ball made of styrofoam!

The next piece of softball training equipment that you'll want to consider is the training bat.

Some training bats come with adjustable weights that hang on the end of the bat. They look like a bat that has a ring stuck on the end.

These weights allow the player to increase swing strength and encourages "muscle memory," which is where the muscles involved in the swing become used to the initial short swing to hit the ball, and then the long follow-through after the hit.

This type of training bat can also be used to warm up, helping the muscles to loosen up before the player's at-bat. Training bats typically run from $35 to about $70.

Batting Tees and Pitching Machines

Of course, most of us are familiar with the batting tee and pitching machines.

Batting tees basically hold the ball off the ground so that the player can practice hits and home runs. They typically run $25 to $200 or more, depending upon their level of sophistication.

Pitching machines are the next piece of softball training equipment we'll discuss. These have come a long way since the expensive machines of a few years ago. Today, you can get a nice pitching machine that will throw 30 mph balls at regular intervals for as little as $40!

Reaction Balls and Soft Mitts

A newer piece of softball training equipment is the reaction ball. This is a ball with "bumps" on it. It can be used for fielding practice or just tossed between two players. When the reaction ball hits the ground, it will bounce in unpredictable manners, allowing players to improve reaction time and hand-and-eye coordination.

Soft mitts are flat, foam mitts that train the player to improve the relationship between his two hands. The mitt encourages "quick hands," or the transition from catching the ball to throwing. It fits on the hand with three small elastic loops, and works well for honing fielding skills.

These run $15 to $20 and can fit on either hand.

Softball Training Equipment for Strength and Conditioning

There are additional softball training aids that can increase strength and condition of specific areas of your body.

For example, there is the wrist roller, which uses different weighted plates to develop strength in forearms. Reviewers have indicated that you can really feel the burn in your forearms!

Another aid is the power chute, which is a small parachute attached to your waist to increase wind resistance as he jogs. This allows the player to build up stronger thigh muscles as he runs trailing the power chute behind. This piece of softball training equipment can also increase stamina and acceleration.

Many baseball players are using titanium necklaces and bracelets, stating that titanium increases blood circulation and helps to relieve stiff muscles. Titanium is also available in a "power sleeve," which is said to concentrate the titanium in your arms to increase power and reduce any muscle fatigue.

One final piece of softball training equipment that has received good reviews is a drill mat. The mat absorbs the impact of jumping jacks and other up-and-down type motions to reduce impact on joints. While this has been encouraged as a softball training aid, it can also be used by athletes of all disciplines.

Softball training equipment can significantly improve game performance for the little league player as well as the serious athlete.

Olivia loves family and home, and enjoys sharing her experiences with others. She has been writing for more than 25 years about topics that she finds interesting. To see more of her material, please go to Softball Sales and Softball Training Equipment.

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

=========================
Thanks to our sponsors:

Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog

SKLZ Power Alley 360 Tee Introduction

SKLZ Power Alley 360 Tee Introduction
Uploaded by SKLZvidz http://sklz.com/

The SKLZ Power Alley 360 Tee is a multi-position baseball tee that adjusts a full 360 degrees. Players can work on hitting pitches anywhere over the plate including inside, outside, high and low pitches. Be prepared for your pitch with the Power Alley 360 Tee.

Get your own at http://sklz.com/

==========================
Thanks to our sponsors:


www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here

Softball Pitcher's Face Mask Should Be Mandatory

Softball Pitcher's Face Mask Should Be Mandatory
By guest author: Jim Moyer

The time has come for the Sanctioning bodies of adult softball and youth fastpitch softball to require all softball pitchers and 3rd basemen to wear a protective softball face mask. While the actual risk of being hit in the face with a line drive is slight, the severity of the injury can be blindness or even death. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1991 reported that more than 100,000 cases of facial trauma occurred in children younger than 14 years while they participated in sports activities with a surprisingly high incidence of female pitchers that are hit with a batted ball.

A couple of real life examples that I have witnessed first hand. A few years back when my daughters softball team was just a 10 year old team, we had the opportunity to play a High School Junior Varsity team. During that game, one of our 10 year old girls hit a line shot back at the pitcher. The pitcher was just able to move her head enough that the ball glanced off the side of her head just above her ear. She immediately fell to the ground and everyone rushed the field to see about her. Fortunately the ball had glanced off of her rather than a straight on blunt impact. She only suffered from a rather severe abrasion on her head, a swollen ear, and a pretty good size knot on her head. Understand that I'm talking about a fairly athletic 14 year old girl only had the chance to react and turn her head about 45 degrees to avoid a ball hit by a 10 year old girl.

Just this season I was watching a fastpitch softball game of 12 year old girls. I was sitting by the father of the 3rd baseman and we were discussing how scary it is that coach's have the 3rd baseman play so close to home plate. Many 3rd baseman now play about 20 feet inside 3rd base and even closer when the coach thinks the other team is going to bunt. Later that same inning, a batter ripped a line drive about 18 inches directly over his daughter's head. She didn't even have time to flinch. Honestly, it was so sudden she didn't have time to duck or move her hands for protection. The dad, relieved that his daughter was okay, said, "That's it. I'm online tonight and will buy a protective face mask. She won't play 3rd base again without one."

One might think a protective face mask is only applicable to girls softball, but that would be naive. Just two years ago, I met a man that played recreational slow pitch softball. He proceeded to tell me that he still plays softball but he can no longer pitch. He had been struck in his right eye socket with a batted ball and could not risk being struck again. Are you ready for this, it took three surgeries and 189 stitches to repair the damage to his eye socket, nose, and cheek. I don't know his exact age, but I suspect he was in his late 20's or early 30's when the injury occurred.

The game of softball is the most participated sport in the U.S. Given this level of participation and the possible severity of facial injuries, it just makes sense that players in high risk positions should be required to wear a softball protective face mask. The unfortunate reality is that most people will not wear safety gear until they are required to do so. A couple of years ago, face masks on batting helmets became mandatory. In the year prior to that rule, my daughter's softball team was the only team in our fastpitch softball league that voluntarily put face masks on batting helmets. That's just one team out of approximately 50 teams.

I'm not sure why more players don't wear the protective face mask. I suspect some parents are not aware that it exists and many other parents don't want to spend the $40.00 because the odds are so slim. Imagine what the cost might be for a trip to the emergency room, a week in the hospital, and two or three re-constructive surgeries. That's just the actual financial cost. Also consider the potential of losing sight in one eye, or the mental damage associated with having scars from 189 stitches. Those costs can't be measured.

Now that you have been made aware of the safety issue, the severity of the injury, the knowledge that there are softball protective face masks on the market, what will your position be? Will you be proactive with your local league? If you coach, will you be proactive with your team? Finally, will you be proactive with your daughter, or with yourself if you play softball?

Slow pitch softball and fastpitch softball are great games. I hope you will take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and those you are responsible for. For more information regarding softball game face protective masks, please see http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/game-face.html.

Jim Moyer is the author of http://www.mysoftballcoach.com Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Jim decided to put the information online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience.

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

=====================
Thanks to our sponsors:

XtenderBattingCages.com
Xtender Batting Cages For Home & Youth Baseball
Heater Combo Pitching Machine and Batting Cage Package
Heater Pitching Machines
Heater Baseball Pitching Machine
Heater Pro Baseball Pitching Machine
Heater Jr Baseball Pitching Machine by Trend Sports

Episode 47 - Fastpitch Drills - Fastpitch Softball TV Show

Episode 47 - Fastpitch Drills - Fastpitch Softball TV Show
Uploaded by FastpitchTV

On this episode Learn what my favorite fastpitch softball drill is, as well as the favorite drills of some Olympians, hall of fame coaches, and pro fastpitch players.

Visit the Fastpitch TV Show's website at http://Fastpitch.TV

You can find our softball iPhone App at http://FastpitchApps.com

Don't forget to visit our other softball websites

The Fastpitch Radio Show - http://Fastpitch.FM

The Fastpitch News Blog - http://Fastpitch.US

Free fastpitch video drills http://FastpitchDrills.com

A search engine for softball - http://FastpitchSearch.com

This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, in whole or in part, in any manner you like so long as you give credit to Gary leland, Fastpitch.TV and link to http://fastpitch.tv

For softball training videos, training aids, softball equipment, or softball bats visit http://softballjunk.com/.

Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to FastpitchTV@Gmail.com, or visit his personal website site at http://garyleland.com for more information on Gary.

Add The Fastpitch Softball TV Show to your social network of choice at http://fastpitch.tv.

Our Facebook page is http://Facebook.com/FastpitchTV

Our Twitter page is http://Twitter.com/FastpitchTV

Feel free to email questions for future shows to FastpitchTV@gmail.com. You may also leave questions, or comments on our call in line 209-softbal.

====================
Thanks to our sponsors:

www.BatAction.com



---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here