Best baseball & softball training equipment according to redditors

The device that he uses that Cliff Floyd didn't know the name of is called the Line Drive Pro.

C. Trent wrote about it in one of his stories about Aquino last week.

> The Line Drive Pro is a piece of plastic that slips onto a baseball bat and more or less throws a tennis ball, like a dog toy. But the ingenious part of the tool, developed by Pirates assistant hitting coach and former Reds pinch-hitter Jacob Cruz, is that for it to work, the swing has to be just right.
>
> Ecker and Aquino worked with the Line Drive Pro ahead of the game to remind him where his swing needs to be. The first couple of times the ball fell out before he completed his swing, but then he got several in just the right sweet spot, more or less throwing the ball to center field. Hours later, that’s where his first hit went. After the game, Ecker had side-by-side video lined up of Aquino’s pregame drill and his single — the swings were identical.
>

I was originally hoping for at least a year or two when I bought it, but we will see how it hold up to the elements. I think it will exceed my expectations. It'll cost around $100 to replace it, and the actual, correct size "batting cage" netting was over $1,300USD.

I have two younger kids, so hopefully it will see some use.

Not that i'm giving anyone an idea but if you've got the $30 https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Sports-Electronic-Baseball-Pitching/dp/B0007DHT8Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1EIHTQKV5T6OQ&keywords=baseball+pitching+machine&qid=1554340036&s=gateway&sprefix=baseball+pi&sr=8-4

Try using heavy batting tees.

We just used hitting sticks specifically designed for this purpose.

Best way I practiced hitting by myself was with this thing. That turned my swing into a solid, straight line swing and got me comfortable with where my wheelhouse was in my swing, and once you get into a rhythm with it it's actually really relaxing.

I always called them a "pitchback". These things: https://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-PitchBack-Baseball-Throwing-Fielding/dp/B003D6FDBY.

These things are pretty neat, but expensive ($100+ waat). I bought this sucker with the plans to modify a bucket top so my GSD can drop the ball in herself. If you think of going this route, other people have had success using it for their dogs, but recommended heavier balls like these. You know I like them heavy balls.

https://www.amazon.com/Louisville-Slugger-Flame-Pitching-Machine/dp/B000VZ2Q5G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549595422&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+flame+pitching+machine

Like this? Or this?

https://www.amazon.com/NET-PLAYZ-Baseball-Softball-Pitching/dp/B01EZLSQH8/ref=sr_1_13?s=team-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1472753009&sr=1-13

This one looks pretty cool

gotcha, thanks. i'm just a washed up guy who loves batting cages and wants a way to take some hacks ideally against live pitching

i went with this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007DHT8Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

hopefully it doesnt suck

I have also had success hitting these between games as you can take full swings and not really have to worry about hitting it too far or hitting people. https://www.amazon.com/CONTROL-Softball-Weighted-Training-Hitting/dp/B00OXJHN0O

This is most likely the thumbguard you speak of. I use one and really enjoy it. It (in theory at least) is supposed to position the bat so you grip it with your fingers rather than with your palm (If that makes sense). It can take a bit of getting used to so if you do decide to get one I'd definitely hit up a batting cage or take some bp to get some hitting reps in.

Here's one for $34.99

I use a very similar one

https://smile.amazon.com/Franklin-Sports-Perfect-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B01DZP7H9S

At least until I can afford (and justify) a TorrX

I’ve used this one for years. Of course, I break needles from time to time. Oh, and as a New England Patriots fan, I routinely crack a joke about me and Brady like to measure the pressure....
Franklin Sports Perfect Pump
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DZP7H9S

Franklin Sports MLB Electronic Baseball Pitching Machine - Includes Six Plastic Baseballs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007DHT8Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Jw3.AbNRD5VX9

It’ll say somewhere to only use the balls that it comes with but I use regulation wiffle balls all the time

https://www.amazon.com/PowerNet-I-Screen-Frame-Carry-Bag/dp/B016YZGURG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487775684&sr=8-1&keywords=powernet+pitching+screen

Batting training balls are heavy and soft, very pleasant to juggle. Here's six for 40 dollars.

https://www.amazon.com/PowerNet-Weighted-Hitting-Batting-Training/dp/B0145FHFP8

I actually use one of these for bp fun with friends since they dont know how to pitch.

http://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-Hit-A-Way-Target-Swing-Trainer/dp/B0019GII3U

Shaft of the golf club made contact with the ball end that i was supposed to hit with my club head and snapped off.

If she wants to just generally work on her catching skills for line drives, throws, grounders etc You could get a handball and go to a handball court at a local park (or really just any building with a thick wall and a large area to run around behind it). She could throw the ball against the Wall and then catch it with her glove. The Smaller ball will bounce out of the glove more easily so she'll be forced to work on catching with two hands.

They actually sell a ball designed to bounce around that is helpful for working on reaction time and reflexes: https://www.hockeyshot.com/SKLZ-Reaction-Ball-p/sklz-001.htm that is particularly useful if she plays infield.

You could also get a Rebounder: https://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-PitchBack-Baseball-Throwing-Fielding/dp/B003D6FDBY/ These are pretty nice because it works with Softballs and baseballs and it can bounce balls up in the air depending on your angle, same concept though

I've had this net for about a year now. Put well over a thousand throws into it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KN1MH8Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Radar-Coach-Pro-Level-Training/dp/B00ISCXPJA

For only $300 you can basically get a Stalker II Pro equivalent. I own one and it is extremely accurate and reliable.

[WTB] SwingAway. Located in San Diego.

That's a baseball net, but I'm assuming the setup is similar.
https://www.amazon.com/Bownet-Portable-Pitch-Softball-Practice/dp/B007CY77IK/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1487568846&sr=8-23&keywords=pitching+screen

Anything with a 3 star rating on amazon after a billion reviews is probably bad.
http://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-Catapult-Soft-Toss-Machine/dp/B004MKUZJK

Prohitter, it's a device that helps your grip which is MLB legal.

> What are your actual lifts?

I've been plateaued for a couple of months. I also keep re-injuring my shoulder despite numerous form checks. Probably from years of pitching a baseball. My body cannot handle much more as is.

All 5 reps: BP:170 / SQ: 285 / DL: 335

Reminder - I started with the bar 1 year ago without ever lifting in my life.

>you need to eat bro.

Yeah, I know. I have had trouble with this my whole life. Visiting a frat bro this summer he saw me for the first time in a couple of years. He looked at me and said, "What the fuck, dude? You're jacked as fuck now." His wife chimed in (who I also have known for 20 years), "Yeah he is! I can hardly believe it. You look great! Back in college you never ate and just smoked cigarettes!"

It's been a lifelong struggle, one I've gotten much better at since MRP.

> you may need some pharmaceutical assistance to get there.

See dude, I love a great game of baseball and a good southern BBQ. Both of which are very "purist" in their nature, like me. I hate even that thumb shit the pros wear now. You can't go fucking around with bats, balls and BBQ methods. They are what they are and the challenge is in the rules. I like the challenge.

But I've challenged this mindset with myself for a year. My T-levels are mid 400's, which are low. I'm genetically small framed, as is my entire family. I'm also very happy with my current mindset, and I really don't want to (potentially) go fuck that up with non-natural things. I also don't like being dependent on those things for the rest of my life. I take everything I can that is natural.

I also know that it might be the only way to reach lofty goals given my circumstances and I might have to abandon some of that purist mindset in some parts of my life to get there. I don't like that one bit. That's not being stubborn, it's adhering to my core principles of who (I think) I am.

Decisions to be made, for sure.

'Invention' my ass.

This has been there for over 50 years...
Plus the article claim of 90+ mph isn't independently verified...

https://www.amazon.com/Louisville-Slugger-Flame-Pitching-Machine/dp/B000VZ2Q5G/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=louisevilly+slugger&qid=1563415841&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spell

I remember some Indian dude that copied a Linux Source Code and the media had gone gaga with headlines "Indian creates a superior OS than Microsoft"