Training Gear List

[HeinekenMan]

So, I may have a new job. The wife says it's an 80/20 thing. If it happens, I'll be looking to invest in some gear to help with instructing kids ages 8-10. At the moment, I have only an old aluminum bat for hitting balls and a bucket of about 20 baseballs. Obviously, baseballs will be at the top of my list. I also want to buy a fungo and an L-screen. I'd also like to have my own set of catcher's gear.

Any other recommendations? What do you think I should buy? What do you feel is most useful and why?

[JRH11]

I coach 11U. I've been hit twice this year in BP, so would def say the L screen. Bow Net makes a portbale one that can be easily transported and assembled ($200).

The attrition rate of baseballs is about 50% over the course of season. You'll need a bucket of about 100.

Get a good tee for training. I would recommend the Tanner Tee.

[Standballdad]

So, I may have a new job. The wife says it's an 80/20 thing. If it happens, I'll be looking to invest in some gear to help with instructing kids ages 8-10. At the moment, I have only an old aluminum bat for hitting balls and a bucket of about 20 baseballs. Obviously, baseballs will be at the top of my list. I also want to buy a fungo and an L-screen. I'd also like to have my own set of catcher's gear.

Any other recommendations? What do you think I should buy? What do you feel is most useful and why?

A set of throw down bases if you don't always have a baseball field to practice on.

[jbolt_2000]

I'd say my most used equipment/tools are this:
- Bucket of balls (75-100)
- Bucket of Wiffle Balls (25-40)
- Fungo (but not necessary if you're fine with a regular bat)
- Pop-Up Net (I have this one made from Easton that pop ups easily and folds down easily. I use it as my catcher when working drills with hitters and not using a catcher, or coach pitch BP. Also used for tee work, hitting into the net) - probably one of the most used pieces of equipment I have.
- Tanner Tee (best tee in the business, worth the extra money. I've had one for two years and still going strong. I've gone through the plastic ones once a a year so already made my money back).
- 'A' Screen (I'm a lefty so I use it as my 'L' screen and then if a righty pitcher comes up there is no need to move the screen or anything. Same price as an 'L' screen and easy to put up and take down. Fits perfectly in my sedan.
- Throw down bases. I have the big foam kind that are the size of real bases. I like these because they are easy to see when fielding/running, but definitely not as durable as the flat plastic ones.

[kimbercarry]

Ditto on the tanner, it is the best. We've gotten a lot of use out of our Jugs soft toss machine and depending on what type of space you have to work with I like the Ripken Quickballs. You can use a regular bat on them as they are very durable. Our back yard is decent size but we can't hit regular baseballs in it. I use a small pitch back net as a screen and throw front toss from behind it to my son. Lots of swings and the balls stay in the yard. I really get a great look at his swing just by stepping out the back door.

[TexAg]

three recs for the Tanner...what makes it so good?

[AdamInNY]

I use one as well. It's been indestructible so far, and forgiving when you hit under the ball.

[Bolts-Baseball]

Tanner Tee is great, but unless you put a barbell weight on the pole it falls over pretty easily, plus it can require assembly... and if you've ever hit the back of your leg while carrying a bunch of stuff, the sharp edges of the base can cut you (I know, and it freakin' hurts!)... Anyway mine got stolen out at AAU Nationals, and I needed a replacement... It also sucks when used on grass...

We live pretty close to the Rawlings factory store, and by sheer luck I noticed one there:

http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/category/product.jsp/SUBCATEGORY_ID/30491/refScid/2558

$19.99, NEVER falls over, top has lasted about 2 years, and there is absolutely NO sign of wear. Folds up, always with us... Thing is the BEST tee out there.

The Tanner tee is great, but for $60 + shipping I can get 3 of these... Plus they sell replacement tops for $8...

http://www.shoprawlings.com/baseball/baseball-accessories/quickteetop.html

So, I BEYOND HIGHLY recommend the Rawlings 5-Tool Tripod Quick Batting Tee... It's the best.

Another thing I highly recommend is the A-Screen...

http://www.a-screenbaseballpitching.com

You can make a BP field anywhere!! Thing literally sets up in seconds... Video speaks for itself.

The best coaches bucket, by far is the Mizuno Organizer Coaches Bucket G2 Ball Bag... The padded seat is like you're sitting in a Cadillac...

http://www.mizunousa.com/fastpitch/products/mizuno-organizer-coaches-bucket-g2-ball-bag

I like the Jugs Pop-up Net for a lot of reasons, but they're not the most durable... The net breaks, the straps break, not the greatest in breezy conditions.... But I've got one and it's decent... I would look for something better...


BUT... The thing that has saved my back for years is the JUGS INSTANT COLLAPSIBLE CART... This thing was on-sale on Amazon for $80 with free shipping a few years ago, and I bought one... It has single-handily been the GREATEST piece of equipment I have EVER had... I have put 6-buckets of balls on it for one trip from the parking lot... It can carry everything listed above plus a full-size igloo cooler full of drinks and ice. Get one and you will thank me later, I guarantee it!!

http://jugssports.com/productdetail.aspx?id=669

[The Uncoach]

For pitching/soft-toss screens I prefer bownet products...particularly the Diamond pro versions.

http://www.bownet.net/page/show/419448-baseball

Edit: Add about Tanner Tee

I have 2 of these. Work great. The rubber top allows a hitter to swing through without feeling the tee. I don't see the problem with it falling over easy. It protects the product. It's easy to screw/unscrew and fits easily in a bag with other pre-game/practice gear.

[kimbercarry]

durable, ease of transportation, doesn't beat the bat up like some of the harder molded tees do if the kid swings low and the price is right. I paid $50 plus shipping for mine. Son and teams have used it for 3 years now and it still looks brand new. The pole screws/unscrews from the base to make it easy to carry. And its the one most of the pros teams use. Just my opinions.

three recs for the Tanner...what makes it so good?

[HeinekenMan]

I am thinking of buying the Insider Bat. If i do, what should I buy to go with it? Can I buy regular poly balls and use a tripod tee?

[HeinekenMan]

I'm starting to think I'm going to have less disposable income if I get this job than I have now!

[The Uncoach]

I am thinking of buying the Insider Bat. If i do, what should I buy to go with it? Can I buy regular poly balls and use a tripod tee?

polyballs and tanner tee or another tee with soft rubber cone.

[HeinekenMan]

polyballs and tanner tee or another tee with soft rubber cone.

Thanks. My son's buddy is a monstrous kid who could smack it a mile if he only knew how to swing. He used to bat with all arms and no trunk rotation. I taught him to stride and rotate. It worked for a few weeks. But that led to other problems. Now he lunges forward, which makes him unable to rotate and causes him to use all arms. And yet he can hit it a double in the gap without any trouble. He has no idea how much power he has, but he's about to find out. And I learned today that we'll be playing on a field with 165-foot fences. These games should be home-run derbies.

[bryan2137]

My most used pieces of equipment for my 9-10 year old team are the bow nets, the tanner tees and the star of practice is always the jugs soft toss machine. I now have 3 of them because I stay at practice as long as the kids want to stay and I would have a line 10 kids long waiting for it, and the kids will stay and swing until their parents force them home. I take 1 of our bow nets and drilled 2 holes in a sheet of aluminum I got at home depot put 2 carabiners through it and hang it on the net at 1st base. The kids will take grounder after grounder making the throw from 3rd and short trying to "ring the bell" oh and jugs light flight balls. Those combined with a tennis racket. I have the kids go barehanded and catch with glove handed only and hit like a 100 fly balls in about 5 minutes. They love it. With those I also sit on a bucket about 20 feet away and pitch pretty quick at them and they get 10 points for a ball hit into the outfield 50 for a ball hit over the fence and 100 if they can hit the coach. 0 of them swing for the fence they all try to get me with a liner right up the middle