If you are just getting started in fastpitch softball, you need to know that players use fastpitch bats made either of composite, aluminum alloy, or a combination. The best bat for a player is the one that swings best for her. Here are some of the best fastpitch softball bats available:
#1 Bat: Louisville Slugger Xeno Plus Want the bat many elite players choose? While some people don't like the stiff swing, this composite bat is popular because of its:
Top 3 Bat Brands These three brands are solid and reliable choices for your bat:
Bat Brands on the Rise
Getting the right softball equipment for your young female athlete can give her the chance to play her best. Longstreth Sporting Goods provides softball equipment that meets the unique needs of young women. If you need help choosing a softball bat or other gear, be sure to give us a call. #FastpitchSoftballBats, #SoftballBats, #SBBats, #bestbats
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Ready for the 2017 softball season? Whether it is going to a practice or playing a game, softball players have a lot of softball gear to bring along. Having the right gear bag can make it much easier for a player to keep their equipment in good condition and tote it around. All players need a bag which fits all of their gear in easily and which is comfortable for them to carry. Top Bat Bags Getting a new softball bag is a great way to start off the season, whether your young player is a starting playing for the first time, or has several seasons behind her. Her confidence will increase when she brings her favorite softball bat and other equipment in one of these top softball bag types and styles of 2017: Easton Walk-Off Built for the diamond and wherever you need to go to play, the Easton Walk-Off is a premium sport utility backpack with:
DeMarini Voodoo Rebirth This version of the popular DeMarini backpack takes it up a level with:
Louisville Slugger Series 7 Stick Pack The spacious storage compartment of this bag has a large opening. In addition, the bag features:
Choosing a Catcher's Bag Catchers have the most equipment to carry out of anyone on the softball team and they need a specialized catchers gear bag. Because of the weight of the equipment, catcher's equipment bags are wheeled. Check out the top 2017 styles: Mizuno Samurai With easy access to the footwear compartment, the Mizuno Samurai offers convenience as well as durable off-road wheels. Furthermore, it offers:
Louisville Slugger Catch-All With a high rise wheel chassis and rigid bottom, this bag has a stable roll. It features:
Easton 500C With full bottom rails and bracketed inline wheels, the Easton offers strength and durability. This bag has:
Whether you are in the market for a new fastpitch softball bat, catcher's gear, or a new glove, Longstreth Sporting Goods is uniquely able to help you make the best choice. We offer a superior selection of the top choices of equipment designed with the young female player in mind. Better yet, our experience in outfitting young women players is second-to-none. Contact Longstreth for customization options on team orders of 12 or more bags. #SoftballBags, #SportsBags, #BestBags, #BestSoftballbags Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports, but most parents, unless they have been lacrosse athletes themselves, don't know much about the sport and might never have watched a game before their children became players. Here are 7 things every lacrosse parent should know: 1. Learn about the Game This fast-paced sport can be bewildering. Here are some things to learn: · The different positions and their responsibilities. · How the game is played · Foul rules Longstreth Sporting Goods has a great selection of books – check out the 2017 US Women’s Lacrosse Rule Book or read about the history of the game in Women Play Lacrosse 2. Don't Talk to Officials Everyone cringes when parents become overly critical of officials or coaches, but no one is hurt more than that parent's child. As a matter of fact, lacrosse etiquette says that parents don't comment on calls at all. It is out of order to say anything either good or bad to the officials and it is important to stop other parents from doing so because it can cause your team to have a penalty. 3. Volunteer Like most sports, lacrosse coaches can often use another set of hands and eyes to help either in practices or games. Ask your daughter's coach if you can be a: · Timer · Scorekeeper · Equipment manager · Concessions helper · Film manager · Statistician Getting in on the action yourself is a way to learn about the game and also a way to get to know other players and parents. Better yet, you can go back on the sidelines and help other people understand what is going on during the play. 4. Be Positive Any competitive sport can cause strong emotions in both players and parents but remember that, as a parent, you set a tone for your player when you communicate with the coach. Remember to speak thoughtfully, kindly, and in a positive manner to the coach, and also to your child when talking about the coach. Coaches often spend far more time coaching than they ever get compensated for, so be appreciative! 5. Don't Assume-Ask Is your daughter or another child not given much play time? Or you see a player coming off the field and you don't know why? Don't assume there is some prejudice against the player or imagine the coach doesn't think she has talent. There could be other reasons a player comes off the field, such as: · The player has been asked to make a change on their own and hasn't yet done it. · The player may have been sent in for a particular short job on the field. · A player may feel winded and choose to sit out a while, which is allowed. 6. Take the Long View Did your team lose? Take the opportunity to give your daughter some life lessons about the value of being challenged, learning to practice harder, and learning to work together as a team. Is your player disappointed by tryouts? Sympathize but also help them see what they can do to improve for next time. 7. Know the Equipment Making sure your daughter has the right lacrosse equipment for playing her game and practicing her skills is an important part of helping her succeed in this fast-paced game. Make sure to choose a stick that fits her height and skill level. The handle on a stick can be shortened for smaller players, as long as the full crosse is within the legal length. Keep some lacrosse training balls handy for her to hone her skills. Make sure she has good quality cleats so that she has a strong footing in the ground and slip-ups are minimized. Need help? The lacrosse managers at Longstreth Sporting Goods can provide you information. We specialize in outfitting female lacrosse players and are happy to answer any questions. Feeling fancy? Come in to our store and get your custom strung lacrosse heads at Longstreth! #LAX, #Lacrosse, #LacrosseParents When a softball player makes an amazing diving catch in the outfield or stops a line drive, her glove makes all the difference. Outfitting a female softball player with the correct softball glove is an important part of preparing her to do her best in this exciting sport.
Is the Glove Right for Your Position? First of all, it is important to know that a softball player's glove choice depends on her position and that the catcher's gear is very specialized.
Is the Glove the Right Size? Since young female players tend to have smaller hands, right glove size is very important. Too large a glove can strain her hands, cause poor performance and even pain. It is never a good idea for a young female player to use a leftover slow pitch baseball glove worn by an older brother or dad since it often is much too large for her. The best way to make sure you have the right fit in a softball glove is to try it on. Glove sizing is based on the glove measurement from wrist to index finger. Sizes vary by position:
Does the Glove Fit? Getting the best performance from a glove means being able to use the fingers and thumb optimally to catch the ball. To be able to use a full range of motion, young female players should not try to fit all five fingers in the glove all the way. Instead, they should:
Does the Glove Feel Good? Ultimately, glove choice is very personal, so a player needs to be careful to pick the glove that fits her best, rather than being swayed by the choice of friends or how a glove looks. Longstreth Sporting Goods knows that young female softball players need equipment that suits their particular needs and specializes not only in fastpitch gloves but also other much needed gear like pitching machines and equipment bags. #Softball Gloves, #Choosing a Glove Make no mistake, hitting a fastpitch softball which can be thrown at speeds topping 75 mph is not an easy feat. Having the right softball bat is an important first step. Next, fine-tuning a player's softball swing to make contact in the sweet spot requires drills and lots of practice, like these:
Tracking Drill One of the most important ways to improve your swing is to enhance your ability to track the ball coming toward you. Try having a pitcher stand about 15 feet away and throw either a Frisbee or the lid of a can towards you. Because objects like Frisbees will change direction as they fly, this drill helps you learn eye-hand coordination in tracking an object coming toward your bat. Hit and Run! An important part of hitting well is running when you make contact. You want to move smoothly from your swing into a run, so don't forget to do some drills where you drop your softball bat and run toward first base. Imagine Success Do you have to wait your turn in practice? Use that time to train mentally. Here's how:
One Handed Swinging Learning how to do a compact swing is important but a regular aluminum or composite bat is too heavy, so use a plastic bat and whiffle balls to try this drill:
Slow Swing While batting cages and hitting drills are helpful, they don't resemble a real-life situation. When you step up to the plate with your favorite Demarini bat at a game, you won't be rushing through 100 or more swings. Instead, you will:
Have the Best Bat for You The most important tip for that perfect swing?Choose the right softball bat for your weight, height, age, body type, and style of swing. Longstreth Sporting Goods specializes in making sure female athletes have the right equipment to play their best and will be happy to help you equip your female athlete with all she needs to perfect her hitting. Check out the great selection of softball equipment at Longstreth. #Softball Swing, #Improve your Swing Hitting the ball in that sweet spot is every softball player's dream. Developing as a hitter requires lots of practice, good coaching, and the right bat. Whether your daughter has just started playing softball, or has been building up her hitting skills for a while and is ready for a new bat to help her reach the next level, here are the things you should look for in buying a softball bat: Choosing the Best Length Age, weight, and height determine bat length. To find the best length for a player:
Choosing the Right Weight Body style affects what weight of bat works best. A player should try swinging a bat to make sure it is comfortable. It is important not to choose a bat which is too heavy because that will make her swing at an angle. She wants a bat that gives quick, fast contact, and a good pop. Remember that too heavy a bat will make her swing too slowly and the pitcher will beat her. Moreover, trying to swing a heavy bat faster can cause injuries. A good weight test? A player should hold the bat in one hand with her arm extended for 30 seconds. If that is comfortable, the bat should work. Choosing Materials The two most popular types of fastpitch bats are composite and aluminum. Aluminum bats have:
Mistakes in Choosing Girls can be tempted to choose a bat based on their favorite color or whether it matches their uniform. Avoid letting color be the focus of her choice because it is the performance which matters most. Be sure to focus on whether the bat feels right when swinging. Another mistake some girls make is to assume that bats their friends like are the best. No one bat is really best for everyone. Try out a variety of bats to find out which performs best for her. Choose Wisely Getting the right bat is an important decision and Longstreth realizes that female athletes may need specialized help in choosing the right equipment. If you need help, our experts would be happy to help you choose the right equipment for your fastpitch softball player. #BuyingaBat #SoftballBats #Choosethebat Fortunately, many women's sports are becoming increasingly popular to play and watch. Whether your daughter has just joined a team or is considering what she'd like to play, you might want to learn more about 3 great professional sports for women--field hockey, softball, and lacrosse.
Field Hockey Brought to the United States in 1901, field hockey has grown as a women’s sport and is now played in over 250 colleges. This fast-paced, exciting sport resembles ice hockey but is played with a hard ball on a field of grass or turf. Players use field hockey sticks to drive the ball into a net. Rules include:
Players Equipment needed for field hockey includes sticks, goggles, shinguards, mouthguards, balls, and cleats/turf shoes. Goalies also have helmets and protective gear. Softball The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is a professional softball league with six teams, each playing a 50 game schedule. In addition, close to 1,700 college softball programs are available and some players can receive scholarships to play. In softball, there are:
If your daughter wants to play softball, she will need a bat suited to her height, weight, and ability. In addition, she will need other equipment for playing softball like a glove, batting helmet, cleats and other protective gear. For practice, she may want a pitching machine too. Lacrosse Based on a game played by indigenous Americans, lacrosse for women is equally fast-paced as the men's game, but not as physical. Played both in colleges in the U.S. and internationally, there is a Women's Lacrosse World Cup every four years. Women's lacrosse is played:
Because rules in women's lacrosse prevent the play from involving as much contact as men's games, equipment needed for women's lacrosse is less extensive. Field players need a lacrosse stick, mouth guard, goggles, cleats, practice balls and a bag. Of course, goalkeepers need additional gear. Whether your daughter chooses field hockey, softball or lacrosse, she can find equipment for her sport designed especially for the female athlete at Longstreth Sporting Goods. Visit us here. Excited? Just wait until you see her play! #softball, #Lacrosse, #Field Hockey, #Women’s sports If your daughter has joined a lacrosse team, know that she is joining not only the oldest American sport, but one of the fastest growing team sports in both high school and college. Why the increasing popularity of lacrosse as a sport for young women? Lacrosse combines the best of basketball, soccer, and hockey, but emphasizes agility over brawn, so players of all sizes can succeed. Here are the differences between boys’ and girls’ lacrosse:
Girls’ Lacrosse is a Non-Contact Sport Both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse have the same objective of scoring goals, but the rules and field markings for girls’ lacrosse are different. Boys’ lacrosse has a lot of physical interaction and body contact, which is not allowed in the girls’ game as outlined by the girls’ lacrosse rules. In fact, girls’ lacrosse is considered a non-contact game, making girls less likely to be injured while playing. Because of this, girls’ lacrosse players require less protective lacrosse equipment &gear, generally only needing goggles and a mouth guard. Some girls add gloves for light protection or because of playing in cold weather. Boys’ lacrosse teams also use mouth guards but add helmets, shoulder, chest, arm pads, as well as highly padded gloves that cover the wrist for protection during full contact play and body checking. Differences in Sticks The differences in play between girls’ and boys’ lacrosse means that players have different kinds of lacrosse sticks:
Differences in Fielding The rules and set-up of boy’s and girl’s teams are somewhat different:
Of course, both genders will claim that their play is faster, more skilled, more active and more aggressive! In reality, except for girls not being involved in body checking, the style of play is very similar. Both boys and girls use their athletic ability and stamina to be hard on their opponents, pass the ball down toward their goal and avoid being checked. Similarities in Lacrosse Equipment While lacrosse sticks and protective gear are somewhat different for boys and girls, some of their equipment is the same.
Enjoy Lacrosse Watching! Another similarity? Lacrosse play of both boys and girls is a blast for spectators. With the quick play, exciting action, and opportunities for vivid athleticism from every size player, lacrosse for girls is one of the most interesting and challenging sports available for young women. So be encouraged that your daughter's choice of lacrosse may have less physical contact than boy's lacrosse, but is just as exciting to watch! #lacrosse, #boys’ lacrosse, #girls’ lacrosse 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 |
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