Top Ten Game Day Essentials

Have you ever arrived at the ball field for that big game and realized you left something really important at home? We all know how frustrating that can be, so we here at JustBats.com came up with a list of the Top Ten Game Day Essentials in hopes to help you all remember some of the more important items. Each day for ten days we will post a new Game Day Essential, so at the end you have a nice list to look at and read over. We are going to start with the glove, you absolutely can’t leave home without your glove.

Forgetting your own glove can be super frustrating, especially if you end up having to use someone else’s because chances are it just won’t feel right. You have broken in that glove, loved and cared for it from day one, so this is an important one to remember. Maybe that glove you have loved and cared for for so long is starting to get worn out and you need a new one. Just head to JustBallGloves.com and check out some of our most popular gloves, we are sure you will find what you are looking for.

What’s a baseball or softball game without a bat? It probably would be a lot less exciting, so this one is also extremely important. Again, there’s nothing better than crushing that ball with your own bat so it would be awfully sad to leave it at home. JustBats.com has a huge selection of bats to choose from, so if you need your first one or if the one you have just isn’t cutting it anymore, stop by JustBats.com and pick from some of the hottest bats on the market. Be sure to choose a bat that best fits the league you are in.

We would hate to see everyone running around the fields in your sandals and it probably wouldn’t feel very good either, and who knows, if no one on your team has a pair of cleats to spare, you might be out of luck, so be sure to keep these in your bag. Cleats are extremely important for game-day and can make running around those bases a lot easier. Always a good thing to have around.

Not every player uses batting gloves, but if you do, and you leave them at home your swing just won’t be the same. Batting gloves can help with grip and can also reduce vibration transferring to your hands for a more comfortable swing. So if you don’t use them, it might not hurt to try them out. Batting gloves can be essential to your performance so always keep a pair on hand. You can pick up a pair up from JustBats.com right now!

Warming up with a bat weight can give you a huge advantage over other players. We wouldn’t recommend swinging with one at full speed, but simply warming up with one, even rotating your arms with a weighted bat in your hands can help get your muscles in a better place before you stand up to the plate. JustBats.com has a big selection of bats to help with training, head over there and check them out!

On any given day the weather can go from cool to hot and rainy to sunny in a matter of minutes. So it’s not a bad idea to pack a jacket just in case. This one goes out to the families and friends supporting the players on the field as well, if it’s cool outside an athlete usually can warm up pretty easily but sitting in the stands and not moving can make for a very long and cold tournament day, so bring some layers that can easily be removed.

We all know that mid-day sun can be brutal, especially when it is starting to set on the horizon and it can be right in your eyes. A pop fly can be really hard to see when you have the sun right behind it blinding you, and looking at the sun can be really bad for your eyes, so bring some sunglasses to protect them. A pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses is the best thing if you really want to insure your eyes will be protected.

If you really want to be on top of your game it’s important to fuel your body with the right kind of nutrients. Some good snacks for athletes include almonds, fruits, like bananas and apples, trail mix, yogurt, oats, energy bars and granola bars and a peanut butter sandwich is always good.

Hydration is extremely important when you’re outdoors for long periods of time, especially with this summer we just had with record breaking temperatures all across the U.S. It’s easy to become dehydrated when it’s so hot outside and you may not even realize it before it’s too late. Some signs of dehydration include a dry mouth, feeling very tired for no reason, becoming extremely thirsty, dry skin, severe headache and dizziness. If you start to feel these during game day it’s time to down a Gatorade and drink some water.

Now some of you may be trying to work on that perfect tan while your out on the ball field, but it’s important to get some sunscreen on, especially with some tournaments lasting most of the day, it’s easy to get a pretty nasty burn. So don’t be afraid, slap some SPF 35 on and go home from your game knowing you won’t look like a tomato.

How To Break In A Glove

Ever wonder how to break in your new glove? JustBallGloves.com is here to help.

Step 1: Conditioning the leather.

You will want to start with a “dime” size amount of glove oil or cream for your glove. We suggest using an applicator sponge to work the oil into every area of the glove, which includes the palm, fingers, laces, and back side. The laces are very important because they handle most of the stress from catching the ball. Once you are finished, use a paper towel to wipe off any excess oil.

Step 2: Shaping the glove.

Shaping the glove is an important step because this is where you form the pocket of the glove. To begin, place the ball inside the mitt where the pocket meets the palm. This is where the ball is caught most of the time so you want to make sure it’s formed properly. Now place bands around the glove. You want the bands to form an (X) shape around the outside of the glove. This shape will allow the open side to have a band across the top and bottom, which will better secure the ball in the pocket.

Now, let the glove sit out over night in room temperature. This will allow the oil to further condition the leather and let the glove continue to form.

Step 3: Breaking in the glove 

Once you remove the ball and bands, you will now have a good foundation for a pocket, you just need to do a little work to break it in. We suggest using a mallet to help the break-in process because it simulates catching a ball in the pocket. It also allows you to adjust the glove to fit your taste and speed up the break-in time. Place the glove on your hand and hit the glove with the mallet for about 5-10 minutes. Concentrate on hitting the area of the glove where the ball will be caught. Move the mallet around to soften up some of the more stiff areas of the glove. Once finished, rewrap the glove with the shaping ball and let it sit over night.

Step 4: Playing catch

The last step is to simply play catch with your glove. Concentrate on catching the ball in the pocket. We recommend using the mallet once a day until you are satisfied with the way your glove feels. Also, reapplying oil periodically throughout the season will help the glove stay in peak condition.

If you have followed these steps, you should now have a glove that fits you well and is game ready. Be sure to check out JustBallGloves.com for a huge selection of the latest gloves.

Vendor Of The Week: Akadema

Website:
www.AkademaPro.com

Founded: 1998

History and Background of Akadema:
In Akadema’s short but remarkable history it has become one of America’s hottest baseball and softball equipment company for professional, college, high school, and serious youth players. The Akadema phenomenon started with the Professional Glove Series and continues with the Reptilian®, Praying Mantis®, Pro Soft™ and Prodigy™ Glove Series as well as the Amish Wood™, Tacktion™ and Xtension® Aluminum Bat Series. Akadema’s ownership attributes increasing market share to their innovative professional baseball and softball product line in contrast to mass-produced products that have little to do with quality, feel, or design to raise the level of play.

Akadema’s products are manufactured for professional players but are now accessible to semi pro, college, high school, and serious youth players. Akadema products are still designed with the professional player in mind but competitively priced for the professional player at heart. So it’s your turn to think like a professional, play like a professional, and use Akadema Professional!

Akadema now has both baseball and fastpitch softball advisory staffs that they work with closely to implement new ideas.  Members of the baseball advisory staff include Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Gary Carter as well as Howard Johnson, Reggie Smith, Luis Polonia, Sandy Martinez and many others.  Fastpitch stars that are on the advisory staff include Crystl Bustos and Julie Smith.  The input on performance from the advisory staff gives Akadema something they cannot put a price on.  Their advisors don’t talk about marketing or places to sell the gloves, they just care about performance.

Check out our line from Akadema at JustBats.com.

Choose JustBallGloves.com This Holiday Season to Find the Right Glove

If you’re looking to buy a baseball or softball glove this holiday season, you should check out JustBallGloves.com, and here’s why:

1. The glove selection is GINORMOUS!
2. Enjoy a stress free shopping experience – the website is super easy to navigate
3. Friendly Customer Service Representatives can answer any question you may have
3a. They are just a simple phone call (Toll Free – 1-866-321-GLOVE) away or you can chat live with a Representative – They are available to talk 24/7
4. The JustBallGloves Resource Guide will help you through the process of finding, selecting, and caring for your glove
5. Receive FREE SHIPPING on all gloves
6. Gloves ship the SAME business day until 8:00 CST
7. JustBallGloves.com offers a no worries, 100 day return policy on all gloves – if you decide you don’t like the glove or if it doesn’t fit properly, you have up to 100 days to exchange it or opt for a FULL refund!!!
8. There is no time frame in which an unused glove needs to be returned if it’s in its original condition – may return the unused product for an exchange or refund
9. Your complete satisfaction is their goal

What are you waiting for?!! Give JustBallGloves.com a try. I promise you won’t find a better online shopping experience if you’re in the market for a ball glove this holiday season!