Would you ever use that?

FastpitchFan · Apr 9, 2015

I stumbled on this: Straight Shooter USA - Home Page

What do you think?

In my opinion, it seems more work to set up, carry around and especially use that a good old bat. It could perhaps be useful for a coach who has weak fungo skills but otherwise, I am not a fan of this. Never seen one around.

Thoughts?

JJS · Apr 9, 2015

Water balloon fight! 275'...We could hit our rival team from 2 fields over! I wonder how far rotten tomatoes will fly with this?

PA SB Dad · Apr 9, 2015

JJS said:
Water balloon fight! 275'...We could hit our rival team from 2 fields over! I wonder how far rotten tomatoes will fly with this?

I had the exact same thought!

riseball · Apr 9, 2015

PA SB Dad said:
I had the exact same thought!

Great minds think alike. It would definitely rock for water balloons! For softball or baseball not so much. I would expect that this would chuck the ball with little or no spin which is about as far away from game conditions as you can get. I want to hit tailing shots left and right, backspin, and topspin to simulate what they see in a game. Maybe useful at the early ages but of little value as kids progress.

Greenmonsters · Apr 9, 2015

Practice foul pop ups to the catcher that don't have bat-induced spin on them actually are counterproductive.

JAD · Apr 9, 2015

$200+ for a device that essentially replaces "fungo"....and becomes one more thing to pack up and carry around....no thanks!

riseball · Apr 9, 2015

I could see the value if you ran a REC league with a shed where you could leave it assembled. Would be good for younger ages and newb coaches to chuck consistent popups with RIF balls. But no way as a TB coach that makes its way into my truck.

marriard · Apr 9, 2015

We just use a lacrosse stick. You can fling the hell out of a softball with a lacrosse stick.

grmerrill · Apr 9, 2015

ooh my teenage years. It was called a fungulator(?) and instead of the base you had a teenager on each side. Surgical tubing, a pouch and two handles.

You could drop waterballoons onto a house from half a block away.

Or duel across a church parking lot. The balloons came in like a bat out of Hell. Awesome and terrifying at the same time. Until one kid took a balloon square in the chest and it sounded like someone took a bat to a watermelon, and it laid him out. Everyone came to a screeching halt.

He got up and we went back at it.

Man I feel old now.

YOCOACH · Apr 10, 2015

I have to admit the first thought upon seeing it was launching water balloons. However, even for this I don't think it's practical. Any time you have no fortifications, you have to be extremely mobile and obviously...this ain't. I'll stick to the tried and true two friends plus me, surgical tubing and pouch if we're gonna get serious about it. As far as softball, I'll stick with the old bat and ball or my generator and pitching machine if I have to. I already have those and really can't justify spending that kind of money when my DD needs bat #6 (Marucci Pure) to add to the other 5 in her bag.

Would you ever use that?

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FastpitchFan

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