Expert Guide to Baseball Training Aids

Like any sport, if you want to reach your full potential and the top tier of the game of baseball - you have to practice. While there are some drills and training techniques you can use with just a ball, you'll need a selection of baseball training equipment to get the most out of your training sessions, especially if you are training alone.

Great for coaches looking to set up exercises quickly, they are used during all types of practice sessions to help coaches and teachers stay organized.

Marker cones and slalom poles may seem quite old-school in this technological age, but when it comes to developing speed, agility, acceleration and coordination, they are still the best training tools to have at your disposal as a player or coach. Baseball requires highly tuned and fast reactions, quick footwork and explosive acceleration. All of these elements of baseball performance can be trained efficiently with these simple training tools. 

On the practice ground, baseball coaches can use cones and poles to set up a range of dynamic movement drills that replicate real game scenarios and situations. Whether it involves sprinting in between bases or developing lateral movement for in-fielding, these exercises can be made fun and competitive. Even in the backyard parents can create simple agility courses and combine cones and agility ladders with additional equipment like baseballs and rebounders to develop highly engaging, fun and diverse baseball training sessions.

With a corrosion resistant frame and body, the optional automatic ball feeder stores up to 12 pitching machine balls, delivering them every 10 seconds. This means that even if you are training on your own, you can tally up hundreds of batting repetitions in the space of half an hour. Baseball pitching machines provide an incredibly efficient and effective way to practice your hitting. 

If you want to enjoy the freedom that comes with training and practicing baseball at home, then a pop-up baseball cage is an excellent addition to your baseball training equipment. A great addition to any training ground, the FORTRESS Pop-Up Baseball Batting Cage can be assembled in minutes, has a detachable entrance and comes in 20ft, 40ft, 60ft and 80ft models. The cages are also portable and even fit inside a bag for easy transportation.

Designed for maximum convenience, pop up batting cages are ideal for backyard training or training on the go. Allowing for assembly in just a few minutes, without the need for any tools, these portable pop up cages are lightweight and come complete with a carry bag which makes transport and storage easy. Available in a range of lengths, the extremely durable 3-ply polyester netting and robust fiberglass frames ensure reliability and durability, whilst features including detachable front panels and pitching machine cut-outs add to the cage’s versatility.

When paired with a batting cage, a pitching machine can provide a complete solution for hitting practice. They help players to build muscle memory, develop confidence and elevate their overall performance.

An iconic piece of baseball gear for kids, batting tees can also be used by players of all ages and abilities to develop and refine hitting technique. 

Whilst often associated with youth baseball, batting tees are an excellent tool for practicing different stances, hitting techniques, and building the ability to transfer power from the feet, legs, and core to the bat.

Batting tees provide a controlled environment, within which players can isolate and improve specific aspects of their swing and contact. Repeated use, using correct technique, foot placement, posture and swing mechanics can help reinforce good habits, and muscle memory for optimal technique. 

With the variable of pitching speed and trajectory controlled, players are able to focus on the mechanics of their swing and pay specific attention to small details relating to hand position, bat path and follow through.

Combined with a speed gun and a baseball target, you can experiment with different swings and stances to see which one produces the most speed and power. The professional quality Net World Sports batting tee has an innovative telescopic design, allowing users to adjust the height quickly and easily. Made using a steel base plate and heavy-duty rubber, it is incredibly durable and an excellent piece of baseball swing training equipment.

If you are looking to develop pitching and catching skills, then a rebound net is arguably the best piece of baseball training equipment you could buy.

Combined with a baseball and a glove, you can refine your hand-eye coordination, specific to baseball. You can also practice your pitching and throwing without having to spend a large percentage of your practice retrieving the balls.

With adjustable angles, the Jumbo Baseball PitchBack Net can simulate a range of returns, including grounders and fly balls. If you can dedicate just a few minutes per day to using a rebounder or pitchback net, you can develop pitching, fielding, footwork, catching, throwing, quick hands, coordination and fitness.

Improve precision, control and accuracy with a baseball pitching target. Ideal for high repetition solo practice sessions, you can make significant improvements in your accuracy in a relatively short space of time. 

Our Baseball Pitching Target is a simple tool that allows players to develop accuracy by aiming for any of the 9 pockets in the "strike zone". Made from ultra-durable materials, it can hook onto a baseball screen, net saver, or training net. Adjustable straps allow you to change the height.

For serious training, the FORTRESS Baseball Pitchers Target is a heavy duty baseball training tool. Great for both baseball and softball, the frame is made from galvanised steel with an exterior made from protective padding to absorb ball impacts.

This pro-quality training aid is built to last, with its strong and safe frame. When used with multiple training balls,  the target provides instant feedback to users who can adjust their throws immediately.

Whichever type of target you choose, both are excellent additions to any training setup. Sharpen your aim, improve control, and have fun whether you are training in the backyard or at a professional facility. 

As with any type of physical training, be sure to build up the volume of your training slowly to avoid overuse injuries, and consult a medical professional before adhering to a new exercise protocol or program. Resistance bands are a powerful training tool for building power, core strength and developing stable shoulders for baseball. Ideal for everything from warm ups & recovery, to building rotational power & footspeed, bands can be used anywhere - at home, on the field, or at the gym. 

The table below lists some of the most common baseball fitness and gym equipment typically used by professional baseball players:

*Always consult a physical therapist before trying to prehab or rehab any potential or existing injuries*

Resistance bands are excellent baseball training tools. Bands provide constant tension and progressive resistance, allowing users to develop power from different angles to replicate the ideal force generation of throwing a baseball. 

Bands are also ideal for performing rotator cuff exercises to protect the shoulder joint. 

Always seek the guidance of a physiotherapist or physical trainer before attempting rotator cuff exercises. Correct technique is imperative, and you should always start with low resistance and high repetitions to avoid injury.

Resisted Internal Rotation
Internal Rotation exercises for the rotator cuff strengthen the subscapularis muscle, which is crucial for shoulder stabilization. 

To perform internal rotation exercises with a resistance band - with your right hand:

• Anchor the band to your right, at a point just below shoulder height

• Bend your arm so that your elbow is at a right angle 

• Position your elbow tight against the side of your body

• Hold the resistance band and slowly rotate your hand inwards towards your chest.

• Hold the band for three seconds when the band reaches your chest

• Slowly rotate your hand towards the starting position

Repeat the exercise for 6 to 15 repetitions. Rest for one minute before repeating. Rest again before carrying out the exercise with your left hand, with the band anchored to your left-hand side.

You must stop exercising and seek the advice of a physical therapist if you feel any pain during this or any other rotator cuff exercise.

External rotation of the shoulder primarily activates the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and teres minor. You can carry out external rotation exercises with a resistance band by anchoring the band to a point just below shoulder height. Grip the band or the band's handle so that you reach across your body - if you are starting with the band in your right hand, the anchor point should be to your left. Your elbow should be fixed at a right-angle position and placed against the right side of your lower ribs. Slowly rotate your arm outwards as far as is comfortable and hold for 2 to 3 seconds at the end position before slowly returning it to the starting position.

Once you've developed a solid foundation of balance and core stabilization, wood chops are great exercises for converting that strength into rotational power.

Use a band with a relatively light or small amount of resistance, as you want to perform the exercise at speed without impacting your swing technique. You can anchor a band at various heights to develop rotational power at slightly different angles. Hold the band in both hands and replace the swinging action of a baseball hit. This exercise can be done at speed and repeated for up to 25 repetitions. Be sure to train each side of the body to offset muscular imbalances.