Tag: D-BAT

The Value of Warming Up: Why Warming Up is Necessary

For most, the warm-up is boring and mundane. Others might find it unnecessary and a complete waste of time. While it may not be your favorite part of the game of baseball, it IS an important part of performing at the highest level possible. Here are a few reasons why a baseball – or softball – warm-up is so important to competing at the highest level:

#1: The Warm-Up Gets Your Brain in Gear.

Throughout the game, your brain is constantly sending messages to your muscles – letting them know when to start, stop, jump, swing, etc. Warm-ups get that central nervous system warmed up so that it’s ready to kick into gear when you need it to. Without a warm-up, your reflexes just might not be as sharp as you need them to be.

#2: The Warm-Up Lubricates Your Joints.

Think about an old door. It can creak and open slowly when not properly lubricated. The same is true of your joints. When you warm up your body, it starts to loosen and lubricate those joints so that everything moves without injury and with greater responsiveness.

#3: The Warm-up Raises Your Core Temperature

Obviously, when you begin to exercise, your body temperature begins to rise. This increase in body temperature gets the blood flowing and the muscles warm, all turning your body into a stretchy rubber band, ready to stretch and bend in whatever ways necessary to make the play.

How Do I Know My Body is Warmed Up?

Warm up for 10-15 minutes, or until your body just begins to break a sweat, and you’ll know your body is ready to perform at its highest level on the baseball field.

More questions on how to improve your baseball or softball game? Call D-BAT Sports today or visit one of our state-of-the-art baseball training facilities located across the United States.  

How to Tell If Your Wood Bat is Quality

Like most things in life – not all wood baseball bats are created equal. It can be difficult to know what makes the best wood bat, so D-BAT is here with tips on how to tell if your wood baseball bat is quality or not:

What Type of Wood is it Made of?

Decide what wood type you want for your bat before you go buy one. You want to look for bats that are made of northern white ash or hard rock maple, as these species are very strong and have been tested to withstand the rigors of the game of baseball. Ash bats are going to give a little bit more and are more flexible than maple bats. Maple bats are going to be harder than ash because the wood is a lot more dense. Maple bats actually get harder as you hit them.

Check the Grain

When looking at ash bats particularly, pay attention to the wood grain. You want to see wood grain that is nice and straight all the way up the bat. This indicates a better, stronger bat. 

Is the Bat Straight?

Okay – this may seem like a silly question, but in all seriousness… is the bat straight? You want a bat that is perfectly straight, and you’d be surprised how many are not. Test it by laying it on the ground with a slight incline and watch the bat roll. If it’s wobbly, then it’s got a bow in it. If it’s smooth, you’ve found a good bat.

Ready to purchase a new wood bat? D-BAT Sports offers a great selection of the best wood baseball bats on the market. Stop into a location near you and talk with one of our baseball pro shop experts about which bat would be best for your player.

Is Your Child Ready for Travel Ball?

If your child has spent any time around baseball, chances are you’ve asked yourself, “is my child ready for travel ball?”

It’s a big commitment, and one that both your child – and your family – need to be on board with. Here are 3 questions D-BAT Sports recommends asking yourself in preparation for answering this question:

Does Your Child Show Desire and Determination?

At some level, your child has to want this himself. It can’t be something you are pushing on them or burnout can occur sooner rather than later. Many teams practice and play year round with short off seasons in between, so it’s important that your child is on board and ready for the commitment. If he or she is not showing determination and desire to improve on their own, then it may not be time for travel ball.

What is Your Child’s Skill Level?

If your child is currently playing rec ball, is he or she currently in the top half ability wise? Do you believe he or she has what it takes to succeed and add value at the next level? There is nothing wrong with allowing your child to stick with the flexibility and ease that comes with recreational baseball, but if you sense that your child is frustrated because the team as a whole is not performing at the level your child is capable of, then it’s time to consider travel ball.

Can You Afford Travel Ball?

The costs for uniforms, equipment, tournaments, lodging and dining, etc. can add up when playing travel ball. These are all important considerations before committing your child – and your family – to a rigorous year round travel ball schedule.

If you feel it is time to get your child involved in travel baseball, then visit us at D-BAT Sports to talk more about private baseball instruction, area teams, etc. As the best baseball training facility around, we’ve produced major league players and we’d love to visit with you about your child’s potential! Find a D-BAT location near you!