I’ll be honest. Until I started coaching at the higher levels, I never really paid much attention to the bat I used for defensive work. I’d grab the first bat off the rack, toss the ball into the air, and hit it where it needed to go. By the end of the season, I felt…
Once a player hits the field at 9 years old in youth baseball, the game starting looking very different from the early tee-ball or coach-pitch days. For most leagues, it’s the first time they’re facing kid pitch, stepping up to the plate against real pitchers who are also learning the ropes (and those kids are…
Arguably, 12U is the most exciting age level for youth baseball. This is the level when players go to Cooperstown, represent their towns in All Stars, play in the Little League World Series, head to Aberdeen for the Cal Ripken Experience, and travel ballet gets a lot more serious. I loved coaching at this level…
Baseball at the 10U level is where, in my opinion, things start to get fun. The kids start to understand the game a bit better, often surprising you with plays and hits you didn’t think were possible. Everyone is getting stronger and faster, and starting to practice on their own, making things more competitive. And…
I think we can all agree that there’s something timeless about the crack of a wood bat, and even in 2025, hitters are still chasing that perfect blend of sound, feel, and (hopefully) performance. I actually just got back from coaching a wood bat tournament, and seeing the different quality of these bats, I thought…
I’ve seen so many sad faces on parents when their kid rolls into a Cal Ripken or Little League dugout with a new $300-plus bat, only to find out they can’t use it. And when I say sad, I mostly mean angry, but I’m just the messenger. When it comes to Cal Ripken, Little League,…
Listen.. I get it. If you’re a ballplayer, you probably work out all winter, take lessons, and strive to get better. The hope is to hit the field early in the season and putting on a show. But opening day comes and the temperatures are brutally cold, and it never quite feels like the day…
Whether you’re training with a backyard cage, gearing up in a professional facility, or need some new hardware to improve your team offensive and defensive drills, choosing the best pitching machines can transform your practice from average to elite. With the right unit, hitters can dial in their timing, improve hand-eye coordination, and face different…
Love them or hate them, if you’re deep into travel baseball or tournament play, you know how much the right bat matters. Picking the best USSSA bat can give your hitter the edge they need to compete. I’m talking more pop, better control, and that satisfying clunk that says “we’re not here to play around.”…
If your kid plays USSSA baseball, you’ve probably heard terms like “U-Trip”, “USSSA”, or “USSSA stamp.” You might’ve even heard “big barrel bats.” As a coach, I hear them all the time. Even my older players, who have outgrown USSSA bats, love to ask if they’re allowed at any given tournament we’re attending. But what…