I play in a men’s recreational league and I have not been consistent at the plate this year. I have hit to the fence before and hit doubles and triples at times, but recently I will only have only 3-4 solid hits during a double header.

I’m in my 30’s. I strength train twice a week during the season. My biggest weakness is a bad right knee and right quad. Both are always sore during the season.

I go to the batting cages twice a week, but recently it doesn’t appear that the cage work is helping. My stance is shoulder width. My grip is pinky off the bat handle. I hold the bat at ear level. I use the same bats as the other guys on my team, so it’s not the bat that’s the problem.

Any suggestions?

By: nashvilleghost

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You can see them all around the Softball park, swinging their bats, hitting at imaginary targets and sometimes practicing at objects, improving their strength all the time. The force behind the swing of the batters can be tremendous. The truth is, it is not the strength behind the swing that only matters. It is also the kind of bat one uses.

How to pick the right bat?

The Length

To pick the correct bat length, the bat should be long enough to reach your wrist when you are standing straight with arms on your size. With the tip of the bat touching the ground to your wrist will very most likely the most comfortable bat length that you can pick.

The Weight

Every softball player has his own individual requirement especially when it comes to carrying out weights. The rule of the thumb when picking the correct bat weight is to try out the bat first. See if the player can swing the bat comfortably and control the swing with both hands without strain. The bat has to be the heaviest that the player can swing without loss of speed. If the bat does not fall into these categories, look for another one. It does not matter if the bat chosen is the most expensive and the most beautifully crafted with the most advanced material. If the player will be sacrificing these, the player will only be having a good top of the line, technically crafted bat. You can not say that for his swings.

Whatever the case, always take a bat that is light. Lighter bats can be swung faster and the resulting distance could be farther.

Having said that, here are ways to pick legal bats.

Advancement in technology has created bats where the softball bats can fit and be comfortably swung by players of all ages and built. Even the less technically proficient can today, swing the softball bat and hit the ball at speeds that can pose a serious problem with the pitcher and the infielders. Technically advanced bats can also ruin the game, as players would rely more and more on the more expensive multiple alloys instead of having fun and developing the skill. For these reasons, many softball organizations started banning specific bats and having guidelines for softball bat specifications. Some of these standards are:

The BTF or the Bat Performance Factor has to be 1.20 certified.

The Ball to Exit Ratio has to have a 97-MPH BESR on a normally thrown pitch.

The bats must have a smooth safety grip not just tapes.

The ideal softball bat in the hands of a good player translates to the game Americans love. To prepare for a good batting positions here are a few suggestions:

Loosen up. Twist back and forth, bend up and down, do a stationary jog, do anything to loosen up the muscles. If you have a good bat speed, fluidity in movement will give you the power.

Use a carbon based softball bat. Carbons perform better than aluminum.

When you are batting, distribute your weight on both feet. When the ball is in the level between your shoulders and your chest, hit it. Hitting the ball in that position is just giving it another direction. The power that you smash it with will give it the distance.



By: Robert Thatcher

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It seems that for such a simple, single-purpose object like a baseball bat, it would be easy to buy one for your athletic son or daughter. But the truth is, there are all kinds of baseball bats. Fear not, the following basics will guide you in the right direction to getting the sure-shot baseball bat your son or daughter desire.

In official leagues, youth baseball bats are sometimes traditional and wooden but more often than not, they are aluminum. Aluminum bats weren’t truly introduced until the 1970’s and these youth baseball bats are smaller, lighter, but a lot more powerful, than their wooden counterparts. So when shopping for your child’s baseball bat, first investigate what kind of bat is required for their league and then determine what length and width is preferable. From then on, it’s mostly about body composition and the way the bat interacts with the body during swinging motion.

Longer bats have a better chance of hitting that ball, but the lighter the bat, the more powerful a batter’s swing and the faster and farther the ball will go! Also, a thick barrel on a baseball bat can mean a more powerful hit, but at the same time it will also weigh down the bat. It all comes down to your preferred batting style.

For the best prices out there, compare youth baseball bats on the web with those of your local sports equipment stores – you can usually save a lot of money online. Also, since you are not allowed to swing a baseball bat around at a store, sometimes practicing with different bats at a batting range is a good way to pick out the prefect baseball bat.



By: Jeremy Tang

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Take a boy to the ball field and guess what he will pick up for the first time… a glove or a bat? Right. Just about everybody who plays baseball, or who ever thought of playing baseball, loves to bat. Some players have the gift of being “born” hitters; that is, they are blessed with excellent eyesight, quick reflexes, strong wrists and husky shoulders. These players usually become the better batters, but that does not mean the average player with normal build and strength cannot become a moderately successful batter.

Selecting a Bat – Take a bat and swing it. If it feels “good” and is not too heavy or not too light, try it out. Do not use a bat that is too long, stay away from a bat that is too short. To help you select the right type of bat, remember that the average school player uses one that is about thirty-four inches long. Also, the weight of the bat is equal to one ounce for each inch. Thus a 34-34 bat, in length and weight, is just about average.

Stance – Many batters approach the plate and do not know how close, or how far, to stand from the plate. Some batters wonder whether they should stand in front of the batter’s box, others cannot decide whether it is best to place their feet to the rear of the batter’s box. None of this is important in the learning stage of batting, but what is important is that the batter makes himself comfortable at the plate.

When a batter takes his stance, he is taking one of three stances: the parallel stance, the closed stance, the open stance. Each stance has its advantages, but the batter who feels most comfortable in any of the three should use that particular stance.

Again, just which stance to assume is strictly a matter of choice and comfort. However, the more advanced player may, on occasion, switch stances according to the type of pitcher he is facing, or the situation in the game.

In the closed stance only the front foot (the left if a right-handed batter, the right if a left-handed batter) is closer to the plate.

In the parallel stance both feet are the same distance from the inside batter’s box line closest to the plate.

Spread – The spread of the feet is also a matter of individual taste. Some batters prefer to keep their feet close together thus making for a longer stride when swinging at the pitch. Others will take a medium spread, thus shortening the stride; and there are some batters who will take a wide spread and therefore cut down their stride to a minimum.

The average hitter normally spreads his feet about seventeen to nineteen inches and many coaches recommend this spread distance. The power hitter, however, will use a shorter spread since he gets most of his strength from a longer stride. Joe DiMaggio had just about the widest of all spreads and his stride was one of the shortest. But the average batter should not attempt to imitate great batters in spread and stride unless he feels comfortable doing it.

It is not good for the beginning player to take too close a spread because it may cause a lunge in the stride. The stride should be smooth and quick, therefore the proper spread is most important.

Grip – Just as in choosing a bat, taking a stance and assuming a spread, comfort dictates, for the most part, just how to grip the bat. Some batters keep their hands together; others may leave a bit of space between the hands when gripping the bat. No matter what type of grip, hands together or apart, the bat is not to be gripped too tightly.

By keeping the fingers securely, but not tightly, around the bat and the fingers aligned on the bat, the batter can get a better snap of the wrists when meeting the ball. Grip a bat too tightly and the arm muscles automatically tighten up thus permitting no wrist action.

Grasp these basics of baseball batting, and you will be off to a great start.



By: Jimmy Cox

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There may be times when you are pressured to come up with great presents for the kids and the youth that are close to you. Fanciful gifts are usually out of the question in these trying times; and some gaming consoles and games are beyond reach. So what special gifts are cheaper yet the youth will also enjoy? How about going down to the basics and go for sporting goods accessories that never go out of style.

A great gift any time of the year

Most youth baseball bats will come in a lot cheaper than traditional gifts plus playing the game will promote a healthier body. If you like the good points of getting a bat as a gift, then you need to do some research first to know the different considerations that come into play when selecting the right one. If the bat is going to be used in little league, then most of the time, the bats are going to be made of aluminum and the weight to length ratio should not be greater than minus ten. For example, if the bat is thirty inches long and weighs 20 ounces then the bat could be used in little league.  If you are not sure about your league rules then you should ask an official what their official rules are.

Choose depending on the needs and the intention of the player

The different materials used in making the youth baseball bats also make a difference. If they are made from aluminum then you can expect them to be lighter and most importantly, more powerful than the traditional wood-based bat. With this in mind it is imperative that you ask the recipient first where he or she will use the bat and if possible ask also the preferred material in the league he or she is in. The measurement and the weight of the bat will also come into play. When these factors are taken into consideration, then the perfect match of youth baseball bats can be chosen and the only thing that the recipient has to worry about will be how to perfect his or her swing.

Choose the right length and weight

In terms of measurement of the youth baseball bats, it is suggested to take a good look at the length of the bat. If the bat is long, the player will be able to cover more of the hitting zone. And if it is lighter, then this can allow the player to have a more powerful swing which means the ball can travel faster and farther. Look out for the presence of the thick barrel on the bat. This will normally allow the player to hit the ball harder and cover more of the hitting zone. Simply put the right choice will all boil down to the batting style and size of the player. Baseball bats are widely available in the market now and offered by many brands. Look at this in a positive manner since you can actually choose and compare the best prices of the bats. Shopping can be done online or you can do it the usual way. No matter where you find your next youth baseball bats, make sure you do the research to find the best match.



By: Allen Arnold

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batting

There are a number of points that you should keep in mind while choosing a baseball bat.

Some factors include level of play, size of the batter, cost and comfort.

The comfort of the baseball bat is definitely the most important governing factor. As with any piece of accessory or equipment associated with sports, you must ensure that the baseball bat is comfortable to handle—the more it is comfortable the better you would be able to play the game. To judge its comfort level take a few swings of the baseball bat and also try to picture yourself playing the game with it. Better still, if any of your friends has a bat of the same make and company, you can borrow it for some time to judge your comfort level. A swing in the store may not feel the same as it would feel in real situations. In case you are choosing a bat for the younger players make sure that they are able to swing the bat without too much effort. Young players struggling to swing bats that are too big for them is a common sight.

The next factor that you should consider is the size of the bat. This includes the length and weight of the baseball bat. As a general rule, the length of the baseball bat should depend of the height of the batter; the taller the batter the longer should be the baseball bat.

The next point you should consider while choosing a baseball bat is the level of play. Keep in mind that baseball bats are measured using their length to weight ratio, a negative number that represents how many ounces a bat weighs compared to its length in inches. Make sure to check the regulations of your league before buying a baseball bat. This is because every level from little league through major league has different regulations regarding what bat sizes and materials are allowed.

If you are interested in buying baseball bats, check out the maple and ash baseball bats by X BATS. The baseball bats by XBATS are customized to your requirements. The wood baseball bats come in either maple or ash. You can choose from 27 different models, and 32 different colors. In addition to custom colors, XBATS offers free baseball bat personalization with every wood baseball bat order. You can even get your signature on your bat just like the professionals.



By: Mark Alter

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There may be times when you are pressured to come up with great presents for the kids and the youth that are close to you. Fanciful gifts are usually out of the question in these trying times; and some gaming consoles and games are beyond reach. So what special gifts are cheaper yet the youth will also enjoy? How about going down to the basics and go for sporting goods accessories that never go out of style.

A great gift any time of the year

Most youth baseball bats will come in a lot cheaper than traditional gifts plus playing the game will promote a healthier body. If you like the good points of getting a bat as a gift, then you need to do some research first to know the different considerations that come into play when selecting the right one. If the bat is going to be used in little league, then most of the time, the bats are going to be made of aluminum and the weight to length ratio should not be greater than minus ten. For example, if the bat is thirty inches long and weighs 20 ounces then the bat could be used in little league.  If you are not sure about your league rules then you should ask an official what their official rules are.

Choose depending on the needs and the intention of the player

The different materials used in making the youth baseball bats also make a difference. If they are made from aluminum then you can expect them to be lighter and most importantly, more powerful than the traditional wood-based bat. With this in mind it is imperative that you ask the recipient first where he or she will use the bat and if possible ask also the preferred material in the league he or she is in. The measurement and the weight of the bat will also come into play. When these factors are taken into consideration, then the perfect match of youth baseball bats can be chosen and the only thing that the recipient has to worry about will be how to perfect his or her swing.

Choose the right length and weight

In terms of measurement of the youth baseball bats, it is suggested to take a good look at the length of the bat. If the bat is long, the player will be able to cover more of the hitting zone. And if it is lighter, then this can allow the player to have a more powerful swing which means the ball can travel faster and farther. Look out for the presence of the thick barrel on the bat. This will normally allow the player to hit the ball harder and cover more of the hitting zone. Simply put the right choice will all boil down to the batting style and size of the player. Baseball bats are widely available in the market now and offered by many brands. Look at this in a positive manner since you can actually choose and compare the best prices of the bats. Shopping can be done online or you can do it the usual way. No matter where you find your next youth baseball bats, make sure you do the research to find the best match.



By: Allen Arnold

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batting