One amazing aspect of America’s favorite pastime is that people of all ages play baseball. Whether it is a casual backyard activity or organized competition between two teams, baseball equipment is a critical component in the outcome of the sporting event. The levels of play range from youth to high school, amateur, college and professional. At each level, baseball field equipment requirements are different and maintaining that equipment is both an issue of safety and performance.
The first major difference to note is the transition from aluminum or alloy bats to wood in the higher levels of play. No one will argue that a great offense requires great bats! The lightweight quality of aluminum youth baseball equipment is appropriate to younger players who are still physically developing, causing less stress on joints and tendons. The ball ricochets better off aluminum, swings faster but will have greater vibration. When an alloy bat begins to loose its “pop”, it is time for a new bat. Wooden bats are required in college and above levels of play. The quality of wood bats varies widely due to the type of wood and grain of the bat. Tighter wood fibers, as with maple wood, are more expensive but produce a better “pop” due to their hardness. Any signs of splintering or a crack in a wood bat demands replacement.
The most popular companies in the marketplace are Wilson, Easton, Rawlings, Mizuno and DeMarini, but there are many other manufacturers of baseball bats and baseball training equipment who are identified by their specialties in design, appearance and quality. The second difference of note between the levels of play and associated equipment would be predominant in the catcher’s position. While full head helmets with face guard are safety requirements up to high school, a skullcap may be used in college, amateur or pro levels. Proper fit either way is essential and a fracture to any component of catcher’s headgear, as well as batting helmets, requires replacement.
Replacing baseball equipment is not just an issue of wear and tear, but required as a player advances to higher levels of play. Becoming the best athlete you can be depends not only on your skills and on abilities, but on your equipment as well-the physical tools of your trade. Whenever you feel that your skills have outgrown your equipment or your equipment just isn’t up to snuff anymore, go out and look for some discount baseball equipment.