One of the most important pieces of softball equipment you can have is a good pair of cleats. Having the comfort and traction that you need during a game can make all the difference when it comes to performance. So taking the time to find the best softball cleats for you is key. With the variety of shoes available, it can get confusing to know what to look for. How do you know which type is right for you? Are there certain features you should be searching for? There are several things to consider in when shopping for your next pair of cleats. Let's break down how to choose the perfect pair for you and which ones are hot sellers right now. Types of Cleats There are three main types of softball cleats to choose from, depending on what your particular needs are. Let's discuss what the differences between them are: Metal Cleats When it comes to providing traction, metal cleats are the best. Their thin cleat design penetrates both dirt and grass fields easily, optimizing speed … [Read more...]
The 20 Best Softball Bats for the 2018 Season: Reviews of Slowpitch and Fastpitch Bats
If you’re serious about showing the softball who the real boss is, you need a worthy bomb dropping sidekick. We’ve found some bats for both male and female players that will help you knock juicy pitches into the stratosphere. The only thing you’re going to be worried about with these bats is where your car is parked in the parking lot. In this equipment guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: an overview of the best softball bats of 2018, both slowpitch and fastpitch options, and before these softball bat reviews sections, we touch on the top things to look for and how to find the right softball bat for you. If you're looking for baseball bats check out this guide. Overview of the Best Fastpitch Softball Bats Here are the 10 of the most popular fastpitch softball bats for this season. The bats are sorted by price ascending. Skip down to our next chart if you are looking for the best softpitch softball bats. 10 Best Softball Bats for Fastpitch Here is our fastpitch … [Read more...]
10 Best Catchers Gear Sets of 2018: Youth and Adult Sets
One of the toughest jobs in baseball is being the catcher. Scratch that, one of the toughest positions in all of sports is the catcher position. Locking down home base isn't easy, this is true even in youth baseball. In this position, you have to worry about foul tips, errant baseball bats, players aggressively sliding to home plate, and staying even keeled through it all while wearing a ton of equipment. That's a lot of physical abuse to take, and any chance you get to make a catcher's job easier is going to improve performance. The concept of backstop players not wearing the best catchers gear is foreign these days in competitive play. In the past, catchers sometimes only wore a simple baseball mitt, rather than the padded gloves you see them wearing today. No team or league today would have their catchers standing behind the plate without protective gear. The first person to wear protective padding was Roger Bresnahan, who also happens to be a baseball Hall of Famer. He was … [Read more...]
Best Batting Gloves of 2018: Baseball, Softball, and Youth Gloves
Batting gloves are the key to creating a loving, glue-like bond between your hands and the handle of the bat. They are important equipment. Batting gloves are an extension of your hands and provide the right feel and grip to aid a solid swing. A well-fitted, fresh pair of hitting gloves is a welcome feel when stepping up to the plate for some serious ball slamming business. In this best batting gloves equipment guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: we provide an overview of some of the best youth batting gloves, best softball batting gloves, and best baseball batting gloves. We also provide a few tips on what makes a great pair of batting gloves and what to look for. Comparison Table: 20 Best Batting Gloves of 2018 Here is a selection of the most popular batting gloves for softball and baseball this season. If you're looking for youth batting gloves or gloves for very small hands skip to our last section 'The Best Youth Batting Gloves'. Batting Gloves Guide Part I: Why … [Read more...]
Baseball Glove Oil: How to Break in a Glove
Good equipment is essential for sports. It's why it's estimated that Americans spend over 45 billion a year at sporting goods stores. Every kind of sport has its own specific kind of equipment that makes playing the game easier. Football aficionados know how helpful a good pair of cleats can be when they're on a slick field. Hockey players know exactly what kind of mask they need that can protect their face and help them see. Baseball requires equipment just like any sport. Bats, cleats, cups, and other equipment are well known, but glove oil seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to popularity. Some people see breaking in a new glove as an afterthought. They've never used baseball glove oil, and they wouldn't know how to break in a glove other than through use. Despite what you may think, you don't have to wait for a few games to pass before you start to feel comfortable using your glove. There are ways you can make it supple enough to properly use, but hard … [Read more...]
Pitching and Hitting Training Programs with Weighted Baseballs
Weighted baseball training supplement training with standard balls to help hitters and pitchers develop exceptional mechanics. Every pitching and hitting coach has their own opinion about the effectiveness of weighted baseballs. The bottom line is that they are just one way out of dozens to improve pitching velocity and batting skills. Certainly, weighted baseballs are not the only way. A weighted baseball throwing program should be one of many drills that compose a pitcher’s training regime. You don’t want to overdo it with heavy weighted baseballs, it’s very important to moderate the number of throws to strengthen the throwing muscles while not risking injury. Weighted baseballs are also sometimes used by hitting coaches to improve hitting skills. In this guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: why weighted baseballs are a worthwhile addition to practice, how they should be incorporated, their use for pitchers and hitters, and the most popular weighted baseballs used for … [Read more...]
