Comments on: Favorite Coaching Gadget 2008

By: Mayble Watson

Mayble Watson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:40:25 +0000

I have question. I have only heard from one sponsor since the festival has been over, so how do I receive the rest of the prize package?

By: Tony Scarbrough

Tony Scarbrough — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:54:19 +0000

We use a ton of gadgets and I like the Hitaway. You can get a lot of swings in a short time and unlike hitting off of the tee the ball is moving.

By: Kristi

Kristi — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:38:12 +0000

our team utilizes the rolling carts. They ate vital to getting all the gear
where of needs to be. During the longer wait times between games
it also provides a great place for every one to keep their gear as well.

By: tony moritz

tony moritz — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:12:35 +0000

I like using using big pieces of cardboard on the outfield grass to learn to slide on. The kids usually get the hang of it and love it. I’ve also seen a big piece of radiator hose used as a hitting stick. It seemed to work great. Throwing little beans, like soy or whatever for batting practice. Much smaller and more concentration than golf balls, and no pick up. They love to try and hit it. Also get a partially deflated basketball/soccoer ball in a bungee apparatus for soccer training and put one in on the base of a batting tee. Put a toilet plunger down in the batting tee and set the ball in the bungee holder on the tee. Works great for getting smaller kids to improve their power in their swing.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:58:17 +0000

Hitting Stick – home made

1 in PCV pipe cut the length of your average players bat.
Use 3 rolls of different Colored Electrical Tape

CONSTRUCTION

At one end place a strip of tape 4 – 6 “long lengthwise (Grip Line)
At each end of the tape wrap a different color around the pipe

Basically it looks like this,

GREEN GREEN
GREEN RED RED RED RED RED GREEN
GREEN GREEN

Turn the pipe 180 degrees so the Red Grip Line is down.

Then 6 inches from the other end place a strip of tape 4 – 6“ long lengthwise (Contact Line)
At each end of the tape wrap a different color around the pipe

Basically it looks like this,

BLUE BLUE
BLUE RED RED RED RED RED BLUE
BLUE BLUE

Now you have a hitting stick, and you can make a bunch of these for under $20.00.

Proper Fundamentals of Hitting

GRIP – knocking knuckles lined up (use washable color marker to make a line)
STANCE – feet twice shoulder width OR slightly wider than shoulder width
STRIDE – NO STEP or very small one (or it does not matter from a tee?)
POSTURE – knees slightly bent, hands at back shoulder
WEIGHT SHIFT – You have to go back to go forward.
SWING – short downward blow (top of ball), see it hit the bat, squish the bug
FINISH – bat behind the back

Proper hitting position (PHP)

1. Relax
2. Ready (knocking knuckles on grip line)
3. Weight Shift OR 80/20
4. Contact (eyes at contact line)
5.Finish

Pivot Drill – bat behind the back and squish the bug.

Opposite Side

CONTACT

Proper Fundamentals of Hitting

Tee position – in front on home plate & no higher than belt high.

Proper hitting position (PHP)

1. Relax
2. Ready
3. Weight Shift OR 80/20
4. Contact
5. Finish

Pivot Drill – bat behind the back and squish the bug.

By: Coach Thomas

Coach Thomas — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:59:11 +0000

I have a Flip Mino videocamera I use to record players. It’s cheap, easy, simple and comvenient. I use it to film hitting for immediate feedback and it easily uploads to the computer so I can send it to the kids for their viewing to study themselves.

By: Coach Tina

Coach Tina — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:59:33 +0000

I’m a new coach and all I have is a bucket of balls, love of the game and time! Although I love Roger Coppage’s comment about his camcorder! I’m going to use that one. Thanks Roger!!

By: Ernie

Ernie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:28:17 +0000

I have my assortment of “gadgets” that I use regularly with my team, but one of the most useful by far has been a dowel bat, reinforced with insulation and electrical tape. The grip has another smaller dowel set into it to ensure proper knuckle alignment and grip. It allows for endless swings, we use it for casting work, tee practice with wiffle (golf) balls. A real work horse…that produces results.

By: John

John — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:52:06 +0000

Love the zip and hit it keeps two girls busy in warm-ups and you can walk around and help

By: Kirsten Anne

Kirsten Anne — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:19:14 +0000

We love our jugs lite flite machine – it had helped our girls learn different pitches and to be patient!