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Playing the game of baseball is thrilling and fun, but without the proper safety gears, its make no difference engaging in dangerous sports like boxing, skateboarding, or cycling. Seeing a ball pitch from a distance may not seem detrimental, but combining the weight and overwhelming speed of the ball will surely cause a fatal damage if the batter gets accidentally hit. If it wasn’t for Roger Bresnahan, who got struck on the head during the game, the batting helmet would not exist.

A batting helmet is similar to a headgear worn by skateboarders as a protective shell for the head, it covers the back, top and side which are called earflaps. It is meant to protect the batter’s ear from wayward pitches thrown by the pitcher. Helmets with left earflaps are meant for right handed batters while the ones with the right earflaps are for the left handed. Although, there are batting helmets that cover both ears and these are mandatory in amateur level baseball.

So, it is crucial to wear a batting helmet in baseball games or even in practice, because a batter who is “hit by pitch”, due to an unintentional wild pitch may end up fatally injured.

(Photo via goprostock.com)

A new line of baseball bats for the year 2010 is now on the loose. The release of the product was too early to create excitement, and for the most part, the new models are not up to scratch. There’s nothing extra ordinary that came out from most baseball bat brands, except for the significant changes of the 5150 series that the Rawlings introduced.

Rawlings offers interesting features to their product line. Starting with the 5150 Composite bat which is better than the last year’s Comp Lite. It has a multi-wall intermediate balance design. The merging of carbon, fiberglass and aramid fibers creates a superior feel. The price starts with a high cost for the Adult-3 model, which is considerably expensive.

The Rawlings 5150 Hybrid on the other hand is almost similar to the Louisville H2. It substitutes the Rush Gold Lite that had a two piece design like the Demarini’s. The 5150 Hybrid stiff composite handle is bonded to the barrel made of alloy that adds more strength and increased flex. This model is cheaper for the Adult -3model compared to the 5150 Composite.

(Photo via baseballrampage.com)

Having a right grip on baseball is a key to a proper pitching. Learn some of the most common baseball pitching grips. Starting with the Four-seam fastball

To grip the four seam fastball, index and middle fingertips must be placed directly on the perpendicular seam of the baseball. The “U-seam” should be facing your ring finger of your throwing hand (as shown in the above picture).

Next, put your thumb directly beneath the baseball, resting on the smooth leather (see above picture). Ideally, you should keep your thumb in the center of the U- seam on the bottom part of the baseball.

Keep a soft grip on the pitch, just like holding an egg, in your fingertips. Maintain a “gap” or space between the ball and your palm. This is the technique to throwing a good, hard four-seam fastball with maximum speed and backspin: A loose grip minimizes “friction” between your hand and the baseball. The less friction, of course, the quicker the baseball can leave your hand.

Throwing a four-seam fastball with enough force overhand will make it rise unless it’s thrown underhand.

Image via Wikipedia

Batting is often cited as one of the most difficult feats in sports as it works down to hitting a small round ball with a thin round bat. In fact, if a batter can get a hit in three out of ten at bats, giving him a batting average of .300, pronounced three-hundred, he or she is considered a good hitter. But of course, to get you to that edge you need extremely good skills and a fine bat that makes a perfect swing. A good bat contributes a high percentage of accuracy in hitting that pitch.

Bats come in various widths, lengths and materials. Naturally, a heavier bat will give more momentum to the ball. However, a heavier bat means less speed in the swing. A lighter bat will give the batter more control but less momentum. The material composition of a bat also determines how far a ball will travel. Bats made out of aluminum or graphite hit balls farther than bats made of wood.

These reviews on various baseball bats will aid a player in their selections. Players have different strengths and weaknesses but right decision will give them the edge they need to get the results they’re looking for. Ultimately, it boils down to what is comfortable for them.

Last for our review of Easton baseball bats would be the V12 Ozone. The unique feature of this model would be its all aluminum component. No composites are placed on this V12 Ozone instead V12 scandium alloy was used throughout the entire bat. The stiffest in all the Easton products, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has a flex rating of 100.

With a Moment of Inertia or M.O.I. of 60, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has the lowest swing weight among the Easton 2010 models. Upon using this model, it would give you a very light feel. If you are one of the loyal players that opt for all aluminum 1-piece design, this model is just right for you. Aside from its characteristics, this V12 Ozone model is also the most affordable of all the Easton baseball bats at $200 and would fit your budget.

An aluminum bat which is more commonly known as the metal bat has been used in ages. Lots of players once in their baseball career took a shot with it. Its popularity never fades as time passes by. The performance that a good quality aluminum bat shows is still comparable to newly introduced composite ones. Because most people have some difficulty accepting the new technology, they opt to purchase the ever-reliable and convenient aluminum ones.

You may notice that a number of amateur baseball games still include tough aluminum bats in the play and those in the audience really appreciates it. This kind of bat is a good choice for beginners because it will react to any contact with the ball. Unlike the wood ones, the aluminum baseball bats would not require good solid impact. It is still available in the market as youth, adult and senior league models. You may search the eBay for details and compare the prices of your desired models.

Before you purchase a baseball bat, either for you or for your child, make sure that you know what to find. Some leagues are stricter than others and only allow certain types of bat for a game. Youth baseball bats do not have any limits on the drop. If you are just learning the baseball mantra, drop is the difference in the baseball bat’s length which is measured in inches and the bat’s weight in ounces. So why is this important in the first place? Because adult baseball bats have -3 drop limit.

If you start researching on the companies that create wonderful youth baseball bats, you will encounter Easton, Combat, and DeMarini. The Stealth Speed 75, Combat B2 Bomber and DeMarini CF4 are the popular ones in the market because their composite technology. Check them out on your nearest baseball equipment shop and see the details personally.