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...]
10 Best Baseball Cleats of 2018: Metal, Molded, & Interchangeable Options
If you want to fly around the bases at Usain Bolt like speed, you need traction you can count on. Running straight at full speed is one thing, but running the arc of the bases and tapping each as you go by involves a lot more agility. Not to mention, successfully fielding the ball and making accurate throws count on reliable footwork. When it comes to playing sports, the type of shoes you wear can make or break your performance in those crucial moments where every second matters. In this article, you'll find our top picks for the best baseball cleats currently available. There are various options to choose from when you're shopping for the ideal baseball cleat. It can be overwhelming to choose the best pair for success. Thankfully, we've created a buying guide to help you out. Read on to discover the best baseball cleats of 2018. Comparison Table: 10 Best Baseball Cleats of 2018 Here is our comparison table of the most popular baseball cleats available this year. … [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...]
The 15 Best Youth Baseball Bats 2018 Season: Reviews of Bats for Little League and Youth Big Barrel Leagues
Finding the right bat will make a huge difference in an individual’s batting average performance over the course of many games. A well-crafted bat can increase a player’s confidence and improve hitting distance. You don’t need to break the bank to get a well-performing bat, but it is a good idea to find one with the correct weight and length to match the size of the player. In this equipment guide, Dugout Debate covers all the bases: an overview of the best youth baseball bats of 2018, information on youth bat regulations, the most important things to look for, and how to pick the right bat for a youth player. All the bats that made the cut are constructed to last multiple seasons. Whether it is your first time purchasing a quality youth bat for your child or teen or you’re upgrading from an older model, there are some clear winners that are worth checking out. If you're looking for BBCOR bats for adult baseball players we have a guide here. Overview of the 15 Best Youth … [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...]
