Nokona Fastpitch softball gloves have been consistently popular within the softball industry. They have been crafting their products in Nocona, Texas since 1934, and take extreme pride in the fact that they are an American-based product.
The Nokona X2 Buckaroo glove is Nokona’s highest-end Fastpitch softball glove. It comes in three different forms; the fielder’s glove, catcher’s mitt, and first base mitt. This series is made from Nokona’s top-grain Stampede Steerhide and Kangaroo Leathers. This material allows for the Fastpitch softball glove to maintain its structure and shape. The X2 Buckaroo series is of the highest quality for advanced players who want the highest level of performance. The Nokona Alpha softball glove comes in both a fielder’s glove and catcher’s mitt. It is designed so that there is virtually no break-in needed. Nokona gloves are notorious for taking a decent amount of time to break in, so if you are looking for a Nokona Fastpitch softball glove that allows for a lesser break in time, the Alpha series may be what you need. This series is made of the highest quality American Buffalo and Steerhide leathers, making this Fastpitch softball glove lightweight, durable, and high-performing. The Nokona Walnut Fastpitch softball glove series comes in a fielder’s glove, catcher’s mitt, and first base mitt. This softball glove is made from Nokona’s famous Top Grain Steerhide. The Walnut series is a classic Fastpitch softball glove that still has all of the modern technology that softball players enjoy. Nokona also offers their consumers a one-year warranty with their Fastpitch softball glove purchase. This is an outstanding warranty from a company that truly stands behind their products. If you wish to get an extended warranty with your Fastpitch softball glove, then Nokona is your best option. Picking a Fastpitch Softball Glove can be difficult, and being comfortable with your choice is a top priority. Nokona is just one of the many brands of Fastpitch softball gloves that players thoroughly enjoy. Nokona makes top quality softball gloves that break away from the pack in their specialized materials, durability, and dedication to the satisfaction of their consumers. Visit Longstreth.com or the Longstreth Sporting Goods retail store for all your fastpitch softball needs.
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Fastpitch Softball Gloves
When it comes to the game of fastpitch softball, gloves and mitts are one of the most important choices an athlete can make. Each year, vendors roll out their new line for the upcoming season. Typically, each line includes gloves/mitts produced for specific positions with a variety of leathers and pocket web designs. Some gloves are made for the both right- and left-handed players; but the majority of gloves / mitts are designed for the right-handed thrower. As a female athlete, it’s important to find a glove that has been made specifically for the female player. These gloves feature narrow fingers, smaller wrist openings, and a wider pocket. This season, three fastpitch softball gloves have become popular choices. Nokona Walnut Fastpitch Gloves The Nokona brand is synonymous with high-quality, top-of-the line offerings. Their Nokona Walnut line is a classic best-selling glove that provides great stability, durability, and a game-ready feel. The Walnut Fastpitch gloves are constructed of flexible, lightweight Walnut Steerhide Leather. They are handcrafted and made specifically for the female athlete’s hand. The single finger closed back with adjustable Velcro wrist strap offers a personalized fit for each individual player. The fielder’s and catcher’s gloves come in a variety of sizes with a closed web, while the first base is available with an H-web design. They’re all available for the right-handed thrower. Wilson A2000 Wilson’s A2000 is designed for the serious fastpitch athlete. This 12.5-inch fastpitch glove has been created with the new Custom Fit System, a hook and loop wrist closure that offers every player a customized secure fit – no matter how tight she wears it. It is built from Premium Pro Stock leather that gives the glove superior feel and durability; and allows the glove to break in perfectly and last from season to season. The A2000 features D-Fusion padding just below the pocket to absorb the shock of hard line drives; a Victory Web that makes it the perfect outfielder glove; and is available for right-handed throwers. Rawlings Liberty Advanced Rawlings has developed a perfectly-balanced pattern technology for the Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove series. This 12.5-inch glove is designed for the smaller hand of the female athlete, therefore providing improved control and comfort. The nonslip pull strap makes the hand opening adjustable for a custom fit. The Liberty Advanced Glove is constructed from full-grain oil-treated shell leather making it feel game-ready. It features a double-laced basket web which forms a closed, deep pocket making it an excellent choice for infielders, outfielders, and pitchers. It’s available for right-handed throwers. While these three gloves rise to the top of this year’s offerings, there are many other options available for all levels of players. Longstreth Sporting Goods has a huge variety of gloves and mitts specifically designed for the female athlete. Visit Longstreth to see the fastpitch equipment selection or ask the Softball Expert how to select the perfect glove for you. Did you make the softball team? Congratulations! Playing softball is a blast and your family will have a great time watching you and cheering you on. Here are 10 tips to be your best at softball:
1. Work on Understanding Rules In softball, rules matter and so you want to make sure you understand them thoroughly. In addition, pay attention to your coach's directions like how to use your softball cleats or shoes effectively, or how to stand on the field. 2. Work on Technique Take advantage of every opportunity to learn more from experts:
3. Good Batting Stance
4. Good Hitting
5. Practice, Practice, Practice The truth? Softball is a game that requires mental toughness and repetition. So practice just as hard as you play. Here are some practice ideas:
6. Be a Good Team Member Remember that no one can play softball alone and that everyone does better with encouragement. Be positive and remember to help other people out and give plenty of compliments and praise. 7. Communicate People can't guess what you are thinking, so be sure to communicate clearly to coaches, team members or your parents if you don't understand something. Be respectful but tell people what you need and give them a chance to respond before getting upset or angry. 8. Take Care of Your Stuff Your family has made an investment in buying you the softball equipment you need like bats, balls, gloves and shoes. Don't just throw your things down. Protect that investment from getting lost or damaged by making sure you put everything in a protective bag. You can find great softball bags here http://www.longstreth.com/softball-bags.asp 9. Take Care of the Park You will spend a lot of time at the ballpark, so keep it nice for everyone by:
10. Have a Good Attitude In sports competitions, tempers can fly. How you handle emotions is important. The best players choose to react in a positive way by staying humble and encouraging others. One last tip? Remember being your best at softball means both sharpening your game and learning how to be a great team member. Unsure what kind of softball equipment might help? Longstreth Sporting Goods specializes in outfitting female softball players and will be happy to help you get everything you need to be your best.Click here to find the best softball bats! #Softballtips, #Softball Have you become a softball parent? You probably love seeing your daughter excited about her sport. As you look forward to seeing her play and continue to improve her game, here's how you can help: Get the Right Equipment One of the first things parents can do is to make sure their daughters get the right softball equipment (buy it here) designed specifically for young female players. Parents can also help make sure your daughter gets the right equipment for her size, age, and position:
Get Properly Fitting Equipment Your daughter may see another player's bat and fall in love with it, but your job as a parent is to make sure she gets the equipment that is fitted to her needs. For example, buying the right softball bat depends on your daughter's:
Be Supportive Sports teach how to win and how to lose. Especially if your daughter is just starting to play, she will need support and encouragement if she does not have a good day on the field. You can also support her by helping her get in extra practice time, or by providing her with support like a pitching machine to help her practice on her own time. Be the Parent, Not the Coach While it can be helpful for a parent to help their daughter do individual practice or remind her to pack her softball sports bag, parents shouldn't try to be her coach. Besides, you'll have plenty to do just being her cheering section! Remind Your Daughter She's Playing a Game In the intensity of competitive sports, young girls can easily lose perspective and get angry, upset, or discouraged. That's where a parent can step in to help and remind her that softball is just a game and games are meant to be fun. Encourage Practice at Home Getting better at softball requires practice at home and you can help your daughter by encouraging her to set goals and keep to them. She might want to:
Turn Drills into Games Softball parents can also help their daughters by making practice a game.
#softball, #Youthsoftball, #startingsoftball While there are many similarities between the games of baseball and softball, there are a few major differences between the two. If your child plays softball or you are coaching a team, these fun facts can give you some insight into the differences between the two games.
The Field Both sports are played on a field that includes a diamond-shaped dirt infield and a grass-covered outfield, but the dimensions of a softball field are much smaller. With an infield less than half the size of a baseball infield, softball is a more quickly moving game in which players really have to hustle. Pitching Baseball pitchers throw from a raised mound, but in softball, the pitcher delivers balls on level ground with the batter 40 feet from pitcher, a distance much closer to the batter than in baseball. Softball pitches can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour, with the ball reaching the batter in just .35 seconds. Batting Because of the short distance between pitcher and batter, when hitting a fastball softball batters may have only 25 milliseconds to decide when to swing, 55 percent less time than in major league baseball. In a line drive the ball may reach 100 miles per hour, making catching the ball even more challenging for infielders. If the batter hits a grounder, an infielder might have just 3.2 seconds to get the ball to first base, a full second less than a major leaguer can reach first base. When a batter delivers a slap hit infielders have even less time to react, as the batter is already moving before the ball is in play, fighting the player’s resting inertia. Slap hits can reach up to 19 miles per hour and batters can reach first base in a matter of 2.66 seconds. If a third baseman takes any more than 1.5 seconds to field the ball down the third baseline it becomes virtually impossible to throw the runner out at first base. Running Unlike baseball, in softball players are not allowed to lead off, but a fast softball runner can sometimes get from first to second base in a matter of three seconds. A softball catcher may have just 1.5 seconds to nail a runner, about one-tenth of a second less than in baseball. Softball Equipment
Whether you are playing or coaching, proper equipment and following the rules and specifications for each game is just one of the keys to a successful, happy team. Get out there, batter up and don’t forget to have fun! #SoftballvsBaseball Fastpitch Softball is a thrilling game, and the competition is always tough. Here are a few tips on how to improve your softball pitching and to master the components of pitching for a great performance. Practice Regular practice helps improve pitching performance. It's believed that to be a great pitcher you should try to throw 100 pitches for 100 days. Practice is perfection and the more reps you try, the better chances of improving your pitching performance. During practice try different positions and techniques to discover your strengths and ability. Coach Zack Farrell believes that practice helps a pitcher to maximize their potential on the mound. Practice will allow you to have command of pitch location. This is a toll that will help you measure the desired location. The skill to execute a pitch to the desired location is the key element of effective pitching. The feedback during practice allows the pitcher to measure how poorly or well they are doing. The ability to control is the extreme mastery of the art of pitching. Just establish target, measure, throw and adjust. Long toss, Walkthroughs and weighted Softballs to maximize velocity Long toss is a technique that helps you develop proper throwing mechanism. It maximizes your ball velocity and throwing distance while minimizing the risk of throwing injuries. Long toss should be practiced few times a week for 20-30 minutes. Walkthrough exercises will help you improve your speed, flexibility and strength as well. Practicing with weighted softballs is another way of improving your throwing velocity while strengthening your arm muscles. Weighted softballs can be up to 20% heavier than the normal softballs. Practice with weighted softballs just for a few minutes every day as longer practice sessions might result in arm injury Change speeds The ability to throw the ball at different speeds improves your performance. When you are capable of speed variation, you can throw the ball at any of the four corners. Also to be a great softball pitcher you need to work on your flexibility. Exercise on the ability to move in and out of the mound, the power to drive and pitch harder. Exercise on generating enough leg power. Also work on the ability to move up and down, your body should be flexible. Engage yourself in flexibility or power training programs; this will help your body to be flexible. Focus Softball pitchers complicate things by overthinking, and this interferes with their performance. It also affects their velocity and focus. Avoid overthinking and ensure your mind is clear and focused. When pitching, keep your game simple and don't think of how you can play different techniques. This will help you focus on your strength and ability. Equally believing in yourself helps raise your confidence. It's advisable only to focus on one or two playing positions so you don't complicate your game. Make a habit of reminding yourself to just throw the ball and stay focused. Longstreth Sporting Goods provides you with all the information and sporting equipment such as bats, gloves, cleats, and all the gears that you need to succeed in softball. #Softballpitching, #SoftballTips, #SoftballEquipment Are you planning to buy softball equipment for your daughter? Having the best equipment that your daughter is comfortable in will allow her perform to the maximum and be the best. Here is a guide that will help you buy the right softball gear.
Softball bat There is no better bat than the other. You need to purchase a bat that suits your daughter's skill level, weight, height, and age. If your daughter is small and is just building up her strength choose a lighter bat that she will be able to control and swing easily. If she is stronger, a heavier bat will do for her as she will be able to control her speed. 8-9 year old girls should use a softball bat of 26-28 inches. As your daughter grows each year, you can just add an inch. Aluminum bat is good for beginners, so you can start with the aluminum bat. It is easy for her to improve her swing and doesn't put much weight and pressure on her shoulder. Softball bats at Longstreth are available in a wide variety for your daughter to choose from. Helmet The helmet is one of the most essential softball gear. Softball helmets are made of durable plastic and foam. It helps distribute the forces in case the ball hits the batter's head. The design of the helmet is based on the team or individual preference, but ensure to buy a helmet that fits your daughter's head a little tight. Gloves With the modern technology the softball gloves have improved a lot resulting in excellent performance. Consider the size, comfort, and design to suit your daughter's taste and built, however, note that there are different types of gloves for a different player position. If your daughter is an outfielder, the glove size would be a little larger. Their hand configuration would have deeper pockets that help catch the ball. Infielders require small glove; it allows them to release the ball faster. Cleats Buy the shoes that fit your daughter and that she is comfortable in. Consider the material of the cleats, the weight and how stable is your daughter in the shoes. Consider the inner sole and the outer sole. Equally, check the stud length. All these considerations would help you in selecting the best cleats for your daughter. Protective equipment The kind of protective equipment your daughter would need would be based on the position she is playing in. Catchers especially need to have the right catcher's equipment to stay safe. Sliders protect your daughter when sliding to the base and also protect her calf. The sliding shorts are padded upper thigh with a synthetic compression legging. Other equipment that helps protect your daughter and reduce chances of injuries include, Knee savers- for catchers they help minimize strain at the knee joint. Leg Guards/Shin guards- There is a difference between the two. Leg guards are for catchers and they should cover a little bit above the top of the knee all the way down to the ankles and top of feet. Shin guards are usually for batters. They cover from the top of the foot and ankle to half way up the shin. These protect the shin from fouled off balls. Elbow pads- they help protect elbows and are usually used by batters. Battling gloves- they help reduces chances of hand blisters. Chest protector- they help cover the chest and avoid compelling injuries. When buying the softball equipment note that different leagues have different rules and regulations. Find out about the colors and other specifications from your daughter's coach. While its easy to get carried away and spend a fortune on the equipment, you don't really need the real high end stuff if she is just starting out. What really matters is the fit- the equipment needs to be comfortable for your daughter in order for her to play well. Longstreth Sporting Goods Store has all the right equipment for your young player and our sports counselors are always at hand to answer your questions and to help you guide in making your buying decisions. #SoftballEquipment, #SoftballBats, #SoftballCatchersGear, #SoftballCleats, #SoftballBuyingGuide Winning a softball game does not depend on individual player’s skills, natural talent, or cruel coaching. It does however rely on knowledge of the game, team work, a lot of practices, and drills that involve repetition.
Whether you are a coach or a parent who wants to help children learn the basics of softball, the best place to start is by focusing on base running and various drills. Softball is not an easy sport to learn, but it is definitely a sport that children love. It helps direct their energy into something positive, teaches them discipline, and helps them learn to follow rules as a group. Some helpful tips to keep in mind while practicing baserunning are:
Here are some awesome drills for your softball team to help with their baserunning skills - 3-2-1 Drill In order to complete this drill, you will need three softballs. Place the three balls an equal distance apart on your practice field. Break your players into two teams. Team 1 is considered the "runners." Team 2 is considered the "fielders." Place one of your fielders on second base with their glove. Choose one of your best catchers for this position. When you blow your whistle, the runner must run from home plate, to first base, and stop at second base before the fielder makes it to the field and throws the ball toward second base. Each throw must be properly aimed. If the fielder gets a ball to the catcher standing at second base before the runner makes it to the location, the fielders get a point. If the runner makes it to their destination first, the runners get one point. Not only is this drill a great way to train your team, it is also a lot of fun. Base This is a really fun drill that kids typically play as a game anyway. In order to set up this drill, a flat piece of wood should be placed a short distance from home plate. Make sure the flat piece of wood is within the base path. Place a runner on home base. Hold a tennis ball at eye level. The ball is dropped from this height. As soon as the ball is dropped, the runner dashes from the base toward the ball. The goal is to catch the ball before it has a chance to bounce a second time. The distance of the piece of wood from the base should be determined by the skill level of the player. As the season goes on, you should be able to move the piece of wood farther and farther from the base. Beat the Ball Kids absolutely love this drill. They love it so much, they don't even look at it as though it is a drill, it is more of a training game. Just like in the 3-2-1 drill, split your players into two teams. Again, your teams are the "runners" and the "fielders." Place one fielder on first base and another on third base. Place a softball on a tee. Your runner will hit the ball and run through as many bases as possible before both fielders have had a chance to touch the ball. For each base your runner touches before both fielders touch the ball, they get one point. After all of the runners have had a chance to go, switch out your teams. If you coach a softball team in the Philadelphia area, make sure to visit Longstreth Sporting Goods. Here you will find the best softball equipment for your team including fastpitch softball bats, cleats and turf shoes. #SoftballDrills, #BaserunningTips |
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