The Best Types of Training Balls for Different Sports and Activities
The Best Types of Training Balls for Different Sports and Activities
If you want to be an elite player, sometimes you need to move beyond "match balls" and use training balls. Baseball, softball and soccer are three particular sports where specially-designed trainer balls can help improve and sharpen skills. Bownet® has chosen some of the best sports training balls so you can Train like a Pro.
Baseball and Softball Training Balls for Hitting
Whether you want to improve your contact or hit for more power, there are many types of baseball training balls to sharpen your skills.
- Snap-Back™ Training Balls are flexible impact-absorbing balls to improve focus and accuracy during tee work or soft toss. They collapse to show exactly where you made contact then snap back into place for the next hit.
- Ballast Weighted Training Balls are heavier than normal baseballs and softballs. The added resistance helps build swing strength to hit the ball farther and have more endurance for late-game situations.
- Squeeze Foam Training Baseballs have a much smaller sweet spot than regulation baseballs. By building muscle memory and coordination to make solid contact on these limited-travel trainer balls, hitting a normal ball will feel easier.
- Flat Hit Softball Hitting Trainers have a flat side and a black centerline. Both help batters see the ball's center and the launch angle to focus on making contact in the correct spot.
Pitching Training Balls
Baseball and softball pitching is a completely different skill set than hitting, but there is one case where you can use the same type of trainer ball. The Ballast Weighted Ball is also an excellent way to increase pitching strength. These baseballs and softballs weigh nearly triple a normal ball and have raised seams to give players a genuine grip. Just be careful not to overdo it and risk injury from the higher weight.
Spinner Training Balls are another excellent option, especially for softball players. Flat-sided spinner pitch trainers have a black centerline and raised seams for working on breaking pitches and the line immediately shows if the ball is spinning correctly. They're available in two-seam or four-seam designs. With oversize Softball Spinner Trainers, hurlers can work on grip and control.
Soccer Training Balls
Soccer players have a couple of options when it comes to brushing up their abilities. A soccer ball trainer like the Bownet Lite Ball® is ideal for young players learning the beautiful game. These soccer balls are much lighter than a typical ball, which helps develop touch and shooting technique.
Many players also use a futsal ball as a soccer training ball. Futsal balls are "low bounce" balls that react more predictably for working on control. Furthermore, a study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that practicing with a futsal ball improved a player's perceptual awareness. This made them better at passing to teammates who were only open for a short period.