By now you have probably heard about them—these balls are quickly gaining popularity, especially in the softball arena. The question is, do they really allow what the term suggests—total control? Most advertisements will focus on how they strengthen player hits and increase distance of those hits. To figure out if the claims hold their salt, you must first understand the purpose and theory behind these balls.
The Theory
These balls come in a variety of different sizes, but all of them weigh more than a league-regulation size softball. These balls are only used in warm-ups and for practices and will never be used in an actual game. The theory behind their use is that:
- Using a weighted ball during batting practice teaches girls to drive through when their bat makes contact with the ball. It strengthens their arms and wrists at contact because they are learning to drive through the ball with their swing. It is similar to weight lifting. After lifting 50 pounds all day, every day, when you go to lift 20 pounds, it is easier and lighter. The same theory applies to the Total Control Ball. Once a player learns to drive through a heavier ball, a lighter game ball will be simpler.
- The ball allows for batting practices in smaller spaces. So, if you need to utilize half the field for one type of practice, you can still host batting practice because the weighted balls will not travel as far when they are hit. In fact, you could work with a relatively short batting area for practice.
- When players hit weighted balls and go to a regular weight ball, they have more strength and they make better contact with a game ball with this type of practice.
Do they Really Work?
These balls show better results when they are used properly during training. There are some hitting drills that you can do with your players to improve their performance and there are things you need to keep in mind while using them:
- Consider the weight. They come in a variety of weights and the manufacturer has specifics for which weight works best – such as the 74 which is designed for baseball use, while the Atomic Ball is designed for fast pitch softball. Make sure you are using the right type of ball for your type of baseball or softball practice.
- Consider the training purpose. Choose from a full line of balls, each with a specific training purpose. For example, the 82 is designed to develop strength and teach a player to drive through, while the Atomic Ball is designed for pure strength training as well as core development. The Hole Ball 74 is designed for instant player feedback because it features a whiffle style.
When you have the right weight, style and purpose, these Total Control Balls do offer what they claim to. For players that need instant feedback or just need to develop more strength and follow through, you may find training balls improve player performance faster than batting practice with game balls.
