Please explain why PG gets glowing reviews and Under Amour Baseball Factory does not.Costs seem similar and each get nice testimonials from reputable people.
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jaggerz - I am not the best person to answer this, so I hope others who actually HAVE experience with UA/Baseball Factory will weigh in, but I can tell you that there is a wealth of info on this site from discussions past if you do a good search. I did, because my son got a UA/Baseball Factory invite and it is important to me to try to get a sense of what I am getting my kid (and myself) into before we commit - look before you leap, if you will.
You really should do that search and form your own opinions, but my sense based on reading prior discussions was that while UA/Baseball Factory is a good organization, their business model is one of trying to lure kids into a program that always seems to have a more expensive "next step" rather than a simple and honest evaluation based on a one-off experience.
Speaking from somewhat limited experience with PG (which, BTW, does not get universally glowing reviews around here, though I would agree the good-to-great reviews FAR outweigh anything negative you will find), Perfect Game does not do that, and IMO does a good job of providing that honest, one-off evaluation without pressure to proceed to some other, more expensive opportunity.
I suspect that is the answer to your question for most people, in a nutshell. To me, too, I would say that given the differences in emphasis, that what they offer is NOT all that similar....
You really should do that search and form your own opinions, but my sense based on reading prior discussions was that while UA/Baseball Factory is a good organization, their business model is one of trying to lure kids into a program that always seems to have a more expensive "next step" rather than a simple and honest evaluation based on a one-off experience.
Speaking from somewhat limited experience with PG (which, BTW, does not get universally glowing reviews around here, though I would agree the good-to-great reviews FAR outweigh anything negative you will find), Perfect Game does not do that, and IMO does a good job of providing that honest, one-off evaluation without pressure to proceed to some other, more expensive opportunity.
I suspect that is the answer to your question for most people, in a nutshell. To me, too, I would say that given the differences in emphasis, that what they offer is NOT all that similar....
I had my son attend a UA/BaseballFactory "National Try-out"...the event was run in an orderly and timely manner. There was a morning session which included a video and then the afternoon "try-out". we went for the try-out only and it was my sons first experience with a "showcase" style setting. He did pitcher only but got to hit in the bp session. Waited til the designated call date to get your feedback. Feedback was on par with what I expected and then we were advised that he "qualified" for the next camp...which was 3k.....funny that we had to "qualify" for that camp when I had already received mailers for my son to attend, no invite needed, just had to pay the fee. So, as EdgarFan stated, we were just being referred to the next money camp, still not sure what the try-out portion was intended for but got the feeling we were just trying out for the next camp. I then found this site, did my homework. Playing in some PG events, not even attending their showcase, YET, has produced more for my son than the UA/Baseball Factory stuff. Just my opinion and no ill will intended toward that group
I did a quick check on the 2012 rosters for Baseball Factory. Of the 38 players (total) on 2 teams, only TWO players (5%) were not listed in the Perfect Game database. Many of the players are top rated, or recently back from Jupiter, East Co Pro, PG All American, etc.
The two that were not in the database are from the Dominican Republic. That means 100% of those that made it to the final roster from the USA are in the PG database.
Perfect Game has both tournaments for teams and showcases for individuals to participate in. You (or your grandson) may want to try a PG event to get rated....and then see if it is worth your while and money to compete for one of 38 spots.
The two that were not in the database are from the Dominican Republic. That means 100% of those that made it to the final roster from the USA are in the PG database.
Perfect Game has both tournaments for teams and showcases for individuals to participate in. You (or your grandson) may want to try a PG event to get rated....and then see if it is worth your while and money to compete for one of 38 spots.
Our family likes quite a few things about PG. We are a little bias since we live in Iowa.
In particular, we felt their evaluation was spot on and, believe me, it wasn't through "rose colored glasses" like parents or pitching coaches sometimes see things through. To sum it up...a fair and balanced evaluation.
There is no pressure to do additional showcases, but it may provide avenues for travel baseball in many areas. And, of course, PG's opinion is widely respected by college coaches.
In particular, we felt their evaluation was spot on and, believe me, it wasn't through "rose colored glasses" like parents or pitching coaches sometimes see things through. To sum it up...a fair and balanced evaluation.
There is no pressure to do additional showcases, but it may provide avenues for travel baseball in many areas. And, of course, PG's opinion is widely respected by college coaches.
People who do business the right way usually gain favorable reputations.
That's the only explanation that I can come up with.
That's the only explanation that I can come up with.