Posts Tagged ‘jugs pitching machine’
Posted by admin on Jun 12th
Automate your Jugs Pitching Machine for an Easier Practice Session
Pitching machine accessories are very important for anyone using either a baseball pitching machine or a softball pitching machine. This article will explain the many pitching machine accessories available.
Auto feeders make it possible to practice by yourself. Auto feeders normally come with 6 second intervals. May be used with any pitching machine. You can get auto feeders that feed a different amount of balls. Auto feeders are availabe for your baseball pitching machine, softball pitching machine or both. They are available with either a cordless remote or a cord remote on/off switch. A power generator is an electric power source for your pitching machine in locations where there is no electric outlet. A pitch selector allows you to feed fastballs and off speed pitches without the batter knowing which pitch is coming.
The selector is set up for fastballs on one side and off speed pitches on the other side. The pitch selector allows for ample timing of when the ball will be pitched. Covers help protect your pitching machine. Dimpled balls are the best baseballs and softballs for your auto feeder. Dimpled balls will pitch more consistently than leather balls because there is a consistent surface on the ball. Also leather balls because of the abrasive nature of the seams, will wear out your pitching machine wheels faster. A machine caddy makes an easy transport cart for your machine. Batting cages or backdrops are very useful for anyone using a pitching machine when they are alone.
I hope this article will help you when you are deciding which accessories you should use with your pitching machine.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/pitching-machine-accessories-941006.html
Author: eugene rischall
About the Author:
Author-Eugene Rischall, Owner, Baseball Training Emporiumwww.baseballtrainingemporium.com
Technorati Tags: baseball pitching machine, jugs pitching machine, softball pitching machine
Posted by admin on May 19th
I started playing baseball at age 8. As a talented player in my teens and twenties I played on traveling baseball all-star teams while also competing in, and winning, martial arts tournaments. During this time I developed a unique and innovative "system" that integrated my martial arts skills INTO my baseball skills. The results were amazing!
I'm now 59 years of age and I still play over 80 games per year on an elite traveling senior softball team in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. All players are over 50 years old. I have worked on perfecting this unique "system" for over 40 years and it's still very effective.
I'm going to give you a glimpse into these "secret" techniques to help you improve your baseball hitting. You will be required to "think outside the box" with these techniques, but they have been proven to work without fail.
Let's try a simple technique...
The Secret Of The 2" Hip Turn.
Pick up your bat right now and get into your normal batting stance. Take a few swings using the normal physical movements you are used to. Take mental note of your body position in your stance. Now before you swing again consciously rotate your hips just 2 inches backwards, away from the pitcher. Think about this 2 inches in your mind as you're in your stance. Feel these 2 inches. Now take your normal swing with this extra 2 inches of hip rotation.
You will be able to "feel" the difference in your swing. This simple 2 inch change in your hip rotation has just added much more force to your normal hitting power. Your swing will feel much more "free." This small 2 inch hip turn "frees" up your swing and adds more power when you make ball contact. It will take some time to adjust to this change and you must remember to consciously think about it each time you step to the plate. But once you become comfortable with this simple technique and it's timing you will see a dramatic improvement in the power you generate with the bat. I guarantee it.
In Okinawa Shorei-Ryu martial arts all power punches are thrown beginning at the hips. The fist starts next to the hip, and just before the point of contact the hip is turned in perfect timing with the fist. This hip turn generates tremendous force through the arm, out the fist, and into the target. The more the hip is turned, the more power the punch generates.
I learned to apply this force generated with the martial arts hip turn into my baseball hitting and the results were amazing after just a short time of practice. If you take the time to practice this you will see a marked difference in the power you generate with the bat in a short period of time.
Let's take a look at another mental technique that can help you improve your hitting power...
Generate Power With The "Imaginary Tree Roots" Technique.
Okinawa Shorei-Ryu teaches us how to mentally "draw" power up from the ground and utilize it physically. When we throw a punch we mentally imagine our feet are rooted to the ground like a tree. We mentally "see in our mind" the roots attached to our feet anchored deep into the ground below us. This mental technique gives us what we call "ground power."
A punch thrown utilizing this mental technique increases the actual force generated physically. We mentally draw massive power from the ground and this generates more physical force into our hand strikes. It can also generate more force into a baseball bat.
When in your batting stance mentally picture that your back foot (your push-off foot) has imaginary tree limbs attached to it and they are rooted deep into the ground. These tree roots are attached to the bottom of your foot. Think about how solid this "push-off" foot anchors your stance with these roots buried deep into the ground. Now when you begin your bat swing picture in your mind the massive power you are drawing up from the ground through these roots.
This power is coming out of the ground, into your body, up through your arms and hands, and out into the bat. Picture it vividly in your mind. Work with the timing of your physical swing as you hold this picture in your mind. Practice it over and over. Once you get the physical timing tuned with the mental picture it will produce results for you.
This technique takes practice to learn. Any new skill, mental or physical, takes practice. But the benefits it produces are well worth the time spent to utilize it. This technique has been practiced by martial artists for centuries and has been proven to work. And it will produce results when hitting a baseball.
The next technique is simple, and can be learned in about 5 seconds. It is powerful and can be used immediately...
Improve Your Balance/Power With The Secret "Grab The Ground With Your Toes" Technique.
Okinawa Shorei-Ryu martial artists improve their balance by learning to "grab the ground with their toes" prior to making a move. Sounds crazy doesn't it? But I'll prove to you that it works.
Stand in your normal batting stance again. Your weight should be evenly distributed between the balls of your feet and your heels. Most players never actually think about how this weight distribution affects their balance. But without good balance you cannot generate any true power.
Now simply curl your toes downward and mentally and physically "grab the ground" below you with your toes. This is a very simple technique but when you curl your toes downward you will instantly "feel" more balanced and powerful. It's a subtle feeling, but it's there an 1ff8 d you can feel it. Try it. Don't strain to "grab" the ground, just do it easily. You'll feel the increase in balance immediately. And when you swing the bat with this simple technique you are swinging with more balance in your stance.
This is a technique that you can use immediately to add power to your hitting. Practice it.
I'd like to talk about the importance of relaxation when in the batter's box. Being able to relax until just the "right time" will improve your hitting with this next technique.
Relax And Explode Your 'Focused Energy' In A Controlled 'Burst.'
Most batters are tense and rigid when standing in the batter's box. The pressure is on to get a hit. But when you're tense and rigid you cannot "transfer" and "release" your true power into the bat. When you swing and hit the ball in this state your power is "locked" inside you. You cannot "release" it properly with it's full force. Muscular tension before your swing acts as a brake to powerful hitting.
When a martial artist is fighting an opponent he learns to stay relaxed during the confrontation. By staying relaxed his physical movements are free and flowing and controlled. He has speed and quickness in a relaxed state. Muscular tension slows down all physical movements and restricts quickness and speed. But when he strikes he tenses all muscles in his body and delivers the blow with a "focused burst" of his total energy into the target upon contact. This relaxed state works extremely well when hitting a baseball also.
While in your batting stance you should be totally relaxed, not tense and rigid. When the pitcher winds up and delivers the pitch and you decide to commit to swing at it you instantly tense all muscles and mentally "shoot" your energy out of the bat and into the ball at the point of impact. You mentally and physically "explode" all of your "focused energy" into the bat.
By being relaxed before this point you are allowing all your power to "flow" into the bat in this "focused burst" of intense energy. By not being tense and rigid before this point you don't "lock" your power inside you. When you're relaxed up to this "explosive burst" you "release" all your power at the precise time of it's total intensity. Your true power is transferred into the ball through the bat and a focused concentration of energy and power is produced.
Popular jugs pitching machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo 
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
This may sound complicated to you at this point, but with dedicated practice it becomes very easy to master this technique. It's a matter of timing the tension of the muscles with the exhalation of your breath at the precise moment you touch the ball with your bat.
And once you become proficient at it you will quickly move up several levels in your hitting skills. For the first time in your life you begin to think of relaxing at the plate and "explosive bursts," and "releasing" your power, and "focused energy." You're no longer tense and rigid with your power "locked" inside you. Once you're exposed to this new way of thinking it grows on you. It stays in your mind. You begin thinking of it more and more and you begin to improve your skills. You see it's true power.
To end this 'sample' of my "secret system" I would like to ask you a question. How good do you want to be, and how far are you willing to go to be the best you can be?
When I was young I was not the most gifted natural athlete on my teams. But I became one of the best on just about every team I ever played on. And I did this by outworking the more talented players. In my free time after school and baseball practice I decided to "practice on my own time."
I would go into the garage at our house and simply swing my bat 200-300 times each and every night by myself. I did this 7 days a week It only took 20-30 minutes. In one week I had swung my bat at least 1,750 times. In one month I had swung my bat over 7,000 times more than the rest of the players on my team. My ability to swing freely improved tremendously. My hitting improved dramatically. Doing this can make a huge difference in your hitting?
Practicing "on your own time" will make a huge difference in your skill level. Are you one of the few willing to put in this extra work? How bad do you want to be one of the best? Most players won't do this. But if you want to move up to the next level and you commit to doing this you will reap tremendous rewards. I guarantee it!
You can then move on to using a pitching machine and there are none better than a Jugs pitching machine
Author: Doug Allan Dammeier
Doug Allan Dammeier, known as "CoachDoug," lives in the mountains of western Washington state. If you are interested in a complete copy of his 'Okinawa Martial Arts Secret System Of Baseball/Softball Hitting" you can email him for more information at coachdoug60@seattle-mariners.net This 'secret system' is chocked full of unique and innovative techniques to give you that 'extra edge' to your game
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Allan_Dammeier
Technorati Tags: Baseball Hitting, jugs pitching machine
Posted by admin on May 9th
When you are trying to be good at baseball or softball, you may want to try to get your hitting down pack. Hitting is all about the timing so you must have the proper instructions when it comes to learning to hit. You should have the proper timing when to swing and when to shift your weight. You can learn this by having practice with a jugs pitching machine.
You may want to also watch the pitchers arm and the release of the ball. There are many different styles of jugs pitching machines to help you do this. An arm style-pitching machine is the only type of machine that will give you the same sense of timing. With each one of these pitches you will see the machine's arm wind up and release the ball. It is the realistic sense of the machine that allows you to practice the same facts in the batting cages as you can on the baseball field.
Many batting cages have these pitching machines that will help with specific procedures when it comes to batting. When you are serious about learning to bat and be good at it, you should start on the pitching machines as soon as possible. You will learn how to bat and even how to pitch at the same time. You will be able to take notice of the machines and learn as you go.
There are many different models of pitching machines. When you are looking to find the right one for you, you should make sure that you do your research. Figure out the areas you need to improve so that you can get the machine that will work best for these situations. Many of the machines will allow you time to adjust to them so that you can get the proper feel and begin the pitching process.
Popular Jugs Pitching Machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
There are machines for all ages too. You can find the right machines to help with fast pitch, slow pitch, and even tee ball. These jugs pitching machines can help with all aspects of the sport. No matter what the age of the person or the type of pitching that you are trying to improve on. No matter what style you are trying to do.
When you find the right pitching machine, you should try to spend as much time on it as possible. The more that you work at it, the better you will become. It is a game about practice and skill and you need to work hard at it. When you have spare time, use it wisely and take advantage of the pitching machines in your area.
Author: Agust Hauksson
Agust Hauksson. Agust is a regular contributor of articles to many online publications. Find more great information at: http://www.pitching-machine.org/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Agust_Hauksson
Technorati Tags: jugs pitching machine, jugs softball pitching machine
Posted by admin on May 5th
Once you have stepped up to the plate and starred down the pitcher, there is only one weapon of choice, a big stick. Baseball training, good training, leads to great baseball hitting. We all want to hit it out of the park whether it's at a company picnic or with friends doing the baseball pitching for fun. Swinging and missing just makes the pitcher shiver, there is an art to hitting a baseball. When mind and body connect with the bat and ball, it could be your shot heard round the world.
Swinging a bat takes more than just motion, it takes poetry in motion. Watch any major leaguer and he's not hoping he will hit, he is gearing up to smash it. The main focus on hitting a baseball is transfer of motion. You may have read or heard somewhere that Babe Ruth struck out more times that he hit home runs, it's true, but his RBI stats are seldom recognized. Why? It's because he was known as a home run hitter.
Popular jugs pitching machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
Before you can crush the ball and loosen the stitches, you have to learn what it takes to hit it first. Many people who have played baseball for a team when they were younger practiced a lot, probably more than they wanted to. They hit thousands of pitches and sometimes just making contact with the ball is refreshing enough. But those who want to hit it continuously know that the mind and body have to work together. You've got to train yourself to know where and when to swing.
Text is no substitute for practice, reading about how to hit a baseball effectively will only get you past the first page, but not past first base. To know how to hit you've got to get out there and get a feel for what it takes. Whether it's a pitching machine that's eating your tokens or a real live cannon in polyester, finding out where the strike zone is at means all the difference. You have to feel in control of your swing.
There are several ways to train your eye to see a baseball; you know the standard color is white. You can gauge when it's coming because your eye can see it, but how do you know when to swing? Swinging a baseball bat is like swinging a golf club, you keep your arms straight, and you use a fluid motion to transfer your power from one part of your body, your legs, to your arms. You can also practice with colored baseballs, train your eye to see the ball coming, it's the trajectory that you memorize. Hitting is an instinct; hone it to your advantage.
You can also set up a Wiffleball set in your backyard, continuously repeating the motion of bringing your arms across your body towards the ball will become second nature. Make contact and feel the shift in your hips. It doesn't matter if you bat right or left, the same standard movements apply. Get a good stance that holds you to the ground but doesn't anchor you. The balls of your feet are your spring, don't bounce too much or your upper body will have to compensate. Practice swinging a few times at hitting an imaginary ball, feel the motion that it takes to swing.
Once you have the familiar movement in your mind then you can understand what your body is supposed to do when a pitch is coming at you. When you swing at a pitch it's very important to not take your eye off the ball, of course you can't watch a pitch come all the way down the pike, which defeats the purpose. But you can know your swing will be consistent every time if you practice the motion of hitting. Knowing when to swing is also very important.
The strike zone is measured from the batters elbows to their kneecaps while they are at the plate. If you get down to low then the pitcher is going to throw lower to get you to chase those pitches called "worm burners". If you stand too tall then he'll be throwing "chin ticklers". Bending your legs slightly and resting on the balls of your feet will have him throwing right in your comfortable strike zone. You have to concentrate on your swing more than hitting the ball, if it's in the zone you'll get a piece of it. A hit is a hit.
When you have determined that swinging a bat and hitting a baseball takes the mind and body working together you'll begin to understand the science behind it. Baseball hitting isn't just stepping up to the plate and reacting, it's knowing the motion it takes to hit and achieving the process. There is baseball training that is designed to help you hit the ball with confidence and with power so you can get on base. Or, if you want to hit it out of the park.
Baseball pitching by a jugs pitching machine or by someone helping your practice should trigger your brain and signal your body what stance to get in to. Knowing that the ball is coming into your strike zone and knowing the motion in takes to connect with the ball will help you become a better hitter
If you are consistent with your stance and know that your shoulders and hips are the real powerhouse you'll be invited back to that friendly baseball hitting in the park every weekend.
Author: Chris Moheno
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically
His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game
Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
Technorati Tags: Baseball Hitting, jugs pitching machine, jugs pitching machines
Posted by admin on Apr 30th
There are many pitches in the game of baseball. To become a master at hitting all of the types of pitching, a good way to practice is a pitching machine. There are many different machines out there that can pitch in many different styles at many different speeds. Practice with these machines are bound to make perfect.
You can find pitching machines at the local batting cages. Many people use the batting cages because it is fairly cheap. You could also get one for your own private use and place it in your back yard. You may also look into machines that the pro's use, but they are surely more expensive.
Pitching machines for softball are available. There are also machines for curve balls. Since the curve ball is a very hard pitch to hit off of, this machine can be very useful.
Popular jugs pitching machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo 
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
Almost anyone can use the pitching machine. This makes it handy to use for even little leaguers. By allowing kids to use the machine they are learning all the strategies needed in batting.
There are even pitching machines for wiffle ball. The pitching machine can not only help your batting swing for the sport, but could actually teach you the sport. If you are really involved in batting sports then this will be a great investment for you and your team.
Pitching machines come in many different sizes and power strengths. You can get a pitching machine from most sporting goods stores. If they do not have them in stock they can be ordered.
Author: Jakob Culver
Jakob Culver is founder of the website - http://officialsportsnews.com and has a solid background in sport and sport news
To find out more information about this topic or sport and sport news visit:
http://officialsportsnews.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jakob_Culver
Technorati Tags: jugs pitching machine
Posted by admin on Apr 24th
When it comes to baseball training many players will focus on either baseball hitting or baseball pitching. In many cases, you are either a hitter or a pitcher and on the rare occasion, you will succeed at both. When it comes to hitting, you will need to focus on becoming an effective hitter as opposed to what some may call a rusty gate. You will need to be able to train both your eyes and your wrists to work together and allow you to hit the ball. Baseball hitting involves a lot of practice so it makes sense to use a pitching machine rather than your buddy's arm. A Jugs pitching machine covers all the bases as you can chnage the speed and the ball type quite easily. There is even a jugs curveball pitching machine.
Effective hitting is the ability to hit the ball to all fields for average and power. This is a rare combination even for those players in the major leagues. You have of course those that can hit for average and possess a lot of speed and will be in the top of the lineup. Then there are the players who will hit more for power and be able to drive the ball, these are your middle of the line-up or 4, 5 and 6 hitters. These are the players who are responsible for driving in runs. The most important thing that any player can have when at the plate is patience. Be willing to wait for the pitch you want and know it when you see it. However, knowing what pitch you want and actually hitting are two different things. Developing strong hand eye coordination as well as quick reflexes are things that will aid in your ability to hit the ball better. Remember in baseball, hitting is lot more than baseball pitching. The ability to hit the ball will always outweigh the ability to throw simply because the hitter plays every day.
Popular jugs pitching machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo 
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
To better train for baseball hitting you will need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to conditioning as well as be able to spend a lot of time at batting cages. The best way to be able to hit a ball consistently and effectively is through repetition. By doing this you will develop muscle memory which will aid you in being able to go up and just watch the ball and let your body take over as it will know what to do. Know where to stand in the batter's box and what angle to hold the bat at. You will want to develop a smooth level swing to hit primarily line drives. A batter whose swing rises as he follows through will get more lift than drive on the ball and is more likely to hit fly balls and pop ups. A hitter whose bat drops as he swings through will hit more ground balls and will have rely primarily on speed to get on base. Consistency, practice, and repetition are the three main items to improve your hitting ability. However, being physically fit and well conditioned will contribute to your success as well.
As you work towards becoming a better hitter, make sure that you understand that there is no true off-season. You must constantly work to improve your baseball hitting much like a pitcher will work to improve their baseball pitching. It is all about consistency.
Make sure to study the pitchers and their tendencies so you know which pitch is coming and where it is likely to end up to better prepare yourself when you face them. Always prepare yourself and condition at all times. Know how you will be approach each at bat and what your routine will be when you are at the plate.
It is important to be consistent and have the same approach in order to achieve success. Never take your eye off the ball and follow through on every swing. This way you will be able to drive the ball better and develop a smoother stroke.
Try to find exercises and activities that will improve hand eye coordination as well as wrist speed. These two things will help tremendously as well as practice.
Author: Chris Moheno
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically. His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game. Discover more about baseball training on baseballtrainingsecrets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
Technorati Tags: jugs curveball pitching machine, jugs pitching machine
Posted by admin on Apr 20th
There is much more to baseball hitting than meets the eye. When it comes to this technique, it is imperative that body and mind work together in order to achieve the best hitting results. Of course practice makes perfect and in order to have as many piches as possible it is important to buy a pitching machine. Jugs is a name for quality pitching machines and they make various types including the jugs curveball pitching machine.
When you love to play baseball, your goal will be to become a better hitter. Each individual will have their own opinion and give you their advice and hitting tips.
Take all of the advice on board and eliminate everything that does not fit your hitting style. Try different variations of hitting, stances, approaches and hitting drills.
If something in particular suits you, then keep it; if it doesn't, then eliminate it. There will always be something that can be improved. However, listed below is some of the best advice that you will ever wish to receive.
Popular jugs pitching machines:
Jugs Jr Pitching Machine Combo 
Jugs Curveball Pitching Machine
Jugs Giambi Backyard Baseball Package
When hitting, it is important to always remain calm. You will not be able to hit the ball successfully if you are nervous.
Stand in a loose comfortable position parallel to the plate with your legs approximately shoulder width apart and your knees and hips well bent. Your body weight should be perfectly centered in the middle. Your hands should be placed approximately five inches away from your body and only a couple of inches above your shoulder height.
Paint a picture in your head of a box shaped area for following the ball. When the pitcher goes through their motion, imagine a box surrounding his or her shoulder where the ball comes out. This will assist you in determining what he or she is going to pitch.
Wait until the pitcher is in their windup with approximately 60% of your body weight on your back leg. When the pitcher separates their hands, which were previously together with one in their glove, you should take a light smooth stride of approximately 2 inches long.
Now you need to be prepared for receiving the ball. As your front foot steps forward, you need to shift approximately 80% of your body weight onto your back foot. Your hands should be moving backwards very slightly whilst at the same time ensuring that you keep a 90 degree bend in your front elbow. Your front shoulder should be heading forward towards the plate with the backwards motion of your hands. This action is done very quickly and is known as the load.
Never take your eyes off the ball when baseball training or when undergoing a real game. Once the ball is in the air, you have a fraction of a second to identify the pitch. You then need to pivot, twist your hips and bring your hands straight down with the knob of the bat going straight to the ball whilst transferring your body weight back to the center. The bat then needs to be extended whilst keeping it on a level downward plane. Once you make contact you flick your wrist and extend the bat pointing the end of it to the pitcher and finish with the bat on your shoulder.
When baseball hitting you will experience inside pitches, outside pitches, and pitches down the middle. When hitting an inside pitch you should hit the ball out in front of your body. When hitting an outside pitch you should let the ball get back in the zone and hit it behind yourself or at your body. When hitting a pitch down the middle, you should hit it right on top of your body with good extension.
You will sometimes identify a curve ball, which will look as though it is going to hit you. No matter what you do when baseball hitting, you should never buckle backwards. It is important to stand your ground and if anything, turn into it and stay low. This will assist you in hitting the ball with a great deal more consistency and power.
Don't be afraid of fast pitchers. A fast pitch will simply result in the ball going further. If you see the ball coming towards your midsection, do not lift your hands and allow it to make contact with your ribs. What you need to do is press your arm into your side and allow the ball to hit you in your arm. Trust me; a ball hitting your arm is much better than hitting you in the ribs.
The final, and probably most important piece of information that you should always follow when it comes to baseball hitting, is that you must, at all times, wear protective gear and a helmet. Baseball is a fantastic sport, but not so great when you do not play by the rules and wear the appropriate protection. Pitchers can very often slip up, sometimes accidentally and sometimes on purpose, and a baseball is not one that you want to be hit with on several occasions when you are not correctly kitted out.
Author: Chris Moheno
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically
His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game
Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
Technorati Tags: jugs curveball pitching machine, jugs pitching machine
Posted by admin on Apr 14th
The following article lists the top ten reasons why parents should invest in a jugs pitching machine to help their baseball players to become better hitters and learn to love the game of baseball. (Read this like David Letterman's Top Ten List!)
1) With pitching machines, the parents will not have sore arms, elbows and backs when they go to sleep at night - do I need to say any more! I have had this problem the last couple of years and the baseball pitching machine has been a wonderful, welcome piece addition to my family and my team. Last year my elbow did not feel right until early fall!
2) Hit the ball for a complete practice session - give each player more than 100 swings each and every batting session. Since batting is the most fun part of baseball, the kids will love having you as the coach and want you back next year. My players all look forward to getting lots of swings in each practice - the first 3 to arrive get to use the machine by being the first group to participate in the batting drills - they all get to practice on-time so they can be the first to hit.
3) When you own a pitching machine, the players can bunt until they get it right. We focus on this skill for an entire hour, just bunting, by setting up a pitching machine and having the players practice suicide, sacrifice and drag bunting techniques. How many games do you watch where a bunt is needed and the play is not executed correctly? With a pitching machine and practice, bunt plays will rarely be an issue for your team.
4) Hitting Technique - get it right. Rather than trying to work on just making contact with the ball, spend time learning to hit the baseball the right way. Our team gets time to actually work on the proper hitting techniques - our strikeouts are down to 1-2 per game against the some of the best pitchers in the league.
Teams with limited access to pitches (through the coach's arms) are thrilled when they get their players to simply hit the ball.
5) The pitching machine helps us to learn to hit pitches to the opposite field by giving us the at-bats required to learn how to do it. We also get to work on hitting baseball where they are pitched and trying to have the players hit sacrifice fly's to the outfield when runners are in a position to advance.
6) We use the Tru Toss Soft Machine , Heater Pitching Machine and the Grand Slam Wiffle Ball Pitching Machine at different stations each practice. Our coaches no longer have to dodge the hit balls coming rocketing back at them, the team gets lots of swings and the coaches get to coach rather than pitch - it is great.
7) Curve Balls - The only way to learn to hit one is to practice regularly. Our team is learning to hit curve balls and our players have the chance to see about 20 of them every practice session. A coach and his arm could not throw that many curve balls without experiencing a very sore elbow for the next several days or even months.
Intra Squad Scrimmages - We use the hitting machine to play intra-squad scrimmages. The game just moves faster and the quick pace keeps everyone engaged and having fun.
9) The pitching machines are safe enough for the kids to use without having an adult to watch over them every step of the way. A little common sense is all that is needed to be sure the kids can have fun while you enjoy watching them improve.
10) The local kids will all come and hang out in your backyard , which is a great time for everyone! My wife and I enjoy this aspect of the pitching machine we have the most. During the summer months our backyard is the central hangout place for everyone. We get to serve cold drinks while the kids play home run derby, hit to countless pitches and then go home tired out after a great night of hitting baseballs. I think if I were a kid I would be hanging out right where they are as well.
The above list should help to relieve any doubt about why parents should want to buy their baseball-playing children a jugs pitching machine!
To Your Hitting Success,
Coach Chuck
Author: Chuck R Stewart
Coach Chuck Stewart operates a baseball web site called http://www.BaseballSkillAids.com offering baseball training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. The web site specializes in offering pitching machines, and batting cages. Coach Chuck has coached baseball teams for 11 years and enjoys sharing the love of the game of baseball with his players and visitors to the site
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Posted by admin on Apr 9th
While baseball has always been considered America's pastime, our youth was starting to see it is not so glamorous but compared to other major sports. That has changed recently as power numbers continue to soar and we see more and more baseball players becoming prominent members of our communities. That being the case, once again the interest in baseball has risen and everyone wants to be the next home run king. The way to achieve that of course is through better baseball hitting. Any course will need an automatic pitcher and one of teh best quality is a Jugs Pitching Machine
of which there are a number such as the Jugs Lite-Flite Pitching Machine
.
One thing that has been very noticeable in recent times is the lack of fundamentals and the young players coming up. We are seeing all different types of stances and swings as our children try to emulate the professional baseball players they see on TV. While we of course want them to establish their identity, there are still fundamentals that they need to adhere to. The job of the coach is to make these fundamentals enjoyable and interesting so that the developing player uses them for the rest of their lives. That of course means bending the rules a little bit as to the way that we were traditionally taught baseball.
When the forty-something generation was growing up, there was no option as to how you swung a bat or stood in the batter's box. You did it one way and that was the way the coach wanted you to. Every stance and swing were cookie-cutter products of how the coach perceived the game to be taught. In order to be successful today, the coach needs to be a little bit more willing to work the style of swing the player wants into their coaching techniques. This is by no means to say they should abandon basic fundamentals, quite the opposite. You are just trying to allow them some type of identity and implement the fundamentals of baseball hitting into their style.
When coaching a young player, you have to make it fun for them to try new things out. They obviously love the game at that stage and you need to continue the enthusiasm. Introducing them to new drills will help with that. Trying out new stances, different approaches and unique drills will enable them to keep a fresh look and heightened interest in the art of hitting. One thing remains consistent though, hard work is the only way to achieve the desired result.
We've all heard the saying that there is nothing harder to do in sports than to hit a ball moving at 90 miles an hour with a round object, the baseball bat. If that is true, then coaching the art of hitting a baseball is no simpler. The coach needs to put in just as much work as a student. One of the tougher aspects of the coaching job is to again realize that each and every student has her own personality that needs to be adapted to. You can have all the knowledge in the world but the inability to capture their interests will result in failure.
One of the early keys to success in coaching hitting is to try and not change the players hitting style too quickly. There is obviously a reason they're swing that way and you need to find out. If you start making radical changes immediately will have no idea why they started hitting the way that they did. Take the time and learn how they develop their style and you'll have a better idea of how to coach them.
When implementing changes into a player swing and stance, make sure they're comfortable with these changes. If the player is not like them or doesn't feel comfortable they will end up going back to what they were doing prior and this is not good for anyone. It will lead to frustration for both the player and the coach. Always get ample feedback when making any type of change their swing.
Patience is also a huge factor in successful coaching. You may be dealing with a hitter who has established habits over years and years. The changes you are trying to implement are not going to take place overnight. As a coach, you need to realize that and gradually work these changes into their swing. A helpful tool during this process is video. There is nothing like visual feedback to help make your point. You can take the progress of their swing throughout the coaching process and have daily or weekly video sessions with the player to show them exactly what you're working on and how they are becoming a better athlete.
While we are stressing the aspect of allowing the player to have their own identity, keep in mind that basic fundamentals are still the same. If you're faced with a player who is flat out fundamentally unsound, these issues need to be addressed immediately. However, it will have to be approached in a manner so that they understand that implementing the basic fundamentals of baseball heading into their swing will immediately result in positive results.
Every successful baseball hitting instructor should have a set of drills that there are continuously fine-tuning. Drills are just that, daily and structures that are meant to bring the fundamentals home in a sound matter. You cannot coach properly without having these trolls in place and making them enjoyable for your players. Better baseball hitting is a continuously evolving process. Both the coach and player must work together and work hard in order for this endeavor to become successful.
Author: Chris Moheno
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically
His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game
Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
Technorati Tags: baseball excellence, jugs lite flite, jugs pitching machine
Posted by admin on Apr 5th
Baseball: What is Considered as Effective Hitting?
Effective hitting, in a nutshell, is hitting that results in the bat connecting with the ball. While this may sound simple, most experts agree that hitting the ball is the hardest skill to master. Even some professional players strike out or end up having to walk the bases during a game. The key to being successful in learning how to improve your baseball hitting is obviously practice but you have to practice the right way. One way is to use a quality pitching machine such as a JUG'S BASEBALL 101 PITCHING MACHINE
Here's where trouble often comes from. When you're on a team, everyone receives the same training. If you're learning the rules of the game or how to catch the ball, there's nothing wrong with using a standard method of baseball training. Baseball hitting is different. Each player is going to come to the game with a different level of skill and with different techniques that are going to hurt or help their performance. Good training finds ways to work with these existing skills and to maximize them for an overall positive performance. In many cases, that's not going to be possible without one-on-one training.
How Do You Train for It?
If baseball training is important to you but you can't afford to hire a personal trainer, there are other ways to improve your game. As mentioned above, practice is definitely going to be the key to ongoing success. The most effective approach to improving baseball hitting is to practice the individual components of good hitting, including the grip, the stance, and the approach.
Approach, for example, is something that is essential for good baseball training. However, most people have real trouble learning this information because it conflicts with their earlier training. For example, most players are taught from an early age that when they see a pitch coming they need to swing. They are not asked to judge the effectiveness of the baseball pitching. When the people doing the baseball pitching aren't very skilled either, this technique can work. As they improve, however, the will stop pitching strikes when they know the hitter is going to be swinging at every potential shot.
JUG'S BASEBALL 101 PITCHING MACHINE
Instead, good hitters need to be able to determine which of the pitches have potential and which do not. Only then will they be able to get those doing the baseball pitching to send them balls with the potential to be great hits. A jugs pitching machine will helpyou decide the good pitches.
Another part of training to be a good hitter is practicing the swing. Even a good pitch for the hitter can not connect if that hitter does not have a good swing. Hitters need to realize that more than their arm movements are playing a role in the connection of the bat to the ball. The process actually involves the legs, the hands, the hips, and even the head. One main difference between good hitters and exceptional hitters is their ability to keep their eyes on the ball all the way through contact.
Additional Advice
Professional baseball players who have spent a good portion of their lives and their careers perfecting their ability to make that connection can provide some good advice for newer players, too. One of the most common pieces of advice involves bat selection. Again, no one recommendation is going to work for all players, except the recommendation to find a bat that feels comfortable in your hands. Try out a few and find one that delivers results.
Some pros also suggest that you have someone else watch your performance to provide feedback. That's a benefit of having a trainer but you can get around that problem if you can't afford a trainer. Instead, have someone record your actions so you can watch them later yourself and tweak your performance. You might also be able to watch the recording of your hitting performance with a coach who can evaluate your performance.
The pros also know that good baseball hitting training includes lots of practice. You'll need to complete countless numbers of drills if you want to start seeing an improvement in how often your bat makes that connection with the ball.
Author: Chris Moheno
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically
His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game. Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno
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