The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog is your online source to softball hitting, pitching and fielding training equipment. Site features coaching and training drills, tips, articles and training product reviews.
The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog is your online source to softball hitting, softball pitching and softball fielding training equipment. Site features softball coaching and softball training drills, softball tips, softball articles and fast pitch softball training product reviews.
Fastpitch Softball: Hitting/Weight shift Posted on YouTube by KevinHuntVideo
Farmington (MN) HS head softball coach Heather Ballstadt demonstrates a weight shift drill for hitting. Produced by Kevin Hunt Video at www.kevinhuntvideo.com and www.kevinhuntblog.blogspot.com.
Fastpitch Softball: Tight Spin Trainer Posted on YouTube by jpblankenship1
Order my new DVD today at www.ritalynn.com for only $30. Go to the online store. It is over 2 hrs long.My number one recommendation for increasing your spin speed (which we record by pitching the RevFire ball) is the 7-pitch workout with the Tight Spin Trainer. It develops sport-specific range of motion (muscle memory of the release) while building strength in forearm, wrist and fingers. Two things make a pitch move: direction of spin and speed of that correct spin. Increase your spin, you're movement will increase and so will your strikeouts!!! Adjust the brake for tension and spin 30 times for each pitch. Take all the tension off and do 15 super fast spins of each pitch. Do this workout 3 times a week! Go to Ritalynn.com for more information.
NEW DeMarini 2011 CF4 Hope Fastpitch Bat Posted on YouTube by homerunmonkey
http://www.homerunmonkey.com - Rick Matthew explains the features of the NEW DeMarini CF4 Hope fastpitch bat. These bats are a limited edition bat, and once they're gone they won't be available again.
USA Fastpitch Softball Instruction - Picking a Glove Posted on YouTube by softballoutlet
The Infield Fundamentals Instructional Series Features USA Softball Olympic head coach Mike Candrea. And USA Softball's Olympic Gold Medalists Lovieanne Jung & Leah O'Brien-Amico. In this Series You will Learn the Basic Infield Fundamentals that makes team USA one of the best Fast pitch Softball Teams on the Planet! New instructional DVDs can be purchased at www.softballoutlet.com. Proceeds benefit ASA/USA Softball, a non-profit organization, and members of the USA Olympic Team appearing in each DVD.
Akadema is company established in 1998 by two brothers Joseph and Lawrence Gilligan. Lawrence Gilligan, ex professional baseball player, noticed that there had been little or no innovation in baseball gloves for decades. Thus, he decided to do something about it. Akadema with its innovation in mitts brought "A Game" to the field and achieve a higher level of play.
Akadema has revolutionized the industry by making innovative gloves for infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers. Since the each position is unique, they decided to incorporate unique patented technologies into their gloves to enhance a player's performance on the field. Their most distinguished feature is that all of them are made of high-quality leather.
Their Reptilian glove, is patented near fingerless design creates a natural air pocket which acts as a shock observer for initial ball impact, and in that way it's making glove to hand transfer smoother and quicker. Moreover, when the ball initially hits the glove, it makes a depression that allows the ball to sit longer in the glove. This approach in design also acts as a shovel for easier ground ball scooping.
When "Stress Wedge" technology is patented between the index finger and thumb, Akadema's Praying Mantis came out with shock-absorbing protection for the hand against injury and sting when receiving the ball.
Then, they made the innovation in infielders' glove with the Funnel. They made an open glove by inverting the thumb and pinky finger.
Further, they raised the level of play in outfield with the Claw. The Claw offers three wider finger stalls that are much larger than a regular glove.
At last, they made certain products for maintaining their gloves. They offer mitt masher, glove conditioner and glove lace. Besides gloves, they offer wood and metal bats, footwear, batting gloves, apparel, eye wear, equipment and travel bags.
However, how does Akadema compare with some of the other brands such as Nokona and Worth? When we compare Akadema with Nokona the thing that stands out is the long standing of Nokona products. They have been around for three-quarters of a century and therefore are a company with a long time reputation. The special features of Nokona products are their gloves which use special leather. There is the choice between kangaroo, buffalo and cowhide and the gloves are all handmade by craftsmen. These handmade gloves give that extra special feel when worn. Apart from gloves a range of Nokona products also include gear bags, lotions, bats and mallets. Though the gloves are handmade they are still reasonably priced when compared to a brand like Akadema. Therefore a comparison of the Akadema baseball gear with Nokona and Worth is very difficult. All have their highlights with Nokona having the special feature that their gloves are handmade and are stitched with leather that the customer can choose from.
On the other hand, Worth Sport Equipment has their products being used by many collegiate teams. They offer a wide range of bats with some accessories. The prices of Worth compare well with Akadema.
There are many manufacturers of baseball and softball equipment. While going in for purchase of any equipment it is best to understand your needs for the purchase. Then, when shopping your softball equipment the price is very important especially if you shop at budget. However, if you are serious sports player you will probably ask for quality and therefore you will go for famous brands.
New invention finest youth pitching machine on the market. No electricity or batteries. Pitches softballs and baseballs up to 70 MPH. Price only $149!!!
http://www.homerunmonkey.com - Wally Grant from Anderson Bat Company discusses the features and technology of the Anderson Techzilla FP fastpitch softball bat.
Every coach tries to sharpen players’ skills so that they enjoy drills and improve their performance everyday.
But many coaches overlook bringing variety into drills to avoid players getting bored with same softball hitting drill again and again.
It is human nature that what you practice repeatedly becomes your habit. Coaches are no exception. Most softball coaches stick to same softball hitting drills in their daily practice. It affects players adversely and fails to bring out best in each player.
Variety in softball hitting is essential to motivate players and provide stimulus to players. Motivated players only can give best performance and improve their skills to greater heights.
Players must spice up their practice by learning fresh and some unique softball hitting drills from their coaches. Here are some types of drills to improve skills.
Pepper Game drill: This drill helps in developing short and quick swing and bat control. The hitter has to stand 22 feet away from 3 fielders who stand 2 feet away form each other. The hitter then hits the ball sharply giving single or double hop from fielders using short and quick downward stroke.
Coloured ball soft toss drill: The coach tosses two balls of different colours and shouts after releasing the ball which one to hit. This drill helps player in developing concentration keeping weight back.
Hitting fungoes: This drill is very useful for improving weight shift, downward swing, hand action and follow through. The hitter has to concentrate on hitting top half of the ball using short, downward swing.
Apart from drills, player must learn better softball pitches. For the beginners these softball pitches could be fastball pitch, curveball pitch and changeup pitch.
Fastball pitch requires lot of practice and the speed can be picked up with proper timing of leg kick, snapping of arm and stepping forward off the mound.
For curveball pitch you need to practice various techniques of gripping the ball and releasing it from hand with bending of wrist. Curveball pitch also requires different follow through directions of pitching arm.
The changeup pitch is thrown in a way to appear like a fastball but arrives much slower to the plate. Its low speed and deceptive delivery are intended to confuse the batter's timing.
In order to throw a ball at the intended spot, you need to grip it properly. You can learn different grips with the help of softball videos.
Seam fastball grip: In this grip, fingers are placed along top seam of the ball. Pitchers also use two seam fastball grip, but four seem provides more downward movement.
Curveball grip: Pitchers put a bend in thumb on a seam and create more spin. Hand is kept underneath the ball to create four seam sideways rotations.
Other grips include, knuckle curve, four seam rise ball, spinner rise ball and drop ball grip.
For learning different softball pitching grips and pitches, softball videos are quite useful. These videos demonstrate different pitches, hitting and explain how to grip softball for being more effective.
Softball videos are also useful for recruiting with coaches. You can show your skills and some best highlights to coaches on video to sell your talent.
A great article containing tips and training workouts for fastpitch players By Guest Author Bruce Smith
Sport specific conditioning or game speed practicing are not new concepts, but often overlooked is the unique fitness training needs of fastpitch position players. Softball athletes execute short explosive movements followed by time at rest, but each position has different amounts of rest time. Softball pitchers and catchers operate at a different frequency than either infielders or outfielders. This rest interval difference needs to be taken into consideration by their strength and conditioning program. Many athletes now have specifically tailored fitness programs. Taking this into consideration, here are three examples of a tailored fitness program.
The Power Hitters: The power hitter's greatest asset is their ability to generate bat speed through the hitting zone. Power hitter's can hit for high average and/or home runs. Defensively, power players will typically play as the catcher, corner infielder, or right field. For this group, the fitness program emphasizes the lower and upper body and core strength development. Conditioning workouts put added emphasis on incorporating medicine ball plyometrics for trunk torque and power development and improving speed-endurance for under 40 yard conditioning.
The Speed Players: The speed player is defined by her ability to accelerate quickly and maintain a high maximum running velocity. Offensively this group includes your slappers, single hitters and base stealers. Defensively, this group is usually your middle infielders and outfielders. Even though speed player's training emphasizes speed and agility, they can also be some of the strongest players on the team. Speed player's typical strengthening routine focuses on full body exercises like lunges and squats, with less of an emphasis on upper body strength. Agility is enhanced through cone drills, ladder drills, and short shuttles. Finally, the speed endurance targets acceleration and running distances of less than 40 yards through resistance sprints and form running.
The Pitchers: Arguable, the pitcher is the most influential player that effects the game's outcome. Not only do they need to be pitch explosively, but they also must have the endurance to pitch multiple games per week with, potentially, long innings. Their lower body and core must be exceptionally strong and powerful while maintaining wide range of motion and flexibility. Like speed players, pitchers conditioning training focuses are full body workouts with a slightly greater emphasis on lower body strength. Pitchers also need to do extra grip strengthening work and as hip flexors and adductors to improve lower body mobility.
Final Training Considerations: Off-season and in-season fitness training sessions have dramatically different emphasis. In the off-season, a strong emphasis is placed on muscle building and injury prevention. Conversely, in-season training is for injury prevention and maintenance.
While the majority of each groups training is essentially the same, the number of sets and repetitions differ depending of the areas of emphasis. All groups include full body strength training, injury prevention exercises, and strength endurance training. Over the course of a week, the athletes cover all the strength and conditioning development areas, but with varying amounts of time based on their emphasis.
Article Tags: Conditioning Workouts, Full Body, Lower Body
