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...]
10 Best Batting Tees for Baseball & Softball: A Complete Buying Guide
When it comes to honing baseball skills, many former youth players, community leaguers and even major league player started at the same place: Lining up a swing at baseball batting tees. When it comes to teaching the littlest players how to handle a bat, these tools are indispensable. Even seasoned players use them now and again. And while you are busy running drills with your players, it may be worth considering to add in a few tee drills as well to work on batting form and precision. Top 10 Batting Baseball Tees of 2018 So now that you know why you need one, which one do you need? Here are our top picks. 1. Hit Zone Jr Powered Batting Tee We're starting off fancy on our list today, but only because the HitZone Jr is one of the best tees available. The Hit Zone Jr suspends the ball in the air, allowing the stability of a tee without the resistance of actually hitting a stationary object with a bat. This makes it a perfect tee for very young beginners as they practice … [Read more...]
The Best Baseball Bats for the 2018 Season: BBCOR and Player Approved
The only thing better than taking a new shiny bat out of the wrapper is taking a few perfect swings and nailing some line drives into the outfield realizing you made the right decision. But slogging through all the dozens of options and listening to a sales pitch at your local sporting goods store isn’t always fun and games. There are nearly a hundred BBCOR Certified bats on the market. That’s a lot of bats to choose from. In this equipment guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: first we explain BBCOR certification, then we look at some of the other most important things to keep an eye on before you make a final purchase, and lastly we take a closer look at the best baseball bats of this year. If you’re a grizzled baseball vet we suggest skipping to our lineup of the best baseball bats. Also, if you're looking for youth baseball bats check out that guide. Overview of the Best Baseball Bats Here are the most popular and top rated baseball bats (BBCOR and -3 Drop) currently on … [Read more...]
Softball Drills and Practice Plans: Infield, Outfield, and Team Drills
Drills are the bread and butter of a good softball practice. The drills you choose for practice are only limited by your imagination, though there has been some established as being more effective than others over the years. Hundreds of books have been written about softball practice plans, infield and outfield drills, hitting mechanics, and dozens of other softball training topics. It is an extensive subject. Coaches have many opinions on the best way to go about running a practice. Frankly speaking, there are many ways to run a successful practice but all the best practice plans roughly follow the same formula. In this guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: the most important elements of softball practice plans, some examples of the most popular drills and how execute them, and the five pillars of an exceptional softball practice. Whether you’re a first time Little League Softball coach or part of a veteran coaching staff in a University softball organization, there’s always … [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...]
Baseball Drills & Practice Plans: Infield, Outfield, and Team Drills
Managing and coaching a sports team comes with a long list of responsibilities and duties. While professional baseball staff get paid big money to help keep the organization running like a well-oiled machine, many coaches volunteer or get paid very little. One of the chief responsibilities of coaches is coordinating and executing weekly practices. Planning a practice can be a pain in the ass, but the trouble is worth it in the end. It is very rewarding to pull off a series of well-executed practices and see the skills of players grow and develop. The satisfying feeling of “I did that” is up there with the rare but sincere expressed gratitude of parents and players. Knowing some of the top baseball drills and workouts goes a long way to getting the most benefit from practices and ultimately leads to more wins in a competitive environment. Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail Maybe you’re a first time Little League coach and you got suckered into the coaching job by the rest of the … [Read more...]
