How to Buy Portable Batting Cages

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How to Buy Portable Batting Cages
By Andy Brock

Do you want to practice your batting skills anywhere you want? Or do you want to practice indoors or outdoors without buying a new batting cage? The solution to your problem is the portable batting cage. Portable batting cages, as the name suggests, are cages that can be transported from one location or place to another and can be disassembled and kept into a storage area for future use. But just like buying a standard batting cage, you also have to consider several things when buying a portable cage. Here are some tips for buying portable batting cages.


The first consideration that you have to think about is the durability of the cage, especially if the users are adults or if it will be used often. Check for the materials used for the pipes and the netting. Netting is especially important because this limits the ball from going somewhere far from your playing space. If the adult player hits too hard, the netting might be damaged and may cause the ball to go out of the cage and hit other things that should not be hit such as a neighbor's glass window or a passer-by's face. Choose nets that have protection for UV rays.
Portable batting cages should also be light so that you can easily transport them from one place to another. But make sure that it is strong enough to withstand strong winds when you are using it outdoors. Since your main reason for buying a portable cage is because you can assemble and disassemble it for travel or storage, you have to make sure that the portable batting cage that you use can easily be broken apart and put back together. The maximum number of minutes you should allow yourself in assembling a portable batting cage is only half an hour. More than this amount of time is spending too much time on assembling the cage.
Just like a standard batting cage, you should also consider the type of netting. Nettings are made of different materials, but the best material for the netting that requires heavy usage is knotted nylons. They are more expensive than, say, polyester nets but they are easier to repair when damaged.
You should also choose durable accessories for your batting cage such as the L screen. This is the protection that surrounds the live pitcher or the pitching machines from the balls hit by the batter. Some models included this in their batting cage set but others do not. This will benefit you in the long run that is why you should also invest on this.

If you would like to learn more you can read about batting cages and practical tips to get the most out of a batting cage.

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

Coaching Baseball - Strategies For Facing Overpowering Pitchers

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Coaching Baseball - Strategies For Facing Overpowering Pitchers
By Nick Dixon

Every one of us has at one time or another, either as a player or a coach, has had to compete against a pitcher that is over-powering, dominate, and almost impossible to hit. The pitcher that has an overpowering fastball and nasty curve ball that intimidates teams. How should a coach prepare his team for such a challenge? What I would like to discuss is some of the strategies that can be used when your team has to face such a pitcher. The most important thing a coach must do in this situation is to have a strategy and make sure that your kids know that strategy. Your team must realize that executing these strategies will give your team a better chance to win. Here are the 4 strategies that you should consider using:

1. Run up the Pitchers Pitch Count The main focus here is to make the pitcher throw as many pitches as possible. Have your kids take pitches, going deep in the count, and battling to foul off pitches with a 2 strike count.

2. Make the pitcher change his rhythm. Does the pitcher like to work fast? If he does, have your players step out, and call time frequently to make him slow down. Your players call time to adjust their batting gloves, clean their glasses, check their contacts, tuck their shirt tail in, or tie their shoe strings. This may seem like a display of bad sportsmanship, but I consider it a legitimate part of having a strategy to give your kids a chance to win. You should only use one of these tactics per inning. You cannot make these things too obvious, or the umpire will become angry.

3. Shake the pitcher out of his comfort zone. Does the pitcher throw better out of the wind-up or stretch? Many overpowering pitchers rarely throw out of the stretch because they rarely pitch with runners on base. Your kids have to find a way to get on base. A bunt for base hit should be attempted. If the pitcher shows any tendency to be wild your kids should try to draw a walk.

4. Speed up your bat speed and adjust your swings. If some of your players simply do not have good bat speed, then you have to take measures to improve on the bat speed that they have. There are 3 strategies you can use to increase bat speed:

A) Use a shorter and lighter bat.

B) Choke up at least one inch on the bat. Make sure that your batters move closer to the plate to insure plate coverage when they use a choke-up grip.

C) Move deeper in the batting box. The farther your batter is away from the pitcher, the longer the batter has to see and hit the fast ball. Swing Adjustment means that your kids are not going to try and pull the ball. They are going to hit a lot of balls to the opposite field. With high velocity pitchers, the main focus is to put the bat on the ball. If your kids can make some kind of contact, good things are going to happen. Defenses that play behind dominate pitchers are used to strike outs and are often not expecting the ball to be hit.

The BaseballCoachingDigest.com has a great collection of baseball articles. Check out the Bat Action Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, the "Hit2win Company". Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon is widely recognized as an expert in the area of baseball training, practice and skill development. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of several of baseball and softball's most popular training products such as the Original BatAction Hitting Machine, SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, Original Hitting Stick, Hit2win Trainer, SKLZ Target Trainer, SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, Batting Cage Builder, the American Baseball Directory and the Hit2win Baseball Coaches Monthly Newsletter. Dixon has 5 blogs related to baseball training including the BaseballCoachingDigest Blog, CoachesBest Training Blog, Hurricane Machine Training Blog, Batting Cage Buyers Blog, and the Bat Action Training Blog.

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

Baseball Batting Cage Tips - Choosing The Best Batting Cage

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Choosing The Best Batting Cage
By: Bill Ryan

With the introduction of batting cages, many a batter has improved their batting average tremendously. The type of training that a batting cage provides can even compare to just practicing with a pitcher on a somewhat regular basis.

Batting cages afford a batter the opportunity to swing at balls in a quick and efficient manner. A batter is only limited to the amount of time he or she has reserved a batting cage.

The following considerations should be taken into account when shopping for a batting cage:

1. Batting cages should be purchased based on the batter. For instance, if the batter is in the pros he will need a large batting cage. Size does matter.

2. Don't scrimp on quality. Lower-end batting cages are made of PVC pipe and cotton netting. These types of materials will not hold up long under the Sun's intense UV rays and the weather.

3. The nets should be fixed in a way to allow the batter an unrestricted feeling. Nets that are tightly enclosed may cause the batter challenges when batting in an open area.

4. Ensure you are getting your money's worth from batting cages. Make sure you add in fuel charges too. It might be better to buy a batting cage instead of renting time if you find the costs are greater.

As stated earlier, batting cages can greatly enhance your hitting skills and ability. The more you practice the better your hitting will be. You might want to go ahead and price batting cages at many only baseball stores. This might be your best return on investment and time.

Hit2win.com Some of college baseball's greatest hitters grew up with us! "Helping hitters improve since 1999!"

Building a Batting Cage Is Easier Than You Think

Building a Batting Cage Is Easier Than You Think


Building a Batting Cage Is Easier Than You Think
Building a batting cage is the ultimate investment in a player's hitting success. There is absolutely nothing else that has a more positive effect and than offers greater benefits than building a batting cage for your player or team.
If you have decided to purchase a batting cage, you have made a wise decision. The money you spend on a batting cage net and frame will provide great benefits and give your team or player a difinite advantage for years and years to come.

Whatever, you do, if you have the money to invest, do not change your mind. Go through with this project. Batting cage construction is not rocket science. It will be easier than you think if you follow our batting cage guide's step-by-step plans and instructions for batting cage construction. You can do this....we can help!

The choices you make concerning your backyard batting cage or home batting cage should be determined by three things. 1) The amount of money you have to spend on your new batting cage. 2) The amount of time and energy you can devote to the project. 3) The amount of space that you have to work with when you install your batting cage nets and frames.

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How to Help Your Aspiring Slugger - Dad's Arm Vs A Pitching Machine

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How to Help Your Aspiring Slugger - Dad's Arm Vs A Pitching Machine
By Chuck R Stewart

Buying a pitching machine is essential for any little league baseball team. The baseball machines are overall superior compared to a dad when it comes to pitching. Pitching placement is one of many areas the pitching machine beats the dad. Have you ever seen a child get beamed in the head by a rogue pitch from a dad? It is a common sight at most baseball practices. Many kids are often afraid of batting practice because they don't want to be hit by a baseball. With a pitching machine it hits a certain location every time, ensuring you get the most out of baseball practice. This accuracy will give the child more confidence in his or her batting, and also allow them to hit harder and more accurately.

The pitching machine also wins over the dad when it comes to pitching speed. Not all dads are very good pitchers, and their pitches are often all over the place, both in placement and in speed. This variance in speed can cause stride issues for the kid batting. It also will diminish his confidence if he rarely can hit the dads pitch. Pitching machines will hit a certain speed every time. This accuracy in speed will help to create a confident, strong stride needed to hit the ball well.

These dads who think they can pitch won't walk away with a hurt ego, they will benefit too. Instead of having to ice their arm after a long practice of pitching, they'll be able to relax and not be so sore. The pitching machine never gets tire, it never gets sore. It can go forever. This machine doesn't need ice or a break, only more balls. The pitching machine can launch a ball every 8 seconds. That means your kid can get more hits in batting practice, thus making the team better. If a dad tried to pitch a ball every 8 seconds his arm would fall off. This increase in ball out put will make your team more efficient and overall more likely to win. It's pretty obvious the pitching machines beat the dad in every way.

The pitching machine might seem pretty great; however, you may think it will cost too much. Most pitching machines cost between 200 to 500 dollars. You might think that is a lot, but it's worth making your team better. The memories from a little league championship will far outweigh the costs of the pitching machine. Teams can even share a machine I they practice at different times. This would bring down the cost dramatically. Every kid dreams of being a champion and you could give them that chance.

Overall it's pretty obvious that the pitching machine is a very good investment. It has better placement and speed control than the dad does. You can even change the speed if you need to challenge the players. The dad doesn't have to walk away with a sore arm, and you get more pitches in on batting practice. The price may seem a lot at first; however, when you consider the number of teams who could benefit and the potential to win a championship for your kids, it's a no-brainer. The pitching machine will improve your team.

Coach Chuck Stewart operates a baseball website where training aids such as Pitching Machines including Heater Pitching Machines are available. Coach Chuck has coached baseball teams for 11 years and enjoys sharing the love of the game with his players.

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

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Turn Batting Practice Into HITTING Practice

Turn Batting Practice Into HITTING Practice
By Jim Moyer

If your batting practice consists of either having your pitcher or a coach pitch to the hitters I am going to change your life forever. Yes, there is a place for this type of practice session but it is RARE. There is no doubt that the more live pitching your hitters see the better they will be able to adjust to different pitchers in a game. HOWEVER, your players need repetition, muscle memory, and enough swings that the coach can determine the flaws in their swing and take corrective action.

The drawbacks of having your pitcher throw batting practice are numerous. Your pitcher probably only throws 50% to 60% of his/her pitches for strikes. That’s a LOT of dead time watching the pitcher throw and the catcher retrieving wild pitches. In a two hour practice each player might get to take ten swings. Hardly enough to build fundamentals or develop muscle memory. You are also faced with having a player get hit by a pitch and thereby become afraid of the ball — WHO NEEDS THAT?!?! And then there is the little problem of all of your other players becoming completely bored while they just stand around waiting and watching. And how about the psychological affect on your pitcher if the batters are hitting the ball…great, now your pitcher feels like a failure.

Okay, then how about if we have a coach pitch? It’s better than having your pitcher pitch but not much. Typically, coaches pitch much slower than what the players face in a game. The coach is relatively distracted from coaching the hitter because he is focused on trying to lob the ball over the plate. How can you watch the batter's feet, hip movement, and arm movement if you are concentrating on making a good pitch? And don’t be fooled into thinking the coach is throwing lots of strikes. Honestly, he’s probably not as consistent as the pitcher.

Enter the Louisville Slugger Pitching Machine. This tool has revolutionized batting practice for the average team. Don’t panic about the cost as it’s only about $150. If you don’t have the money tell the parents you are taking up a collection and everyone needs to chip in $15.00. It is absolutely the PERFECT batting practice tool. It is spring-loaded so you won’t need electricity. It’s very lightweight so it’s easy to carry to the field and it sets up in about 2 minutes. It throws all sizes of balls and you can control the speed from about 20 mph up to about 45 mph. If there is any way possible, you MUST get your hands on this pitching machine.

How is a spring loaded pitching machine going to help my team? You will easily triple the number of swings your hitters get to take. You can have any parent operate the machine which will free you up to stand near the hitter and observe and coach. No more wild pitches and wasting time while the catcher retrieves the ball. They are all strikes. This means your hitters will be hitting and your fielders will stay engaged and have more practice fielding. In case you just glanced over this, let me reiterate these two points: THE COACH CAN CONCENTRATE ON INSTRUCTING THE HITTER and THE HITTER GETS 3X AS MANY SWINGS.

"It’s easy to hit pitches that are grooved right down the middle." I hear that a lot and let me say that argument doesn’t hold water with the Louisville Slugger Pitching Machine and here is why: Ball Positioning. When you load the ball onto the throwing lever you can make the pitch break inside, outside, drop or rise. Yep, it’s true. Just load the ball with the seams rotated to the left or right for a breaking ball and rotate the seams forward or back for a high or low pitch.

For advanced batting practice you might be working on hitting all outside pitches, or all inside pitches. Try that with your girl pitcher or coach pitcher and see how much luck you have! More than likely you will just end up frustrated at whoever is pitching and will not have achieved any of the practice you were hoping for. But with the right pitching achine, you can throw consistently to any part of the plate.

Still not convinced? I use the Louisville Slugger Pitching Machine to divide up my team and play scrimmages. We can usually play an inning in 8-10 minutes. It’s a great way to end a practice. With about 30 minutes left in practice just divide up and play three or four quick innings. The girls love it.

Still need more? I’ve even adjusted the settings on the Louisville Slugger pitching machine to throw fly balls. By the way, this is a great practice drill that can be run by any parent. Set the machine up around home plate, adjust the settings accordingly, throw a couple and go mark where the ball lands. Then from the spot where the ball lands, place a cone about 15’ in front, behind, to the left and to the right. The player stands at the cone and when you shoot the ball she runs to catch it, then she moves to another cone, etc. This is excellent practice for moving to the ball.

I LOVE this little pitching machine. It will increase your team’s batting average tremendously. I have used the Louisville Slugger Pitching Machine with girls age 7 all the way to age 14. It’s going to turn your batters into HITTERS and it’s going to turn your boring batting practice into a time of real achievement and fun.

Oh, did I mention this little rule? In Fastpitch Softball, whoever scores the most runs is the winner. Increase your softball team’s hitting skills and you will most definitely WIN MORE GAMES.

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.

Visit http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/softball-equipment.html for reviews on more pitching machines and other essential coaching tools, and learn many skills, drills and game strategies to make your team a Winning team.

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

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Why Use Portable Batting Cages

Why Use Portable Batting Cages
By Andy Brock

A regular baseball cage is a must for those who play baseball or even for those people who want their children to be engaged in baseball. The functions of standard batting cages are to give limits to baseballs or softballs, so that you do not have to go to a far place to pick up the balls; and it gives you a space where you can practice and improve your skills in batting. You will also not waste time worrying about baseballs going astray and accidentally hitting someone else's window, or worse, face.

However, more and more baseball aficionados and players choose portable batting cages because of their additional benefits. Aside from the benefits stated in the previous paragraph, portable batting cages can be transported or moved from one place to another. This is very ideal for those people or baseball teams who are always on the road, going to different places to compete. It also allows you to move your cage indoors if the weather turns bad outside.

This type of batting cage can also be easily disassembled and stored away. This feature is very ideal for those who have small backyards. For example, if the baseball season finally ends, you can just disassemble the batting cage and store it in a nice place while you can use the previously used space for other purposes, such as parties or barbecues.

Moreover, if your decision for buying a portable batting cage is because your children enjoy playing baseball, this type is the best option for you. Once your children grew up, they might have a different interest not at all related to baseball. If this happens, it is very easy to disassemble the batting cage and put it away for storage or you can easily sell it to your neighbours or other people who might need it. By doing this, you can get at least a part of the amount that you had to pay when you bought the batting cage after your children could enjoy practicing in it. Not only this, you also will be able to help those people who are on a low budget but in dire need of a batting cage.

So instead of installing a permanent batting cage in your backyard or school ground, why not get yourself a portable batting cage to enjoy its features not available in standard batting cages. Buying one of these portable batting cages is very beneficial for homeowners, schools, sporting complexes, or baseball teams who are always on the road and have limited space.

If you would like to learn more you can read about batting cages and practical tips on using a batting cage to improve hitting.

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

Buy portable batting cages for less at BattingCagesDirect.com.

Baseball Coaching Tips - Teaching Players to Have a Good Two Strike Approach at the Plate

Baseball Coaching Tips - Teaching Players to Have a Good Two Strike Approach at the Plate

Good Morning,
I hope the season is going great for you and your team! "Two Strike" hits
are a big part of every team's success. Team that score runs with 2 outs and that get hits consistently with 2 strikes on the batter are the teams that post winning records and win championships. Here are 5 points that I teach to make sure that every player on our team has the same proper "two strike approach":

1. The batter should assume a more balanced stance and take most of the weight off the back foot.
2. The batter will be prepared to swing at "anything close". My saying is that "if it is close enough for the ump to call a strike, it is close enough to hit".
3. The batter should get 3 inches closer to the plate than normal and choke up at least one inch on the bat. This is done regardless of the batter's ability or position in the batting order.
4. I would rather that the batter be late on the pitch than early. What this means is that the batter must keep the hands back and have trust in his or her hand speed.
5. Expect anything! Do not guess pitches. The even stance and "shorter bat" should allow the batter to hit or fight off any pitch location.
6. The batter should fight to saty alive. He or she should battle their butt off to get a hit or stay alive. The batter must win the battle by fouling off pitches, eveining the count, and fighting until the pitcher makes a mistake and throws a pitch that the batter can handle to get a basehit.

Good luck til next time.
Have a great day,
Coach Nick

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Sports Psychology and Hitting - How to Survive a Hitting Slump - Eight Simple Tips

Sports Psychology and Hitting - How to Survive a Hitting Slump - Eight Simple Tips
By Jay Granat

A hitting slump has physical, psychological, emotional components to it. For the professional baseball player or the player seeking a scholarship, a slump can have significant financial and career implications.

Players, coaches, parents and agents can become quite frustrated by prolonged hitting slumps. Here are a few suggestions for managing hitting slumps.

1. Make sure you are technically and mechanically sound in the cage and in front of live pitching.

2. Keep accurate diaries and spreadsheets about pitchers who you face. Record all relevant data. Knowing what they threw you in specific situations is very helpful. Similarly, knowing how they like to pitch and how you did against them is essential information for a hitter who wants to excel at the sport of baseball. I know this record keeping seems laborious, but it will pay off with a shorter slump and a higher batting average.

3. Determine if you hit best with an empty mind or with one mental thought or idea at the plate. Most hitters do best with a simple thought or with a mind which is crystal clear and ready to allow the body to do what it is capable of doing at the plate.

4. Go back to some important basics: Keep your head very still. Don't grip the bat too tightly. Hit the ball into the gaps. Focus on the path of the ball. Utilize a ritual which allows you to feel comfortable in the batter's box. Know the strike zone very well.

5. Watch yourself on video when you are in a slump and compare this tape with a video of you when you were hitting well. You will be amazed at what you will learn from this exercise.

6. Use a new hitting coach to get a fresh outlook and a few new tips.

7. Consider a sports psychologist to help you master the mental aspects of hitting.

8. Learn how to use self-hypnosis to get your mind into a confident, focused, relaxed and optimistic state in the dugout, in the on deck circle and at the plate.

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. 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.

Baseball players, coaches and parents who want learn more about the psychology of hitting and breaking batting slumps should visit http://www.stayinthezone.com/baseball.htm

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

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