Louisville Slugger 2012 Z-1000 Adult Baseball Bat

Posted on September 14, 2011 by JW

If I say the word “slugger” what is the first thing that comes to mind, of course the Louisville Slugger baseball bat. It comes to mind because some of the greatest baseball players of all time used the bat like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. Louisville Slugger now known as Hillerich and Bradsby has been making great baseball bats since the late 1800’s and 2012 is no exception.

The Z-1000 BB12Z which uses a LS-2X composite with S1iD barrel technology is the top dog of the season and for good reason. The LS-2X composite barrel technology is new for 2012. It features new thinner high-strength and lightweight graphite fibers which reduce the wall thickness, creating better performance while maintaining durability. The thinner fibers allow for the use of more layers in the barrel for added strength, but with an overall wall that is thinner.

It also features the S1iD barrel technology which stands for the Swing 1 inner Disc (S1iD). This technology allows the barrel to flex to its maximum allowable performance level from swing 1. It makes the bat “game ready” from the time you take it out of the box. The two inner discs are positioned inside the barrel at the sweet spot to stop the barrel from flexing past the performance limit, giving players maximum allowable performance. Precise positioning of iD within the barrel also allows Louisville to bring up the performance around the sweet spot- which means you get a larger performing sweet spot, not just a better feeling one.

The additional specs on this bat are a 2 ⅝” barrel and it is a negative 3 adult/college baseball bat. It has the typical Louisville synthetic grip on the 31/32” tapered handle. It has the Louisville Slugger end cap which has been the standard for years. The Z-1000 BB12Z does meet high school and college BBCOR standards which is great because it is still such a high performance bat.

So if you are looking for an edge in your hitting game I would suggest getting the Louisville Z-1000 BB12Z adult baseball bat. For more information on this bat and other Louisville bats go to www.morleyathletic.com.

VOLLEYBALL TRAINING IN A SMALL PACKAGE

Posted on September 12, 2011 by JW

Anyone involved in the sport of volleyball knows that there’s no lack of available volleyball training aids. Block trainers, spike trainers, jump trainers. The majority of these items are relatively large items which makes them expensive and bulky. That’s not to say that they’re not worth it. Most of them have been on the market for years and a lot of coaches swear by the technique that they teach. Sometimes training devices that take up a little less space and require a little less investment are sought after by the individual player so they can practice in the back yard or local gym. Here is a short list of a few items that won’t drain your wallet but will still offer some good training.

The Pass Rite is an easy to use training tool that utilizes a durable elastic band that attaches to the passer’s wrists and ankles preventing excessive upward arm movement. The small, lightweight Velcro wrist cuffs were designed to minimize ball contact interference. The elastic band is adjustable to accommodate any passer’s height. This simple device is lightweight, easy to use and helps with muscle memory to ensure proper form on the court.

The Volleyball Pal is a useful device that allows for hours of practice without the need of another person. It consists of a Velcro strap that secures around the waist, a neoprene pouch that holds the volleyball, and an elastic cord connecting the waist strap to the ball pouch. The smooth action of the elastic cord guides the ball back to the player every time. Use the volleyball pal to practice serving tosses or arm swing technique without ever having to chase a ball! The volleyball pal is really an efficient way to practice. Not having to chase volleyballs around means more time for focusing on skills.

Like the Pass Rite above the Perfect Passer is a must for every volleyball coach. The original perfect passer was developed as a learning tool to eliminate excessive upward arm movement while performing a fore arm passes. Durable elastic bands are attached to passer’s wrists and ankles. Color coded Velcro® cuffs with symbols for hands and feet reduce confusion for 1st time users. Easily adjusts to accommodate different student heights. Made in the USA by the original designer. It’s the hand and foot symbols that set this model apart making it perfect for younger or beginner players.

Tachikara’s TB-18 “The Setter” Volleyball is a popular weighted training ball that was created to specifically help setters build hand/finger strength through repetitions. This “pound of volleyball” is a vital training aid for teams that are serious about improving their setting skills. The additional weight helps build a setter’s strength while helping them develop proper position and form.

That’s four training items that are easy to use, can be used by a single player and won’t break the bank. In fact you could buy all four of these items for the price of one larger piece of training equipment. You will find the four training items above along with all of the more traditional types of volleyball training equipment and your other volleyball needs including custom uniforms at www.morleyathletic.com.

FOLDFAST® GOALS FOR SHRUNKEN YOUTH SOCCER FIELDS

Posted on September 9, 2011 by JW

Youth soccer participation is on the rise and with so many young players clambering to get some time on the field the inevitable is happening around the country. The smallest of our soccer stars are playing on shrunken fields. It’s a simple concept. Since the kids are so small and just learning the basic skills of the game you can safely shrink the field size and team size down without extending the learning curve. The bottom line is that you can get more of the soccer mites learning the skills they will need to play U8 level the following year.

So that’s a great idea and all but more fields mean more goals. I have seen a lot of pop up goals out there on the field and that’s fine but they do lack a real soccer feel and usually don’t even come close to the shape of a real soccer goals. My recommendation for leagues that can afford a bit more than pop up goals is the FoldFast® soccer goals.

FoldFast® soccer goals come in two sizes a 4 foot by 6 foot size and a 4 foot by 8 foot size. They are shaped more like a real goal and best of all they do what the name implies… fold fast. The best part is in clubs where the U8 fields are shrunken down a bit too, such as our local youth soccer club the FoldFast® goals are durable enough to be used at this level of play if needed. Unlike most pop up goals FoldFast® soccer goals remain stable even when they’re not staked down.

FoldFast® soccer goals offer durable construction and a super strong 5 mm net with 4 inch openings. The net attaches with durable bungee net fasteners and remains attached after the goal is folded. When folded the goals become and L shape that allows you to store a bunch of them in small space. You can transport them in the trunk of a car, back of a pickup truck or in a van. If you have storage facility at the field you won’t take up too much space with FoldFast® soccer goals.

FoldFast® soccer goals are also great for backyard games or to take to the park for family picnic. They can be used for high school or college level practices and can become a valuable tool when a player needs to work on their skills alone. So if you’re in the market for some new small sides soccer goals. If you need to get more fields set up in a small space FoldFast® soccer goals are certainly an option worth looking into. You will find a complete selection of FoldFast® goals at www.morleyathletic.com along with a product video showing their ease of use, customer testimonials and a FAQ section that will answer any of your questions before you buy.

HOW TO PICK A FIELD HOCKEY GOALIE HELMET

Posted on August 31, 2011 by JW

In the world of field hockey the goalie can take some serious abuse. The heavy padding worn on the legs, feet, hand and body is very important in protecting the goalie from speeding field hockey balls. Goalies know that there is more to the padding than just protection and looks though. High end leg guards and kickers are designed to affect the rebound of the ball. The best sets make the ball drop at the goalies feet so the goalie can control where the ball goes after it’s stopped.

Much like the other goalie protective gear the helmet worn can affect the goalies performance. A helmet that’s too bulky for the player or a helmet that has limited vision is certainly not going to help a player perform at their best. So how do you decide what’s right for you. Let’s look at some of the options, all of which can be found at www.morleyathletic.com for purchase.

We should start our helmet tour with the basics. The least expensive model available is for lack of better term a modified ice hockey helmet. Manufactured by ice hockey companies these helmets are basically an ice hockey players helmet with a modified face mask for field hockey. They certainly aren’t loaded with features but they come in a few size choices and they can be adjusted. The chin strap keeps them secure on the field and they offer the protection needed at an affordable price. Cascade helmets also makes a model like this that has always been popular. The best features of these helmets, other than that low price tag, is that they offer incredible visibility and they are lightweight. They are great for younger players and more experienced players alike although they are most commonly used at the high school level of play or lower.

The rest of the options out there more resemble ice hockey goalie helmets and they offer a much higher level of protection. Of course the trade off is either a heavier weight or much higher price. In this class of helmet the lighter the weight the higher the price tag. Another feature built into the design of these helmets is usually a shape designed to deflect the ball away from the forehead area of the helmet. High end models such as the Obo Robo PE Helmet offer a cat-eye style mask for optimal visibility. The cat-eye design offers the widest space between steel framing possible without allowing the ball to pass through. This design is very popular and should be considered as the main choice for competitive players.

Before you buy I recommend looking over the helmets available. You can find a wide selection at www.morleyathletic.com along with a full online field hockey catalog featuring everything from Chingford multi turf balls to competition field hockey goals.

TOP 5 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR FOOTBALL SEASON

Posted on August 26, 2011 by JW

Preparation and effective training are essential for any football player or team, and Morley Athletic provides the equipment needed to fully prepare for the season. Following are the top 5 ways to prepare for football season.

1. Knee High Trainers. Agility is critical for every position, whether on the line or in the backfield. Quarterbacks, centers, running backs, linebackers, and defensive ends will all benefit alike from this piece of training equipment. Forcing players to work through the ropes quickly while also keeping their knees high will increase anybody’s speed and agility.

2. Football Dummies. Football Dummies are crucial for football preparation. Coming in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and weights, these are some of the most diverse and widely used pieces of football training equipment. Use them to practice hitting and blocking, as target practice, or as running obstacles.

3. The Football Fumbler. For any skill position that will be handling the ball, fumbling must be avoided at any and all costs. The Football Fumbler simulates the hands, arms, and body of a tackling defensive player, allowing individuals to train themselves and practice hanging on to the ball even in heavy traffic and hard-hitting contact.

4. Doubleman Overspeed. Speed is one of the most important things any football player can have. The Doubleman Overspeed allows for both people to train and increase their speed. The runner in the front must work to pull the weight and added resistance of the runner in the back, while the rear person must force his or her muscles and legs to move faster than ever before in order to keep up with the force pulling from the front.

5. Football Passing Drill Net. An offense can’t really get going if it doesn’t have a passing game, and the Football Passing Drill Net is perfect for training quarterbacks and improving their passing abilities. With a variety of targets placed in varying locations and at different heights, this piece of equipment allows players to practice throwing all over the field, simulating the challenge of passing through and over defenders during a game.

These ideas will greatly benefit any player, coach, or trainer as they prepare for football season. As with any sport, it is not merely practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice that makes perfect. This means that the way in which one practices and trains is of utmost importance.

With this in mind, the type of equipment being used during training and practice sessions is important, and the equipment described above is designed to maximize practice and training time, with the ultimate goal of translating into big results on game night. To get the most out of your training and work sessions, remember these top five ways to prepare for football season and implement them into your practice routine. Check out www.morelyathletic.com for more information on the products above.