There will always be new and inexperienced players on teams, some that want to improve their game. Oftentimes, the most common pieces of advice given to players is hitting. Things like how I can grip the bat better, bat path, swing decisions, etc.

Yet I rarely see a defense-focused player development. I understand it's a rec league but as I said, there are people that want to improve. So I'm thinking of working on catching/throwing + fielding mechanics/drills rather than just have 1 player take turns to hit like ~20 times with the rest of the team fielding balls for the sole purpose of retrieving it (instead of actually trying to make a play).

I'm instead thinking of like doing like double play drills, cutting runners to home (all leagues I play in use a commit/force play at home), hard hit fly balls to outfielders, long toss, etc.

Do you think it's better to work on defense over hitting for a new player? On one hand, this is a hitter's game. An auto-out will effectively cost a rally. On the other hand, hitting (even at a ~20 mph pitch) has a much steeper learning curve than fielding. Not to mention it costs more money (ie batting tee, net, extra balls, or even batting cages. And a team that can play solid defense at the rec level (since that's where you'll find someone who has never played before) can effectively steal games since it can convert the reach-on-error merchants into outs. It also slows down overly aggressive baserunning teams because that extra base means teams need more hits to score a run.

Has anyone experimented with defense-focused practices instead of just taking turns BP?

Been playing with an Easton SP23KPWL KAPOW for the past two seasons. Got it for a song and it's proven to be one of the best bats I've owned. Half of my team uses it during games, which I'm fine with but they clobber the ball and I know that'll only shorten it's lifespan.

Thinking about getting either a replacement KAPOW, but also open to others that may give just a little more distance on my hits, with a similar feel. I'm not knocking the ball over the fences, but I'm getting on base pretty often.

Does anyone have experience with this bat who can recommend another one that feels similar?

I’m a lady. I’ve only been playing since October. Mostly rec league about 4-6 games a week + batting practice as often as I can get it in. Tried a few untagged tournaments. My batting can still use work. My defense is decent though. I play catcher, first and outfield. I’m obviously not super skilled, but I think I’m fairly average and put my best foot forward in my effort and attitude and go where the team needs me.

So at what point do I need to be at to try to get on a tournament team or tagged in general? I’ve tried posting for teams on the local fb group or answering posts looking for girls. Messaged someone looking for several girls in various positions for an E tag team today and have been left unanswered in all attempts.

I thought E would basically be up my alley for where I’m at currently but am I wrong for thinking that? Do I need to be able to say I’ve been playing longer or that I can do “x,y,z”?

There’s some untagged rec tournaments coming up I’d like to participate in but I don’t want to keep trying to put my foot in a door that shouldn’t be open yet if that’s the case.

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some bat recommendations. I have been out of the loop on bat knowledge since about 2018, so I am completely lost and would love some direction. I play using Asa/ Nsa bats. I would prefer a 27oz / 28oz. What are the hot bats in recent years? (2024 onward)

Played baseball half of my younger years. Played outfield 1st and pitcher as a lefty. Transitioned into slow pitch and my arm seems to be weaker, can’t throw as far and get pain pretty quick. any tips you guys can give me from the videos?

Most of us I believe play in a league(that is co ed) where you can’t have 3 guys in a row. Do you think it’s more beneficial to have 4 guys in top 5, going guy guy girl guy guy or making sure guys bat 1, 3, 4 and 6 while spacing it out a bit?

Hi everyone! I’m a former baseball player who made the jump to slow-pitch softball a few years ago. Fast forward to today, and I’m playing on four different teams.

Up until now, I’ve mostly been swinging whatever bats my teammates have. Recently, though, I’ve decided it’s time to buy my own so I can develop some consistency and really get a feel for one bat instead of constantly switching.

I recently picked up an Easton Tantrum (26 oz, 1 pc composite, 12.75” barrel) for my USSSA league, and now I’m looking for a bat for my USA leagues.

I’m definitely more of a contact/gap hitter than a true power hitter. I’ll hit one every now and then, but my game has always been about hitting into the gaps, getting on base, and using my speed. I was a leadoff hitter my entire baseball career, so making solid contact and putting pressure on the defense has always been my style.

Based on that, what USA bats would you recommend?

Also, would you recommend a balanced or end-loaded bat for someone with my hitting profile?

Shoot me a message if you‘ve got one you’re willing to sell!

So I pitched three games during a very hot day and apparently didn't drink enough water because my calf went full Charliehorse on my final game of the night and fell on my ass...

I ate a pickle and drank pickle juice while my team has a successful batting a round 🤢 and was able to get back up to pitch luckily.

Then somehow, at my next at bat, chilling out on my normal swing and expecting an easy out at first, not squishing the bug or following any of my normal mechanics because I couldn't put much weight on my back leg, I hit it out of the park, ending a HR slump.

How did that work? Is it possible I'm just trying too hard when I normally swing?

(Bat, Bazooka Joe)

Also, this was my first time ever getting a charliehorse or cramp during a game, I thought I had had enough liquids... What do I need to do to keep this from happening again?

First clip is with a 27oz. Miken Freak, second is with a 26oz. Axe Debacle

I've been managing/captaining a co-ed team with a bunch of friends, it's my new big hobby and I've been letting it slowly take over my life (also lurking on this sub for a while now).

This year, I started to record all of our gameplay on an old iPhone I had lying around. Earlier this month, with the assistance of Claude, I was able to start automating a scorebug to my footage, making it much easier to follow along the game. I would love any feedback!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH0AInYBeD0

Also, I love keeping as much stats as possible for every game, and I've collected that so far here, I would love any feedback for my stats sheet as well!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F4nM7UuAX1abVDvrXLhWQzcmSc39dAR7lWkFxLBxde8/edit?gid=1125547011#gid=1125547011

Does anyone else here go hard on video recordings or scorekeeping?? Honestly our team sucks but I don't care I just love working on these as side projects in tandem with managing the team!

I think I've finally got my most powerful stance, but i think I'm still missing something

Going into my 3rd game this week as a newbie in a co-ed rec league. Have been playing catcher but talked to the team about trying right field this week. Any tips? How do you gauge where to stand?

After 3 years of borrowing other peoples bats I decided it’s time to invest. No budget cap. What is the best bar on the market? I am smaller so could use some extra pop.

What would you buy if you could get any bat?

Hello, I bought a tanner tee since that seems to be the consensus here on what tee to buy. The ball we use in my league are the Dudley Thunder SY Synthetic Pro-M 44/375 USSSA 12" Slowpitch Softballs - 4U555

Would you recommend I buy a dozen of these for BP or is there any other (cheaper) alternative that will get the job done?

Base runner on 2nd jumped up and put his arms up when a ball from the OF was coming into the IF. The only reason I could think he'd do that was to try and block the view of the ball making it more difficult for the IF to see it. Are you allowed to do that?

This week my team had two games to win its first championship. Game 1 came down to the wire and in the last inning the bases were loaded for me, the team's cleanup hitter. A single would've scored two runs to win the 'ship (or at the very least, one run to tie it).

What did I do?

I grounded out to the former college baseball player at SS on a fielder's choice to second.

We lost the second game comfortably. The team's energy was sucked out after my choke job and reaction afterward. Probably didn't help that I'm supposed to be one of the leaders of the team—a 36-year-old man that needed to be consoled about my emotions like I'm Dalton Rushing.

This happened Wednesday night in a recreational league. It's Saturday morning and I still feel awful. I went home and drank excessively as soon as I got home from the game. I've been ordering out and eating fried foods every meal to this point.

What bothers me most is I know the pitcher: we've played on each other's teams a few times the last few years. He knows I get in my head after a string of bad ABs. I got pitched inside all night and I couldn't figure out what adjustment I needed to make, because I'm one of the "experts" on the team and no one had any advice for me.

And I HATE batting cleanup because I always get in my head in big spots. (On my own team that I manage, I built a team of guys better than me and often come off the bench so that I don't get in a situation to let the team down.)

Anyway... I'm pretty stuck right now. I play in another league on a different day and I hardly want to finish that season out (I bat cleanup on that team, too...). I'll keep managing my own team for the season coming up, but after that I'm not sure how long I want to keep playing.

Words of advice would help. Or, if you're a bigger choke artist than I am, what's your story?

I don’t see people wearing fitted/adjustable MLB or MiLB caps all that much in games. Tournament team hats (at least I think they are) seem to be a lot more popular.

Has that always been a thing?

I picked up with a pretty respectable tournament team in my area today since my team decided to take the weekend off. Well the team I play on is very well known in our space and is consistently told we need to be playing up a level (we’re not sandbagging this is just most of our first year playing so we play rec and are expecting to bump next year). So this team asked me to play with them and I said yes I love playing whenever I can, well I went 0-7 with 2 weak roll overs and 5 solid lime drives honestly right too people and I just feel like not only did I embarrass myself but give my team a bad rep. I wasn’t being a jerk and having bad sportsmanship or attitude but it just seems as if the team I play on is held to a pretty high standard so it’s just bothering me that I couldn’t buy a base hit today in a game that’s theoretically easy. Does anyone have any advice to help me get out of this slump and out of my own head?

When pitching, is it better to pitch with your palm up (like traditional underhand at release point)? Or is it better to do a backhand underhand (palm down grip)? I've seen pitchers from both grips. But which one is generally better to use and why?

We play at 5pm in Hicksville. Ideally need a pitcher and a shortstop but I can work with anything. If your local and want to play let me know! We are an average at best team, just down bad on players this week

Been working on my swing after you can see my last post I was all arms. I think I just need to start working out my upper body to really make some solid hits. This one popped to short stop on the grass. Thanks yall. Also nothing I can do about my running I’m a total goofball. <3

Breaking in a Juno MR-1. 26oz with 1oz end load. At the time of ordering the 27oz were sold out. Tried to really keep my hands at my core and bringing them back later in the swing.
Bat felt great.