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There is a great book by Jason Kendall a HOF catcher that I used when I first started. It’s basically everything a catcher needs to know in 1 book.
Even after reading it all you won’t remember everything so for me here was the key parts.
Look at the batters stance, it can tell you a lot. If they crowded the plate they most likely like it in side so start away. But keep watching them, if they start to lean further in that means they are expecting outside so that’s when you go fastball in.
Each batter is going to be different but every ball Tyler has a hole in their swing, is all about finding it and knowing when to attack it and when to pitch normally.
Know your pitchers. There is a big difference between a fastball pitcher and a fenece pitcher.
Finally there are 2 basic ways of pitching. Fastball to get ahead then offspeed to get is the more popular. But there is also pitching backwards where you use offspeed to get ahead then a fastball to get outs. You need to use both in order to get outs.
For electrolytes I use this stuff from amazon. It's awesome. LyteShow - Electrolyte Concentrate for Rapid Rehydration - 40 Servings (With Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EISFBYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_B6GAyb9MF56CN
I have two sons in baseball, ages 7 and 12. The 7 year old does little league and the 12 year old does little league and travel ball. Both have the opportunity to be streaky hitters-- Sometimes good, sometimes not. UNTIL we bought a net like this and started having them hit buckets of baseballs off a tee into the net in the garage. Sometimes they'll listen to music, sometimes do it together, sometimes just hit a bucket or two to get it done. You have to make sure your kid has good swing mechanics, but this creates good muscle memory and takes that part of the process out of the equation with live pitches. This has our kids near the top of the hitting order. AND, it stays in the garage so you can use it for years and years.
Former MLB catcher Jason Kendall wrote a book and he goes into it a lot. It’s called Throwback, it might be at a book store close by or here is the amazon link.
https://www.amazon.com/Throwback-Big-League-Catcher-Really-Played/dp/B01L98NDDW
The mental game of baseball.
I was hesitant to recommend but if he reads like you say it's worth it.
I bought my son a pair for Christmas hoping to get a entire season out of them. He goes through batting gloves like crazy. He wore these last season and said they were the most comfortable gloves he’s ever worn. But they didn’t last very long.
First of all... one of these helps but its simple for me (a pitcher)... repetition, good release point, and having a good windup/pitching mechanics helps. Weird little kink for me but... I warm up with a weighted balls in the bullpen before I pitch. It helps with accuracy and location for me.
We don't have the space in our backyard for a full-on pitching machine. Instead, we use this Lousiville Slugger soft toss machine. It'll allow for some tracking of the ball without having to worry about the velocity.
It's not the same as a pitching machine, but it's super easy to set up.
I've also been looking at the Heater machines with the battery (for portability).
I really like the Maxum Ultra, but it is 1 piece composite and it looks like you prefer alloy.
Well measure it out when you can if you have the room. Take into account the catchers distance past 60-6. Here is a good view.
It's gotten a lot more expensive since I bought mine but this one has worked well for me:
It's gotten a lot more expensive since I bought this but it's worked very well for me:
I see lots of coaches using heavy hitting plyo balls for BP in the field before games. But what took the cake was seeing a coach using this gadget:
Mind you...if you or an assistant coach can hit fungo, then do that. But damn this thing was efficient at getting kids rep after rep.
I found one on Amazon that I use. You have to be careful though because it's a minefield of kids or replica stuff.
Rawlings Coolflo Single Flap... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010R05D4K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Found the link. Not sure if it's still available or whatever but this one was legit
I like this pair of $30 shades from Amazon that includes 3 different options for the lenses. They're comfortable and inexpensive enough that I don't mind if something happens to them.
The bat/ball I have now is those bigger Little Tikes styled one (https://www.amazon.ca/Little-Tikes-T-Ball-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B01FVVKY08)
So if I got a Wiffle ball, would that reduce the distance the ball goes compared to one like that plastic one I posted?
As for a bat, given the one I have is already those jumbo plastic ones, would the next step up (but before wood/aluminum) be something like a foam bat?
David original are basically the best, so many of the flavors are "wow it does taste like that huh" and then several mouthfuls in "man i wish I had the original flavor".
Of the flavored ones, Bigs Old Bay seasoning is the best.
Personally I would remove the original river and replace it with a new flush rivet or screw button. If the rivets have already failed twice you might opt for the screw button like this.
Use blue locktite on the threads when installing and use an adhesive fabric patch to cover the hole. Because of the location the fabric patch may losses so I'd keep a spare in your equipment bag.
I have this one and it’s amazing for the price.
Anything that has pronounced seams and is approximately the same size and weight will be a good start. Also, try to make sure the net isn’t pulled taught and hangs enough that it touches the ground. The heavier the netting and the more of it there is that hangs on the ground the less a ball will be able to move it. You can get a 5’x10’ piece of fish netting for less than $30, which is probably worth the piece of mind if you’re worried about them destroying the house!! COLIBROX Fishing Net 5'x10' ~ Commercial Fish Netting ~ Old Vintage Decor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F23WLSF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1T2J8GT8SM2C0NVQJTWP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IL6A0I6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I got these a couple years ago and LOVE them. Extra resistance can make them really nice for loosening up before actual workouts, not just baseball too.
IMO flexibility exercises is the #1 thing you can do to avoid injuries besides get lucky and not pitching. Worth it 100x over for $20.
If you pitch get some rosin and one of those mud removers from cleats. Get the big marucci rosin, like this one cause they tiny versions are shit.
I can't control a breaking ball for shit and hang WAY more than I care to without rosin. And personally I've got a fucked left ankle, I've had to walk out of games rolling it too bad on shit tier mounds.
A gym membership for a few months if you wanna start getting yoked will run you less than $50. That can get you access to literally 50-100k worth of workout equipment. Finding a gym where you can work out safely and consistently may be tricky though.
It's pretty rare I put anything but lizards skins on my bats, sometimes athletic tape on my thicker handled wood bats. 4-5 rolls of that stuff will last most of forever.
Goat IMO seems to be legit the only place for cheap cleats. I don't use them for sneakers or anything, but my GOD are their cleats absurdly cheap. I got a pair of Trout 6's for like $25.
For under $50 you're not gonna get anywhere with real gloves. Batting ones I tear through everything that touches my hands so I might not be the best person I ask. I've liked Franklins player preferred stuff for the price, but that's still $100/glove.
Good batting tee here
Anything with a flex top is good and cheaper to maintain long-term.
Is there something in particular you need/want?
Learn the mental game. I have posted this before because it massively helped me. Learning how to visualize, deal with negative thoughts, slowing the game down, breathing techniques was huge. This books give many examples of what great players have done through the years.
kids this age grow so quickly he will likely need a new one in a couple years anyways. I wouldn't look too much into the expensive gloves until they aren't going to grow much more or you're fine spending the money.
My 6 year old plays up to 7u on a select team and uses this one: https://www.amazon.com/SSK-Prospect-Youth-Baseball-Glove/dp/B07N1TF69Q/ref=sr_1_12?crid=607DRXWCNQPA&keywords=ssk+baseball+glove+kids&qid=1641225565&sprefix=ssk+baseball+glove+kids%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-12
I did a bit of research on gloves at this age range and it got a lot of solid reviews especially for the price. Im not against spending money, I myself rock an a2k and a custom pro 44. But at this age its pointless imo.
Here is a book by former MLB catcher Jason Kendall. I read it when I started catching and it helped a lot
Or you can buy the jugs version which is weighted, has greater range of heights AND unscrews from the base for easy packing/carrying/storing
https://www.amazon.com/Jugs-Adjustment-Grip-N-Go-Always-Feel-Ball/dp/B018R6OMJ8
The Mental Game of Baseball. A fascinating read and should be required for all ball players!
Champro with the Velcro to shorten/lengthen the inseam. More durable than any other brand we've tried.
This look okay? Also should I be practicing with the tballs at this point? Which we have been or a different type of ball?
Thanks again for the help!
Assuming you're competent at catching balls and not just missing...
You are describing a very, very cheap glove. Doesn't mean you can't catch with it, but you get what you pay for.
Whether it's your current glove or a newer, better glove, LIBERALLY apply this to it...like once every couple days to start then less frequently: Nokona NLT Classic Leather Glove Conditioner
I've liked this Rukket one quite a bit, pretty affordable:
yeah, you can usually find some good deals on EBAY for decent balls that are cheaper than the shit OLB3s even.
But I found this on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rawlings-Official-Recreational-Baseballs-MENOLB3BAG12/dp/B0000CA8WW/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1521723141&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=blem+baseballs&psc=1
probably can't beat this barring some sort of sale/steal on EBAY or AMAZON (a few months ago I found a dozen new MSBL balls on Amazon for 18 bucks shipped).
Can you ask the indoor cage staff if you can place a damper over the light? I think I know the lights you are talking about. The place I go to got new machines a few years ago - choose your velocity, multi "tire" types (vs. arm-loaded), with a big ol' red LED just to the left of where the balls are released. I talked to one of the guys working there and he mentioned the same thing (he's a full time lefty hitter, and the light is to the left of the ball release, so he's looking at it all the time). What he said was that there is a little darkening filter in there that sometimes falls down/slides down so you are seeing the unfiltered LEDs, which are obviously very bright.
Do you have a garage or a basement large enough for you to take swings? You can get a 7x7 net like this one off Amazon (I have it). I'd be comfortable taking swings off a tee using this in a basement or garage, where I wouldn't care much if the ball somehow missed the screen (if never has, with the tee set up about 2 feet in front of the screen). I'm mostly concerned about the few times the ball misses the net pocket and bounces/rolls back behind me.
Once I have a garage (next year), I'll be using it indoors for both short range throwing drills and some indoor tee work. And it's portable. You just need a couple of sandbags to hold it down.
I just bought one off of Amazon. When I record I just start the camera and walk away, do not like having to tend to it as I just record the whole time. I remove the battery from the GoPro. Average games take 2-3 hours, GoPro battery is about 1... So I remove the battery all together and plug it in. Removing the battery prevents the camera from actively charging and overheating.
Those could work, but if you’d like some resistance that won’t hurt the walls, and teach you to really hit through the ball, check out these. I have 6 and I love them!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0145FHFP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZsPDFb87SAQ5E
Using a flexible topper is the key to making any tee last longer. Lack of a flexible topper is the downfall of the standard old school rubber tee. Even if you have an old style tee, you can still just stick a flexible topper on to it.
The topper has got to absorb a lot of the force by bending rather than the force being transferred to the body/pole of the tee. You can just roll up some vinyl (like a table setting or thin door mat) into a cone and duct tape it; just anything flexible that will fit in to the pole. It helps to make the topper opening as small as possible while still being able to hold a ball. That way you can work on getting under balls if that's you're thing.
Walmart sells "travel tees" for like $10. If you look at their pictures, you'll get an idea of what I mean by "flexible topper."
Better yet, I found these. I recommend trimming the top portion down as much as possible and still be able to hold a ball. As-is, I think it covers too much of the ball.
If you're looking for something inexpensive but totally usable, I bought this for $60 about a year ago...
Mizuno 34" World Win GXC75 Catcher's Mitt
... and love it. The leather is surprisingly soft, and the mitt required almost no break-in. I was looking for the cheapest mitt I could find to catch my son, but it had to not be a total piece of crap. This one is perfect.
Unfortunately, it looks like Amazon doesn't sell it anymore, but if you could find the equivalent current Mizuno model, I bet you'd be pretty happy with the value.
I don't know about antifog, but I just bought this cheapo pair on Amazon and I like them pretty alright. For me, perfect for beer league softball or men's league baseball.
I enjoy reading The Science of Hitting, I read it before every season and have book marks that I refer to throughout periods of the season if I am struggling. Its more of a mental thing, but helps with relaxation at the plate and a few mechanics.
I also have read The Mental Keys to Hitting in the past, another good one.
Another thing you can do is watch video of yourself, I like to compare swings with good contact/bad contact. I generally watch one part of the body to see if i did something different.
Thanks for the great reply! Looking at a couple cheaper equipment items on amazon - just to see if I really enjoy playing the sport again since its been so long! Thanks for the length recommendation - that has been the hardest to find. Looking at this 19$ glove on amazon -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013LPRKQ2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
No good baseball stores around me other than big box stores walmart/academy sporting goods.
Excited to get back on the field! I definitely need to find a batting cage to get some practice in. Any good intro videos on fielding/hitting basics.
My favorite bat ever is incidentally one of the least expensive I've ever bought. Mizuno MZC271 Classic, 33". It's a composite and the only time I've ever broken one is hitting lefty in the cages. You really can't beat the price, in my opinion (coming from someone who's been loyal to Marucci and DeMarini for years). This now my gamer bat. Love it.