http://www.softballperformance.com Softball Peak Performance Coach Marc Dagenais demonstrates teaching the body or lead arm to accelerate hitting and generate more bat speed Distributed by Tubemogul.
Duration : 1 min 24 sec
Archive for October, 2009
Softball Drills – Push Bat Swing
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at
10:00 am
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Be the Home Town Hero in Your Softball League
Monday, October 19th, 2009 at
3:25 am
Here you are in the middle of the most important softball game in your hometown's history.
You are pitching and it is down to the wire, it is the last inning, the score is 12 to 11,
two outs and if they score again on you, it is a tied game going into extra innings. You
throw your pitch, a nice high arcing offering; the batter takes a mighty cut but just grazes
the top of the ball. It rolls weakly up the third base line. Oh no you think, a little bleeder
is not going to beat your team. You rush to pick it up and throw it straight and true to
the first baseman. beating the hustling runner by half a step. You make the game winning play,
your teammates come up to congratulate you on a job well done, and you are now the hometown hero.
Plus, your pals buy you a couple of rounds at the local pub.
Plays like this takes greatness and extensive skill. However, to gain that skill it requires a
great deal of practice. Daily practice, learning how to field properly, where you should be
during the game and plays, as well as how to cover bases if you need to. A great fielder has
just what it takes to play a great game of softball; however, they will also need to have the
right equipment.
When looking for the right equipment for your softball days why not choose the same company
that more than 200 colleges and universities choose for their equipment, go with Akadema.
Akadema is well known for providing the highest quality slow pitch softball gloves around.
It is easy to see why so many softball players choose Akadema. They choose Akadema not only
for their high quality, but also for their variety in features and selection.
Softball players need a light, comfortable, and good fitting glove. Akadema's Prosoft glove
series provides just that with a wide choice of different gloves that are perfect for your game.
Akadema gloves come in right or left throw and sizes that range from 12" to 14", with a pull
strap adjustable closed back or open back configuration. The deep pocket, variety of webs and
sizes helps the softball player control the ball and play with ease. The Prosoft gloves are
made from supple leather, so break-in time is minimal.
When choosing the right glove for you, you of course will want a fielding glove appropriate
for softball. Then you will need to pick the right size: smaller gloves are generally used by
middle infielders where larger gloves are for infield corner positions, pitcher, and outfielders
. You will then need to make a choice in web design and backing. Both of which should
be chosen by what you prefer personally.
However, the most important thing about your softball glove is that it should be made with
high quality. Of course, this could cost you some money. However, Akadema gloves are priced
low considering the quality that you get. You will get many years of dependable service from
your new Akadema glove.
Scott Peters
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/be-the-home-town-hero-in-your-softball-league-65035.html
Wood Baseball Bats Versus Aluminum Baseball Bats
Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at
3:25 am
Whether you are part of the Little Leaguers, Senior Leaguers, college student's league or professionals, when it comes to baseball, the big questions that pops up is what kind of baseball bat you will use. And, if you really are a baseball player, you definitely know that the discussion is between aluminum bats and wood baseball bats.
One important piece of information you should know is that, in softball, little and senior league and college baseball, most of the bats are made up of aluminum. And yet, when it comes to professional baseball, players say that wood baseball bats are a must. You are now probably wondering what you should choose between these two baseball bat types. And that is why we are here, to discuss the pros and the cons of each type.
Nowadays, baseball bats can be purchased for as low as $25, but you can also buy more expensive $500 bats. A professional player will not choose a bat according to its price, and it all boils down to how he "feels" it. In the professional league, only wood bats are used, and Major League Baseball does not even allow corked bats. Most of the bats are made of ash, but maple, bamboo and hickory are also choices for baseball bats. Lately, more and more players gave up to hickory bats, as they are much heavier than the rest of the woods. Many are now opting for maple bats. Maple baseball bats are increasingly more popular because of its hardness and durability.
Some players also say that they prefer wood baseball bats because of the traditional look and feel. The sound made when the bat hits the ball is vastly different. They say a "crack" sounds way better than the "ping" sound of an aluminum bats hitting the ball.
But aluminum baseball bats are very popular too. They are often seen in all the different baseball leagues, except the professional ones. Why is this? Well, simply because a ball hit with an aluminum bat gets more speed. But this is a positive thing you might say. In fact things are not exactly like that. Due to the fact that they are lighter, a greater distance of the ball can now be achieved with less batter strength. And due to that, several players were injured. Due to the fierceness of the rebound of the aluminum bat, the reaction time of the pitchers is smaller. To prove this, in 1970, when aluminum baseball bats were firstly introduced, the batting average rose 30 points, and home run hits doubled. The game is simply not the same with lighter bats made from aluminum or other materials.
Overall though, buying a baseball bat is a personal decision. You'll definitely want to go with a baseball bat manufacturer that offers lots of customization so you can build the baseball bat most suitable to your size, weight, height and strength. Many also prefer to choose their colors and add a signature but few bat manufacturers allow such customization and personalization due to manufacturing cost factors. So if you are not a professional baseball player, you simply choose the baseball bat that suits you best.
Michael Shapiro
http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/wood-baseball-bats-versus-aluminum-baseball-bats-113757.html
Slow Pitch Softball Bats
Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at
1:11 pm
The first version of softball was invented in Chicago, Illinois, 1887 by George Hancock as a winter version of baseball. It was intended to be a way for baseball players to keep in practice during the winter. At the time, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball". Efforts to organize softball on a national basis didn't materialize until 1933 when Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley, a Chicago Sporting Goods salesman, conceived the idea of organizing thousands of teams in America into cohesive state and metro organizations and state/metro organizations into a national organization.
To bring the teams together, Fisher and Pauled invited them to participate in a tournament in conjunction with the '33 World's Fair in Chicago. With the backing of the Chicago American newspaper, Pauley and Fisher invited 55 teams to participate in the tournament. Teams were divided into three classes--fastballers, slow pitch and women.
Sixteen-inch softball, also sometimes referred to as "mush ball" or "super-slow pitch", is a direct descendant of Hancock's original game. Defensive players are not allowed to wear fielding gloves; however, a 16-inch softball is actually soft, and can be fielded safely with bare hands. Sixteen-inch softball is played extensively in Chicago and New Orleans. In New Orleans, sixteen-inch softball is called "Cabbage Ball" and is a popular team sport in area elementary and high schools. Different teams and leagues began to grow all over the northeast.
Chicago while credited with the development saw teams popping up in Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts. Then the great gold rush took easterners west to gain riches and along with them they brought there sports, which helped develop the west coasts teams.
Even though softball started as an indoor version of baseball, these two games have evolved into two completely separate sports with different sets of rules and playing conditions. Both of them involve four main activities or skills: throwing, including pitching and fielding; catching; batting; and base running.
The main difference in how these games are played is the technique by which the ball is pitched to the batter. Some of the rules in baseball and softball are similar too. For example, slap bunting rules are the same for both but used more often in softball. Substitution rules are basically the same, but differences are present here too.
Fast pitch softball is played with a twelve-inch ball, and metal bats. The distance between the each base is 60 feet long each base. From the pitchers mound to home plate it measures 43 feet in length. The pitching circle is 12 feet in diameter. From all these characteristics, you can say that baseball and softball are not sports based on player strength, but of explosion and intelligence.
There is no technical difference between Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch softball bats. They are all softball bats legal in either game you play.
Fast pitch bats are marketed more for young girls and some have bottle barrels for inside pitches. Ninety nine percent of slow pitch bats are 34" and between 26 and 30 ounces. Fast pitch bats are made shorter and lighter. As long as the bat is certified for your league and does not exceed 1.20 BPF, you can use it for slow or fast pitch, men or women.
Most college women and almost all adult male fastpitch players use slow pitch bats. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association, and within a decade had surpassed fast pitch in popularity
Softball Bat Materials And Legal Issues
Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at
11:55 am
Softball bats were at one time made chiefly of wood, but advances in technology have introduced materials such as aluminum, graphite, and composites. Each material has its positive and unique features.
Wood: Wood softball bats are very rare but are slowly regaining favor with softball enthusiasts who would rather hear a whack and not a ping when the bat meets ball. A wood softball bat is bottle-shaped and can weigh between 32-35 ounces (around 8 ounces heavier than an aluminum bat). Traditionally, wood bats have been made from ash. However, ash is light and soft and bats made from ash tend to splinter and dent fast. Wood from maple, oak, and bamboo is also used for these bats. Maple is harder and its grain is denser as compared to ash, making it less susceptible to splintering and chafing. Bats made from Chinese bamboo are the closest wood bat equivalent of an aluminum bat. Bamboo is extremely light-weight and ha a tensile strength higher than that of steel.
Aluminum: The increased research and engineering in the science of bat making has resulted in high-tech aluminum softball bats that can cost upward of $300. Aluminum bats are lighter thereby enabling batters to generate greater bat speed and control. They are stronger and more durable than wood bats and they do not break; however, they may dent or crack over a period of time. Aluminum bats are available in different alloy and weight combinations. Light aluminum alloys that are thinner are more resilient and provide a larger hitting zone or "sweet spot". Aluminum bats are made in single-layer and double-layer combinations; double-layer bats are used by the power-hitters.
Graphite/Titanium lined: Aluminum bats are lined with graphite or titanium. These light, durable, and strong materials are added to aluminum bats with thin walls in order to make the bats lighter. Lighter bats help batters to generate more power in their swing. Bats lined with graphite or titanium have a greater hitting zone or "sweet spot". These materials are shock-absorbent as well and aid in reducing the shock felt when a stroke is mistimed.
Composite materials: Bats made from composite materials such as carbon, glass, or Kevlar are light weight, rigid, and sturdy. Composite materials enable bat manufacturers to incorporate varying strengths and stiffness in different parts of a bat. The result is a bat with stiff bat handles for greater control, low stiffness hitting areas for better performance and reduced shock, and differentiated swing weights. Bats made from composite materials have a large hitting surface with a more pronounced "sweet spot". However, the extreme velocities at which the ball rebounds off the bat can pose a safety hazard to the pitcher who has to react in a very limited time.
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Miken Freak Original MSF 34 27 Slowpitch Softball Bat |  |
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Softball Bats That Are Prohibited
If your league is anything like most leagues in Colorado, you probably receive a list of illegal bats at the beginning of each softball season. Maybe the list is handed out at your manager's meeting, or maybe it is posted on your softball league's website, either way, you need to be conscience of that list when selecting a bat.
Why are there illegal bats?
There are two main reasons that softball leagues issue illegal bat lists. The first is for the protection of the players, mainly the pitcher. Every day the bat companies are inventing new technologies that are equipping players essentially with bats that more resemble artillery launchers than traditional softball bats. This puts the pitcher, in particular in danger. Depending on your league rules, the pitcher will be around 40-50 feet from the mound after the release. (Also, depending on your league rules, the pitcher may be 4 or 5 beers into the evening after the release).
The strength of some of the players, combined with the new technology of the bats put the pitcher in a very precarious position as a line drive comes scream towards his/her head. And don't forget the pitcher isn't the only one who should be concerned for their safety, infielders, particularly third base and shortstop, when righties are up, and second base and first base, with lefties, also can get quite a lump on the noggin from a hot shot off some of these enhanced technology bats.
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The second reason behind issuing illegal bats is fairness of play. Recreational softball should not be won by the team that can pay the most for bats, and rest assured the newer the technology, the higher the price.
Recreational softball is played by millions so that they can go out and have fun for an hour or so a week. If a team is plunking homerun after homerun into the lake on the other side of the fence, the game will get tedious and boring. Restricting the power behind the bats, will keep more balls in the park and make the game more fun for both teams.
These are the two main reasons that recreational softball leagues issue an illegal bat list. Before you purchase a bat, make sure you check the illegal bat list for your league.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/softball-bat-materials-and-legal-issues-475481.html
Author: Jeffrey Fang
About the Author:
The author's web site cheap fast pitch softball bats provides information about cheap fast pitch softball bats and Stealth Comp Fastpitch Softball Bats Sale.
Softball Bats on Amazon
| Easton SRV5 Salvo Slow-Pitch Softball Bat, 34/27 |
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Overall Rating: |
| List Price: $229.95 |
| Amazon Price: $139.95 |
| Easton SX72 RefleX Slow-Pitch Softball Bat (34/30) |
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Overall Rating: |
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| Reebok 2011 Melee Legend 34-Inch Sr. Slow Pitch Softball Bat, 28-Ounce |
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Overall Rating: |
| List Price: $199.99 |
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| Easton SCN15BH Stealth Trizone BH Slow Pitch Softball Bat (34 Inch/30 Oz) |
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Overall Rating: |
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| Louisville Slugger 2012 TPS Warrior Slow Pitch Softball Bat (34-Inch/30-Ounce) |
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Overall Rating: |
| List Price: $99.99 |
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Softball Bats on Ebay
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MIKEN MSDC41 DC41 Denny Crine Supermax Softball Bat 27 oz 34 27 USSSA ISA NSA US $145.95 |
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Easton Synergy SCX24B 32 22 Fastpitch Softball Bat 10 US $225.00 |
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Worth Resmondo 454 Unlimited 27oz Greg Connell Extreme Performance Softball Bat US $299.95 |
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Worth Resmondo 454 Unlimited 28oz Greg Connell Extreme Performance Softball Bat US $299.95 |
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New Nakona Renagade ASA softball bat 34 28oz in wrapper US $125.00 |
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Easton Synergy Fastpitch Softball Bat US $80.00 |