Gimmics & Gadgets?

I guess that could depend upon where one draws the line between "gadgets/gimmicks" and "tools"?

For example, I really like using things like our:

• Jugs Instant Screen
• 5-Point tee
• SwiftStik
• Golf wiffle balls
• HitNStik
• Stop watch/pitch counter
• Racquetball racquet w/ tennis balls

Are any of these "gadgets/gimmicks"?

Sandman, thanks for the quick response. We use a 5-point T and I don't consider that a gadget. The swiftStick and the Hitnstik probably are. I think it is items like the Mule, Striker II, short stroke trainer, or even something like the stride glide that I am referring to. I know that these are examples of hitting items but it also applies to fielding items.

BTW, we also have an instant screen and I love it. We don't use golf ball whiffle balls but we use hundreds of corkballs and corkball bats.

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

Sandman,
Please tell me how you use a racquetball racquet and tennis balls in your practice?

I use the tennis balls and racquet also. Any where that you would like to place pop-ups. It allows for much better control. I am cursed with only being able to hit line drives (Player-blessing/ coach-curse).Example, pops to catcher. And, I can hit them 3 pops in the IF/OF problem areas so quickly that all 3 are in the air at the same time. (Double up on players at 2B and SS for this drill)

The tennis balls have more movement and are harder to catch(develops soft hands). I bought a couple hundred tennis balls on ebay, so they catch the pops, toss the balls to the side then take more until they're gone.

You have to get over the stigma of being a lousy fungo hitter, and put your players development before your ego.....that's the toghest part.

...ok, now that I've totally discreditted myself......

quote:

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Originally posted by Pete H:
Sandman,
Please tell me how you use a racquetball racquet and tennis balls in your practice?

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I coached LL Minors last year, and w/ 8-10 YOs, there's still a lot of hesitancy to get under and/or really chase hard balls. But w/ the tennis balls, I can stand near the pitcher's mound and blast them into the OF, and everyone goes after 'em.

True, there's a different feel entering the glove, and I pre-excuse the kids if they bounce out ("not your fault"). But at least they get good reps at getting under 'em or going after 'em.

Don't think I'll need 'em in the Majors tho. We'll see.

Hands Back Hitter


I designed and use a product that teaches kids to stride to balance and keep their hands back. It also teaches the player to separate the stride from the swing. It is being made into a metal version for retail but we have some plastic/metal hybrid still in stock on a sell out to make way for April delivery of the newest version. The Bat Brain and Stayback Tee are used quite a bit as well.
Kids like to be shown not told.
Neat tools.

Sandman,

Don't put away that racquet yet! I used this with the HS Varsity, as well as a summer 13U travel team.

The comment about we need more baseballs is a good one and has a lot of truth. From my experience a coach being creative in teaching certain things goes a long way. I attended a few clinics and the money you could spend on gimmicks and gadgets can in some cases be better spent(more baseballs). Remember they are out to make a buck.

Training aids can be helpful to get kids playing the game at times other than practice. Nobody ever played the game well that did not play some form of the game on their own time. Ball parks where kids of all ages gathered to spend the day like in my youth are rarely safe anymore. Something must replace these self teaching and practice sessions and compete with Play Stations.

Swingbuster

Agreed. In my youth I spent all day playing stickball or halfball or some other city game. Nothing else to do but it reinforced all the throwing hitting and other skills needed to play.

Kind of gimmicky, but we've started coloring baseballs in half for the freshman to use when they get to loose so they can really see correct spin on their throws. A lot of kids come in having trouble simply throwing a good 4-seam strike across the infield. The visual feedback really helps them out.

Not sure where I read about this trick, but for my younger son who loves to short arm the ball sidearm, took an old ball and a sharpie.  Drew a 1/2 inch band around the ball.  Had him line his middle/index finger on each side of the line and throw.  When you throw without any sidespin, you can see the black strip clearly.  Once you introduce sidespin, the ball turns greyish.  I'm thinking a HS coach passed this along to my older kid who told me about it.  Talk about a cheap training tool.

Saw a homemade gadget to help catchers learn to sway to the ball.  One wooden leg centrally attached to a very small platform (maybe 6 inches by 6 inches) that the player can rest his butt on.  As the balls are being thrown at him it gives him a better sense of how his body should move while keeping his butt semi-square to the ground....maybe it's just for younger catchers, but it was VERY effective.

After a certain age gimmicks and gadgets get less useful.  But when I coached little guys I thought the gimmicks and gadgets helped a lot.  Plus they were fun.  I used to rotate them among a bunch of different gadgety hitting stations.  The best gadgets give them immediate implicit feedback. 

Still think the best gadget of all is a hitting T though.