Washington Twp LL: Baseball Tips

Baseball Tips

CHOOSING THE BEST GLOVE & BAT FOR YOU!
BY COACH JOHN PETER, BASEBALLTIPS.COM



In General...


  1. Inexpensive means cheap!
  2. Brand names are not always the best way to shop. Don't judge by name only!
  3. Proper size matters!
  4. Good leather isn't always soft! Good bats aren't always the most expensive!


GLOVES:
Let's address each point:

  1. Price– Decide what is affordable for you and bend only... if you feel the need.
  2. Brand– The biggest glove makers cover all ends of the market so cheap is cheap no matter the brand! Some large companies also make baseball hats and golf balls. You may wish to consider a "glove company."
  3. Size– The biggest mistake is to assume that bigger is better!
  4. Gloves that are too big don't help– They can actually hinder proper learning & play. Players must learn that it's a 2-hand game and that they must move their feet to get to the ball and not just stick their arm out to catch it.
  5. Even youth gloves are size-position-oriented, though younger players should carry a more general use glove as they may (and should) play many positions.
  6. Leather Quality– Cheap leather, cheap glove. Man-made product...bad glove.
    Leather is graded from great to awful. Again, cheap is cheap.

    Good gloves can be a bit stiff right out of the box, but they tend to break in easily. Conversely, many of the pre-broken-in gloves, though tempting, simply do not last as long. Why? Because to me pre-broken-in means pre-broken down.

You may want to read this quick guide before continuing...
Do's and Don'ts For Your New Glove

Break In Notes– Older players throw harder, so their gloves tend to be game-ready sooner. Our youth and fastpitch gloves account for this and are specially made using softer leather. Still, be comfortable with your break-in method.

Here's one good way to do it: Breaking In Your Glove

BATS:

  1. Price– Price equals quality. Don't be fooled by marketing & pretty graphics! The new technology bats of the last three or so seasons really seem to perform better!
  2. Brand– No particular company will make your favorite player a better hitter! We tend to see kids use what their teammates use. This is a regional thing!
  3. Size – Do not buy what a player will "grow into." Aluminum has only so many hits built into its life. Younger players can get two seasons use out of a bat, older and serious players get one season-plus!

      Want a quick check for size? Have the player hold the bat out to his side, palm down and parallel with the ground for 20-30 seconds. If it doesn't "droop" the weight is okay. Also, have him swing his teammate's bats.
    Weight drops and barrel diameter– Check with a coach or the league
  4. Quality– Materials & Innovation drive much of the price of what you will pay. Corporate marketing & this year's graphics drive the rest. Alcoa seems to produce the best aluminum alloys. Each year the top of the line materials seem to change but generally, price among the major manufacturers seem to be in line for their comparable models.



This Eteamz Baseball Tips Newsletter is provided for you each month by Coach John Peter's BASEBALLTIPS.COM