Baseball Training Aids, Baseball Pitching Machines, and Backyard Batting Cages Blog

Baseball Training Aids - Our Biggest Products

2010-10-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

At baseball training emporium, we offer a variety of baseball training aids.

Here are some of our biggest products we'd like you to know about:

baseball pitching machines

softball pitching machines

batting cages

batting cage frames

And don't forget, even on products that typically have outrageous shipping costs, our shipping is FREE!

Little League Baseball Training

2010-04-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

Little league baseball is very popular. It is important youngsters start off on the right foot when starting to play baseball. This article gives very important baseball training tips that youngsters will benefit from all their baseball playing life.

To start off you need the right type of equipment. Bats come in different weights and lengths. It is important to use the bat that feels most comfortable to you. Do not use a bat that is too heavy. The speed of the bat in your swing is more important than the weight. Bat control will help you hit the ball more often and harder. You have to wear a batting helmet when batting and on deck. It is a rule. The helmet should fit snugly, but not too tight. Other than catching and first base all fielders wear a fielders glove. Outfielders should wear a glove as large as possible, infielders should use a small glove. First basemen use a large scooplike glove, and catchers gloves are big and more padded. All males must wear an athletic supporter. Catchers must wear a protective cup.

Hitters should fell as comfortable at the plate as possible. They need a good grip, stance, stride, swing, and follow-through. Also working the count is very important. One of the best ways to practice your mechanics is by hitting off a tee. The tee is a great baseball training aid. You do not have to worry about a pitch, so you can concentrate on all the little things.

Pitching is very important to determining the outcome of a game. Before the season starts a pitcher should learn the mechanics, practice without the ball, watch yourself in a mirror, and run. The stronger your legs are the better you can pitch. Before a game starts, shake arms and legs, stretch, start warm-up with easy throwing and then throw harder. There are three steps in becoming a good pitcher, learn to throw strikes, learn to change speeds, and move the ball around effectively.

I hope this article gives little leaguers an idea of becoming a better baseball and softball player. Proper techniques will greatly improve your game.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have many different baseball training aids to help little leaguers that will greatly improve their game at an early age.

See you next time.

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Baseball Training Pitching Tips

2010-04-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Pitching is very important in winning baseball games. Pitching the proper way with the help of your baseball training will greatly improve your teams chance of winning.

Your pitching plan should include located fastball, quick breaking ball, change speeds, pick off and hold runners, and fielding. Pitchers should do three things when they pick up a baseball. Locate, change speeds, and throw with a proper mechanical delivery.

Proper delivery mechanics should help a pitcher increase velocity, throw better breaking balls, have better control, reduce injury, and build confidence. Pitchers should be able to pitch from a wind up or stretch position.

The delivery is broken down into five phases. The initial stance or set up is where you analyze, visualize, centralize, and execute. The primary balance point is where the pitcher achieves balance. The break phase is when the pitcher starts his movement toward the plate. Secondary power position starts the moment the pitchers foot hits the ground. The last phase is the follow-through which is extremely important to how your ball is pitched.

A great baseball training aid is the designated hitter which is a silhouette dummy at the plate. Great for good pitching location mechanics.

Baseball training drills are very important in a pitchers development. The knee drill drill is important in developing upper-body technique. Power emphasizes lower-body technique. There is also balance drill, full delivery drill, dry drill, clap drill, and glide-to-stride drill.

With a lot of practice your baseball training will help you develop into a great pitcher. There are different baseball training aids which will greatly improve your chance of success. Remember, practice, practice, and practice.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have pitching aids that will be a tremendous help to your pitching.

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, a quality backyard batting cage, or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Jugs Baseball Training Aids

2010-04-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

Jugs has many different types of baseball training aids that will greatly improve your baseball and softball game. They can be used by adults, high school, and little leagues. Jugs has baseball training aids to help improve hitting, pitching, and fielding.

Jugs baseball pitching machines are very popular. Jugs Softball Pitching Machine has a speed range of as low as 15 mph to 60 mph. Will pitch fastballs, slowpitch, risers, and dropballs. Jugs 101 Baseball Pitching Machine throws 30 mph to as high as 90 mph. Pitch selection and speed are dial-a-pitch. The Combination Pitching Machine throws as low as 20 mph and as high as 104 mph. Throws fastball, curveball, and slider. Jugs also has the Curveball, Super Softball, Jr. Pitching, Lite-Flite, and MVP pitching machines. Whatever your need, Jugs has the right pitching machine for you. Ball feeders for your pitching machine include 18 Ball Baseball, 14 Ball Softball, 18 Ball Baseball-Lite Flite, and 14 Ball Softball-Lite Flite. Types of balls available for your feeders are dimpled, seamed, lite-flite, softie, bulldog, small-ball and pearl.

Accessories are very valuable baseball training aids. Hitting tees are perfect for T-Ball batting practice. The 5-point hitting tee can be used for both baseball and softball. Included is a Tee Drill Book. Jugs has a portable generator to work with your baseball pitching machines. New hitting stick is a 30 inch, 16 oz. bat. Good for eye coordination. Will help you get quick hands and a quick bat. Small-instant protectice screen is 6 ft. high and 4 ft. wide.

Protective screens include quick-snap which are easy to assemble. Has a durable thickness of #4000 twine protection. They include L-shaped pitchers screens, square protective screen for basemen, softball screen, and Jugs lite-flite/slowpitch screen.

Jugs fixed-frame protective screens has double-thick netting of 240 lb.-breaking breaking strength, twisted polyethlene. The L-shaped, softball, square screen w/sock net, square fungo and short toss protective screens all come with a 1 year guarantee.

Netting comes with 4 different breaking strengths, 119lb., 191lb., 381lb,. and 691lb. Backyard , youth leagues, and high school use 119, 191, and 381lb. breaking strength. Colleges use 191, 381, and 691lb. breaking strength. Professional uses 691lb. breaking strength. They are all made with dura-tech netting.

Jugs has batting cage frame sets for all standard size Jugs nets. All sets come with ground sleeves, crossbars, and uprights. Instructions are quick and easy. They are made with industrial-gauge galvanized steel. 5 year guarantee on all Jugs batting cage frames.

Jugs also has different complete packages that are very valuable baseball training aids.

I hope this article will help you when trying to find the right training aid that will improve your baseball and softball game.

At Baseball Training Emporium We have the finest Jugs baseball pitching machines available.

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Cimarron Baseball Training Aids

2010-04-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

This article is going to explain many different baseball training aids by Cimarron Sports. Baseball training aids are very important for developing proper baseball and softball fundamentals.

There are two Cimarron baseball pitching machines available. The Cimarron Combo Pitching Machine is good for youth and adults, quickly converts from throwing baseballs to softballs, throws up to 60 mph,and pitches with pinpoint accuracy. The Cimarron Multi-Pitch Pitching Machine throws fastballs, breaking balls, curveballs, and sliders. Can pitch baseballs up to 65 mph and softballs up to 55 mph. Runs on 110 V. Both pitching machines use dimpled yellow baseballs and softballs which are available through Cimarron Sports. The Cimarron Automatic Ball Feeder has a 15 ball capacity and a six second interval. Good for both Cimarron Baseball Pitching Machines.

Cimarron Sports has a variety of batting cage nets. They have #42 twisted poly cage nets, #36 twisted poly cage nets, stand alone frames with no ground sleeves or tie down cables necessary. Good for indoors or outdoors. #36 nylon batting cage nets are good if your cage is exposed to extreme weather conditions or lots of moisture. Cable kits are available with 3 cut-to-length cables, 6 turnbuckles, and 6 small u-bolts. The 55 foot kit comes with 9 eyebolts and 42 d-clips. The 70 foot kit comes with 12 eyebolts and 54 d-clips. Cimarron Sports also has deluxe commercial frames and retractable frames.

Cimarron Sports has softball nets, L-frames, sock nets, fielder nets, and catch nets.

Backstops include catcher backstops, vinyl backstops, rubber backstops, and net backstops.

Mats include economy home plate mats, deluxe nylon home plate mats, pro nylon home plate mats, and batting cage baseball turf.

Baseball training aids include pitchbacks, 2 sport catcher vinyl backstop and frame, hitting stick and practice hitter.

I hope this article gives you an idea of the many great baseball training aids by Cimarron Sports. Cimarron Sports baseball training aids will greatly improve your baseball and softball game.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have many different Cimarron products. We have nets, backdrops, pitching machines and more.

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, a quality backyard batting cage, or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Batting Fundamentals

2010-04-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Batting fundamentals are very important to becoming a good hitter. The 5 basic fundamentals are stance, hitting position, step, swing and wrist action, and follow-through.

You need a stance which is comfortable for all situations. It should be close to the plate to meet outside pitches. Most players turn the front foot slightly toward the pitcher. For hitting position the bat is brought back with the arms away from the body when the ball is being delivered. The hips and shoulder accompany the movement. Most players hold the bat shoulder high to best control hitting high and low pitches. For step, the planting of the front foot is delayed until the location of the pitch is anticipated. This makes it possible to step forward or away from the plate for some pitches increasing the possibility of perfect timing. Swing and wrist action are very important to becoming a good hitter. Your most driving power comes from quick wrist action with your arms and hips. Keep rear arm bent and close to body. Both arms are extended as your wrists are snapped into the ball. The wrists roll after the ball is hit. Perfect balance is important for a good follow-through. The front foot is solid but only the back toe is on the ground. This puts the entire weight behind the swing and makes for maximum driving power. The actual body turn varies as to when the ball is hit.

I hope this article gives you some idea of important batting fundamentals and how to use them.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have pitching machines that will greatly improve your hitting. We Have Bata, Atec, Jugs, and Cimarron.

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Pitching Machine Accessories

2010-04-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

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.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have auto ball feeders that will go with your pitching machine. You can choose from Bata, Atec, Jugs, and Cimarron.

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For baseball training aids, a quality backyard batting cage, or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Baseball Training Hitting Tips

2010-03-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

This article will explain different hitting tips to use when baseball training that will help improve your baseball and softball game.

Five keys to success are the longer the wait on a pitch will make him a better hitter, line drives and ground balls will improve a hitters batting average, a plan at the plate, patience, persistance, and poise, and baseball training drills.

Stance is very important to the swing as is load position, stride, launch position, rotation forward, shoulder rotation, weight transfer, brace off, bat arc, straight to the ball, bat speed, extension, seeing the ball, and putting the ball in play.

Hitting drills with or without baseball training aids are strike zone swings which you learn to hit in all areas of the strike zone. Dummy swings develop a proper swing when working with an object that does not move. This can be done with a batting tee which is a very valuable baseball training aid. Soft toss another great baseball training aid can be used for angle tosses, one-knee toss, with two balls at one time, and short toss.

Baseball pitching machines are baseball training aids that are great to help your improvement in hitting. They can throw at different speeds with an assortment of different pitches. There are many baseball pitching machines available.

Try different drills for hit and run, leadoff hitter, man on second in a nonforce situation with no outs, man on third with less than two outs, and two strike swings.

It is very important to use different baseball training drills and with baseball training aids will help your game to go to a higher level.

This article went over different basics and situations that will help make you a winner with practice, practice, and more practice, and the will to succeed.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have 2 great hitting machines, the Bat Action Hitting Machine, and the Hurricane Solo Trainer Batting Machine. These 2 great hitting machines will greatly improve your eye coordination.

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

A Quick Primer on Pitching

2010-03-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Pitching is a very important part of baseball. When a pitcher is throwing with good control he is a very important factor in determining the outcome of a game. There are different types of pitches a pitcher can use. This article will explain different types of pitches and how to use them effectively.

Fastballs are used for speed. The amount of break is usually not visible. The ball is rolled from the ends of the index and middle fingers. The wrist is snapped when the ball is released. The curveball is thrown with an outward rotation of the hand and arm. The ball is spun between the thumb and forefinger with the middle finger and wrist providing the spin.

A screwball is thrown with an inward rotation of the hand.It is released with the middle finger and the fourth and fifth fingers with the middle finger and wrist providing the spin.

A knuckleball usually breaks in the same direction as a curveball. The first joints of the middle and index fingers rest against the ball between the seams where they are the narrowest. The thumb and fourth and fifth fingers hold the ball tightly. When the ball leaves your hand the bent fingers are extended for additional speed.

There are other pitches a pitcher can use effectively. Good control with your pitches will win ballgames. The greatest pitchers in baseball had good control and were very tough to hit.

At Baseball Training Emporium we have a killer resource called Location Mechanics: Secrets to Precision Control and Pitch Location. It's an awesome guide to developing your pitching skills and goes WAY beyond the ultra basics you read above (and for less than $30). While you're there, you might want to check out the Designated Hitter as well -- if you're really serious about becoming a top-notch pitcher.

Until next time!

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For baseball training aids, a quality backyard batting cage, or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

5 Strategies for Bunting

2010-03-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Bunting is a very effective weapon in close games.

A sacrifice bunt is when a batter is willing to go out in order to advance a base runner:

When trying to advance a runner from 1st to 2nd try to bunt to the 1st base side.
When sacficing a runner from 2nd to 3rd try to bunt to the 3rd base side.
But make every effort not to show the bunt early!

The fake bunt-slash objective is to show the bunt early enough to draw the corner infielders in. Basic rules for the fake bunt-slash are:

The hitter fakes a commitment to the bunt just before the pitchers movement from the stretch.
Heel-toe pivot is the method of squaring around.
Top hand slides upward on the bat.
Just before pitcher's release... bring the bat to the top of the strike zone.
The hitter then tries to hit the ball on the ground through a hole he has created.

A push bunt is used to reach base safely or move a runner:

Right handed hitters should push bunt to the second baseman, left handed hitters to the shortstop.

The drag bunt is used for getting base hits. Three rules for drag bunts are:

Bunt only at strikes,
Proper ball placement, and
Do not give up.

A suicide bunt is all or nothing. The runner on 3rd breaks for home and the batter must make contact or the runner is going to be out!

Mastering Bunting...

Developing your bunting skill is a lot like developing your hitting skill. Having a pitching machine to work with can help a tremendous amount. Hop on over to Baseball Training Emporium and check out some of our baseball pitching machines that can help you with this.

Until next time!

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

Pitching Machine Basics

2010-02-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we posted a review of BATA pitching machines... and today it dawned on us that some of our readers actually need a basic primer course on baseball pitching machines --- period!

So today, we're going to do a short-course overview of pitching machine basics. This will probably be most helpful to you parents who are looking at buying your first machine for your up-and-coming baseball star.

A baseball pitching machine (or a softball pitching machine) is a great tool to help hitters improve their hitting. When you pick the right machine and train with it properly, there are many benefits in owning a baseball pitching machine.

When buying a baseball pitching machine, there are five things to consider.

Pitch speed -You want to have a pitching machine with the proper pitching speed for you.
Number of wheels -You want the right amount of wheels for your pitching machine.
Transportability - Pick a pitching machine which is easy to transport.
Parts and accessories - Generators,auto ball feeders,dimpled balls and covers are important to your pitching machine.
Warranty - Make sure you are properly covered with your investment.

Pitching machines come in different styles...

Both arm action pitching machines and a circular wheel machines are very popular, particularly with more advanced players. But -- a starter baseball pitching machine is ideal for young players and leagues where pitching machines are used in actual games (pitches are normally 30 mph in these games).

The curveball machines actually put spin the ball as it leaves the chute. There are some pretty versatile curveball machines on the market that can put different spins on the ball. The 2 pitch sidewinder pitching machine can throw straight fastball and 3/4 curve, straight fastball and 3/4 slider, tailing fastball and sidearm curve, and tailing fastball sidearm slider. The 2pitch3 baseball pitching machine can throw a 95 mph and a 75 mph curveball -- in one set up. There is also the twin pitch pitching machine which gives you 2 pitches in one set up.

Long story short, there's a baseball pitching machine available for all ballplayers at all levels.

Parts and accessories...

Pitching machine parts and accessories are important to your baseball pitching machine. Auto ball feeders feed balls through the machine at different intervals, giving you time between each swing. A power generator can come in handy as an alternative power source for running your single wheel pitching machine, or automatic ball feeder units in locations where there are no electric outlets. The are covers to protect your machine from the elements. Dimpled balls will dramatically extend the life of your baseball pitching machine. Some machines have a pitch selector which allows you to feed fastballs and curveballs without the batter knowing which pitch is coming.

Wrapping it up...

Overall, there's a lot of options with both machines and accessories. The key is to purchase something that fits the player's needs. Pitching machines are useful particularly because it allows batters to practice on their own. And the truth is, getting a kid a good machine --- and then regularly using it --- can set there skill level far above their peers who don't have that kind of training tool.

And, besides improving your game, you can share your pitching machine with teammates and have a lot of fun. Why not get one and start throwing your own batting parties?

At Baseball Training Emporium, we carry the following:

Cimarron Baseball Pitching Machines
Bata Baseball Pitching Machines
ATEC Baseball Pitching Machines
Jugs Pitching Machines
Ryan Express Pitching Machine

See you next time!

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For baseball training aids, a quality backyard batting cage, or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!

A Review of BATA Baseball Pitching Machines

2010-02-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

So what about BATA?

Bata baseball pitching machines have steadily become recognized as the best in the world. Consider just a few of their users --- San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners.

There are five important factors to consider

when evaluating a baseball pitching machine.

The type of construction. Bata machines are made of solid steel. There are no sand-castings or plastic on the frames or stand.

The motor and electronics. Bata uses only high-quality US made permanent magnet motors and solid state electronic control.

The wheels. Bata has a high quality wheel design that makes use of Goodyear rubber (see more below).

Ease of use. Bata machines are simple to set up, easy to adjust, easy to transport.

Capacity. Machines are suited for players of all levels.

Bata baseball pitching machines are the only machines that use Unique Goodyear Rubber Soft Trend pitching wheels. The soft tread wheels are solid, die cast, flat faced rubber treads, molded and vulcanized onto a machined aluminum core. The result is better accuracy, more speed, and better consistency. The wheels start out with a concise consistent shape, they maintain their shape regardless of the speed, and they are precision balanced to within 1 gram per foot. This makes Bata wheels run smooth and true.

A glance at a few machines...

Bata has various types of baseball pitching machines. The Bata 2Pitch3 is capable of throwing up to 95 mph fastball and a 75 mph curveball in one set up. Batting off this machine is like batting off a pro pitcher. When used with the Toggle Pitch Selector, the batter cannot predict which pitch is coming. He can only react to the pitch, as he would against a real pitcher.

The Bata 2 Pitch Sidewinder is similar to the 2Pitch3 except that the maximum speed on the Sidewinder is 70 mph on both pitches, and the Sidewinder can pitch left or right handed. The Bata Twin Pitch can also throw two different pitches in one set up. A fastball or change up, or two fastballs to different locations. Ideal for softball.

The Bata Starter throws fastballs up to 50 mph. Ideal for machine-pitch leagues and all players up to 12 years of age. The Bata B1-Curveball is the ideal in between baseball pitching machine. It is capable of throwing fastballs, curves, and sliders.

The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has three independent pivot locks. This allows you to adjust one axis without disturbing the others. The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has built-in transport wheels, so you do not have to roll it on the pitching wheels.

Conclusions...

Frankly, there are some really shoddy pitching machines out there. BATA is NOT one of those low quality brands. When you're looking to buy the best of the best, definitely take a look at BATA.

Check out more BATA baseball pitching machines at our online store.

We also carry:
Cimmaron Baseball Pitching Machines
ATEC Baseball Pitching Machines
Jugs Baseball Pitching Machines
Ryan Express Baseball Pitching Machine

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For baseball training aids, quality backyard batting cages,
or a great selection of baseball pitching machines,
shop Baseball Training Emporium!