What are Swing Smarter's Thoughts on the BASEBALLANCE

by Sean Hanifee
(Virginia)

BASEBALLANCE is the first cross curricular baseball training aid, set to be released for sale on December 1, 2009. It truly isolates the bottom half of the hitters approach and serves as a way to FEEL proper approach from balanced stance, to loading to staying off the front foot as a front foot hitter. It also isolates movement directly back at the pitcher with interchangeable rocking action from a self contained unit. It not only emphasis rhythm and dynamic balance at the plate, but with more than 30 drills for every position on the field. To see it in its developmental stages, you can search "BASEBALLANCE" to see youtube video.

Swing Smarter Response:
Interesting idea for a hitting aid focusing on the balance part of the swing, which is so very important for bat speed and the power/leverage relationship.

I work with my fitness clients on something similar called a Bosu ball, which engages the neuromuscular system (brain/spinal cord/muscles), it causes the brain to recruit more muscles to help the body to balance, resulting in more calories burned and joint stabilization reached.

With the Swing Smarter 8-Point Hitting Aid Grading Scale:

1. Durability - A


2. Weight - C


3. Economical - C/D


4. User Friendly - A


5. Convenient/Compact for Storage - B minus


6. Easy Assembly - A


7. Partner Needed (Y/N) - No


8. Does the device teach you something (Y/N) - Yes

The good news is...

This hitting gadget looks durable, easily assembled, doesn't need a partner to get something out of it, and definitely teaches a balanced swing. The other hidden benefit is CORE strength development, like with the Bosu Ball mentioned above.

The bad news is...

It looks like the BaseBalance is a little heavy and less convenient for coaches and parents to carry to the practice field every time they wanted
to use it. AND I know this aid isn't going to be cheap...probably will carry over a $100 price tag after its release December of 2009.

Don't get us wrong, Swing Smarter does like the concept of the BaseBalance, however with its seemingly high price tag, we can get the same thing done using more creative cheaper household items.

The investment in the BaseBalance may be better for teams than individual players.

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P.S. Wondering which baseball hitting aids are worth their weight in gold? Frustrated scowering the internet for over-hyped highly endorsed swing gadgets NOT doing a darn thing for your swing?

Swing Smarter and FOWL Ball's The Starting Lineup store is just what the baseball world is looking for...it's where we can find the "9 best baseball hitting aids on the planet."

It takes a lot for a hitting gadget to crack The Starting Lineup, because there are only 9 spots available.

Unfortunately, they aren't cheap AND some require a hefty investment...however, everyone knows we get what we pay for. If we purchase cheap baseball hitting aids, then we'll get cheap results; and if we're a seeker of non-quality non-functional products, then we'd highly recommend NOT visiting The Best Starting 9 today. Junk in, means junk out.