Basketball hitting drill

JAD said:

We used to hit partially deflated basketballs (using a 'beater' bat) to strengthen the girls wrists and teach them to follow through, but since the TCB heavy balls were introduced, we switched and never looked back. Much easier to carry around and girls can hit them with their regular bats.

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SBFAMILY said:

There is a study and I will have to find it about the impact on the wrists and damage this can cause. Like most drills it would depend on the age. If you watch this drill in slow motion watch the impact and what happends with the bat. Even Team USA wouldn't do this drill because of potential injury. The bat stops it motion which hitting a hard softball it doesn't happen . There are better ways to build up muscles if that is the purpose. I like the TCB balls but , we still don't use the heavier one on the market for the same reasons. I think Howard/hitter has an old post about the study.

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David Carter said:

I have seen it used I just don't, my DD team did this drill once (I was just AC at the time) she came home saying her wrist was sore I just don't see the need for it.

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CycloneSoftball22 said:

A few years ago , my DD team did this drill as a station in most practices. I asked her about her wrists and she told me she didnt notice any issues. Also , I know of a couple of HS programs locally that hit tires. I am not saying that I like these drills. I was just wondering about the reason for them and if there really is any PROVEN downside to them?

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MountieSB said:

I don't have any proven downside, but we used to do this and we had some girls who complained of strained wrists after doing so, so we dropped it. I agree with the other posters, invest in some TCBs - it produces the same desired outcome with (in my opinion) lower chance at injury/pain for the hitter.

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