Batting Aids
The Batting Tee: What Are The Benefits?
A batting tee is a must-have training aid for several reasons. First, hitting off a batting tee helps you establish a solid, fundamentally sound swing. Then, by repeating that swing over and over again, it becomes second-nature, so when you’re standing in the batter’s box, you don’t have to think about mechanics. You can just look for something to hit. A batting tee also allows you to work on whatever aspect of your swing you want. You can swing at 20% or 100%, work on hitting a pitch in a specific location (next section), or take a large number of swings in a relatively short amount of time. And because a tee is portable, it allows you to work on your swing from virtually anywhere, particularly if you have a hitting net, which would enable you to practice in your own backyard!
Tanner Tee Original Adjustable Batting Tee
Features:
- The hand rolled rubber FlexTop allows you to feel the ball, not the tee at contact
- Patented tee design and metal construction offers years of proven durability
- Outperforms and outlasts PVC and plastic varieties of commonly found batting tees
- Tee bases are rounded for save play and travel in your game day bag
- For youth ages 9 and above and adults
- Sets up/breaks down in seconds
- Includes base and stem
- Size: 26-43″ (adjustable)
- Weight: 6 lbs.
Tanner Tee Heavy Adjustable Batting Tee
Features:
- 10 lb. heavyweight base with a commercial grade rubber over mold for protection
- Engineered for optimal weight distribution and versatility
- New design features three contact points for maximum balance, increased stability and less creep
- Achieve any tee placement position on or off home plate without the tee leaning
- Solid steel frame built for long lasting durability
- Hand rolled rubber FlexTop allows you to feel the ball, not the tee at contact
- Heavyweight base measures approximately 15″ L x 10″ W
- For adult and youth ages 9 and above
- Includes base and stem
- Size: 26-43″ (adjustable)
Champro MVP Portable Sock Screen
Features:
- Ideal for hitting, pitching and fielding drills
- Shock absorbent steel poles connect with steel button frame for great stability
- 4′, 30-ply PE netting handles wear and tear over an extended period of time
- Assembles and folds up in minutes
- Includes convenient carrying case
- Sock net holds up to 36 balls
- Dimensions: 7′ H x 7′ W
- Weight: 10 lbs.
Training Bats: What Are The Benefits?
Using a training bat when you’re working off a tee or inside a batting cage can pay serious dividends once you step to the plate in an actual game. Swinging these types of bats repeatedly develops muscles in the hands, wrists, and forearms, making you a much stronger hitter. They also teach fundamentals. For example, the Victus Two-hand Trainer Baseball Bat puts extra weight on the knob and above the hands to develop proper swing path and mechanics. If you’re looking to improve hand strength and bat control, consider the Rawlings Big Stick One-Hand Training Bat. You can also simply take a simple, traditional wood bat with you to the cage, which can make you a stronger, more fundamentally sound hitter.
Victus 2 Handed Trainer Maple Wood Bat
Features:
- Designed to reinforce proper swing path and mechanics
- Recommended for tee work or live batting practice
- Barrel: 2.45″ (Adult), 2.25″ (Youth)
- Finish: Natural
- Weight:
- Adult: (+5) to (+7) oz. drop (weight can vary depending on wood density)
- Youth: (+3) to (+5) oz. drop (weight can vary depending on wood density)
Rawlings Big Stick One-Hand Training Bat
- Turned from the finest Northern White Ash
- Develop hand strength and bat control
- For soft toss and tee work
- Instructions included
- Length: 22″
- Weight: 1.6 lbs.
- Color: Natural
Rawlings Big Stick Elite 243 Maple Wood Bat
Features:
- Top-quality, hard maple for the best mix of performance and durability
- Cupped end allows for better feel and optimal swing weight
- Perfect for power hitters who prefer more weight in their barrel
- Weight: (-3) oz. drop (approx.)
- Pro Ink Dot ensures the best straight-grain, high performance wood was used
- Handle Size: 15/16″
- Barrel Size: 2 9/16″
- Finish: Natural/Flame Tempered
- Turning Model: 243
Fielding Aids
Foam Fielding Trainers: What Are The Benefits?
Foam fielding trainers are an inexpensive train tool that reinforces fielding fundamentals. The simple yet effective design forces fielders to look the ball in, use two hands, and catch the ball out in front of their body. In other words, use textbook technique. If you prefer a more traditional fielding glove, the Rawlings R9 9″ Infield Training Glove helps you stay down on grounders, complete quicker transfers, and perfect those show-stopping back-hand snags.
Wire2Wire Fielding Baseball Trainer
- Improves fielding skills and the transition from glove to throwing hand
- Reinforces the use of two hands and the player getting his/her body in front of the ball
- Soft foam construction with finger straps
- Fits either hand
- Appropriate for all levels of play
Rawlings 9.5″ Infield Training Glove
Features:
- Soft, durable all-leather shell designed to be game-ready
- Padded fingerback liners for a soft, comfortable feel
- Reinforced palm pad for impact reduction
- Padded thumb loop for added comfort
- Break-In Rating: 80% factory, 20% player
- Size: 9.5″
- Web Pattern: Pro I
- Back: Open
- 1-Year Warranty
Reaction Balls: What Are The Benefits?
One of the most fun (and perhaps frustrating!) pieces of training equipment are reaction balls, which will undoubtedly make you a better fielder. With their wild and unpredictable bounces, these types of balls are designed to improve speed, agility, footwork, hand-eye coordination, lateral movement, and overall quickness, which are all traits of not only good fielders but good athletes in general. They’re another inexpensive fielding tool worth its weight in gold.
Champro Reaction Ball
- Designed to bounce unpredictably and train athletes to react
- Improves reaction time and accuracy
- Develops hand/eye coordination
Strength And Conditioning
Agility Ladders: What Are The Benefits?
An agility ladder is another great training aid to have at your disposal, as with it, you have the ability to increase speed, agility, and quickness – many of the traits that make you athletic. They’re also known to improve balance, coordination, and reduce the risk of injury. This is because agility ladder drills target commonly neglected muscle groups like the lower back, abdominals, knee stabilization, and abductors. It can also be a good cardiovascular workout.
Wire2Wire Speed Ladder
- Quickly improve acceleration, lateral speed and change of direction
- Develop the core skills necessary to enhance balance, rhythm, and body control
- Rapidly increase upper level speed
- Control the intensity of workouts with different pace: slower for warming up before a workout, faster to maximize conditioning
- 11-rung design with each rung measuring 18.5″ L x 16″ W
- Length: 13′, 10″
- Includes carry bag for easy portability
- Indoor/outdoor use
Resistance Bands/Balls: What Are The Benefits?
In general, resistance bands offer a plethora of benefits including greater muscle stimulus, improved strength, stabilization/core activation, and an overall less chance of injury. If you’re a baseball player looking to take care of your arm specifically, Total Control Resistance Arm Bands are something you definitely want to take a look at. Made of natural synthetic rubber, they help develop arm strength and increase velocity. You can also opt for training balls, which are increasingly being utilized by pitchers to increase pitching velocity and by hitters, as it forces them to deliver a powerful, accurate, on-plane swing.
Total Control Resistance Arm Bands
Features:
- Made of natural synthetic rubber
- Durable, odorless, and skin-friendly
- Helps increase arm strength/prevent injuries
- Includes carry bag
Total Control Plyo Weighted Ball Training Set
Features:
- Perfect for warm-up, progressive hitting drills and training
- Designed for limited space-indoor/outdoor use
- Excellent for throwing and velocity training
- Quantity: 6-Ball Pack
- Each set contains:
- (1) Green Ball: 3.5 oz.
- (1) Yellow Ball: 5.5 oz.
- (1) Red Ball: 8 oz.
- (1) Blue Ball: 11 oz.
- (1) Black Ball: 16 oz.
- (1) Grey Ball: 32 oz.
Baseball Training Shoes
It’s important to have a pair of lightweight, comfortable shoes while training. Your feet are your foundation and set you up for everything you want to accomplish on training day, so make sure to take care of them. If your current trainer are no longer cutting it, here’s three options that offer an ideal blend of cushion, breathability, and durability.
NIKE Men’s Air Zoom Structure 24 Baseball Trainers
Features:
- Airy mesh upper engineered for durability with breathability right where you need it
- Softer and more durable lining around the heel and ankle helps keep socks from bunching up
- Grooves in the forefoot to create flexibility and vertical grooves down the side help create stability
- Crash pad under heel creates a cushioned, smooth transition from heel to toe
- Zoom Air unit in the forefoot offers responsive cushioning
- Molded heel securely hugs your foot
- Laces cinch down for a secure feel
- Cushy tongue helps pad the laces
- Durable rubber sole built for mileage
- Weight: 11.0 oz.
New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam 3000v6 Baseball Turf-Trainers
Features:
- Innovative PU-coated mesh upper is soft and breathable yet durable
- Full-length Fresh Foam midsole delivers an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Lifestyle inspired TPU heel clip
- Pull tab for ease of entry
- Low-cut silhouette
adidas Men’s Speed Trainer 5 Baseball Shoes
Features:
- Mesh upper brings a light, breathable feel
- Reinforced toe cap for added abrasion and durability in the toe area
- Durable cushioning keeps your feet comfortable all game long
- Durable rubber outsole provides superior traction
- Weight: 10.9 oz.
As you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quality baseball training equipment. You can work on the fundamentals of hitting and fielding, plus your overall athleticism with just a few items that you can take with you almost anywhere. So no excuses. Set your mind to train hard and become the best player you can be!
