Fungo Bat/Coaches War Club

[Benny Blades]

I'm in the market for a fungo bat but ran across the "Coaches War Club". Anyone out there have one of these "fungo" bats? If so, please review.

Thanks in advance.......

[Jake Patterson]

I'm in the market for a fungo bat but ran across the "Coaches War Club". Anyone out there have one of these "fungo" bats? If so, please review.

Thanks in advance.......
Don't know about this one... I do have a Zinger wood fungo and find it to be great.
Jake

[59FIFTY]

Get a SSK fungo, all mlb coaches use them!
The coaches of every team in Major League Baseball, that's right all 30 teams, insist on using the SSK fungos

http://www.ssksports.com/en/baseball/adv_sup/advisor.php

[Benny Blades]

Jake--

Do you have the 36" or smaller (34", 35")? Looking to use this for Little League baseball.

--Benny

[Jake Patterson]

Jake--

Do you have the 36" or smaller (34", 35")? Looking to use this for Little League baseball.

--Benny

I have a 36" X222 that Freddy made for me. I use it on a 300+ foot field with no problems. Weight and balance is great and I am more accurate with this bat than any other I have used.

[CoachHenry]

I have two fungos. One for general use and infield and the other for when I'm doing tons of outfield work.

I use the SSK's for both.

[freddy]

Get a SSK fungo, all mlb coaches use them!
The coaches of every team in Major League Baseball, that's right all 30 teams, insist on using the SSK fungos

http://www.ssksports.com/en/baseball/adv_sup/advisor.php

Watch next year, we already have quite a few equipment managers ready to fill there next years orders with us.

The coaches love the pop coming off of our Maple fungo vs there Ash.
At the same price, which would you buy?

[freddy]

Jake--

Do you have the 36" or smaller (34", 35")? Looking to use this for Little League baseball.

--Benny

You can choose you size, but I would not go under 35"

[CoachHenry]

My normal infield and general use is 34". If I went any bigger I'd accidentally kill some kids.

[59FIFTY]

Watch next year, we already have quite a few equipment managers ready to fill there next years orders with us.

The coaches love the pop coming off of our Maple fungo vs there Ash.
At the same price, which would you buy?
SSK, Zinger is new in the fungo buisiness they have to prove them before i will trade in my beloved SSK fungo's and maple SSK's:cap:

I like the feel of Ash and the sound better then maple.

[Go Cardinals]

I vote for zinger

[Jake Patterson]

SSK, Zinger is new in the fungo buisiness they have to prove them before i will trade in my beloved SSK fungo's and maple SSK's:cap:

I like the feel of Ash and the sound better then maple.I've used it for a full season and find it better than my aluminum fungo. I am very suprised given the diameter of the handle. Very easy to use.

[BallCoach06]

I love the SSK fungos, but I am a smaller guy and sometimes struggle hitting with the 37" SSK. I also have the 33" infield SSK and like that better, but ideally I would like a 35".

I have had both for 3 years now and they have held up very well.

[Benny Blades]

Per Jakes referral...I ordered the Zinger 36"...can't wait to get it!

Thanks for all the feedback!

[Jake Patterson]

Per Jakes referral...I ordered the Zinger 36"...can't wait to get it!

Thanks for all the feedback!

The only thing I had to get used to was checking for grain when hitting (like any wood bat), something you don't have to do with a metal bat. I am certain you will like the bat. Freddy can custom mark the bat for you if you like.Not sure of the additional costs.

[Benny Blades]

Very nice..yes, I'm having my name engraved as part of the price of the bat (this will be a price adder July 1 per Freddy ?). I thought that was a nice touch with the name!

[freddy]

Per Jakes referral...I ordered the Zinger 36"...can't wait to get it!

Thanks for all the feedback!

Thank you for the order Benny, Here's an offer you wont see to many places!!
If you are unhappy with it send it back and ill return your money no questions asked.

[StraightGrain11]

Get a SSK fungo, all mlb coaches use them!
The coaches of every team in Major League Baseball, that's right all 30 teams, insist on using the SSK fungos

http://www.ssksports.com/en/baseball/adv_sup/advisor.php

Really?
That
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/410685431_54d4df09ba.jpg?v=0
is an X-Bat fungo. :nod:

I will agree that MANY (maybe even MOST) use the SSK - just not ALL. ;)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/431162070_d08e1f5bfe.jpg?v=0

[59FIFTY]

I think every coach tries other brands, like x-bat but leyland also uses a SSK, never tried X-bat so can't really say mutch about them.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a1jfxB3fh5di/340x.jpg

[baseballdad]

How did you l like the Zinger?

I am looking at getting a fungo bat. Does this make a huge difference in hitting accurate fly balls to the outfield. I use a standard bat now and I am not very confident in hitting flys in practice, I usually throw them.

What are the factors I should consider in getting a smaller 33" SSK vs. the 37" model?

[BallCoach06]

How did you l like the Zinger?

I am looking at getting a fungo bat. Does this make a huge difference in hitting accurate fly balls to the outfield. I use a standard bat now and I am not very confident in hitting flys in practice, I usually throw them.

What are the factors I should consider in getting a smaller 33" SSK vs. the 37" model?

33" inch for infield and 37" is for outfield. Each one can be used for either or, but the longer fungos make hitting flyballs easier.

[mudvnine]

Thank you for the order Benny, Here's an offer you wont see to many places!!
If you are unhappy with it send it back and ill return your money no questions asked.

baseballdad,

I can vouch for Freddy on this. Had a small concern with a bat I purchased from Zinger and after to working with Freddy through email correspondence, we worked out a solution that I thought was extremely fair and more then generous on his part.

I have a customized (names on the barrel) 36" Zinger X222 that is just beautiful, that I couldn't be happier with (although the sound does take some getting used to) . . . thanks to Freddy and Michel for their attention to detail and customer satisfaction . . . I've already recommended them to others.

[baseballdad]

I've never used a fungo bat before. Any tips to hitting with a fungo? I got a 37" SSK and it seems really unwieldy. I usually hit practice with a one arm swing and I have to choke way up to control this baby.

[MrSurprise]

I've never used a fungo bat before. Any tips to hitting with a fungo? I got a 37" SSK and it seems really unwieldy. I usually hit practice with a one arm swing and I have to choke way up to control this baby.

My infield coaches will cut the top end of the bat off like a good 4 or 5 inches so it leaves like 3 or 4 inches of actual hitting area left... this lightens the wood bat up alot and you have a lot more control over how you want to hit the ball

[wogdoggy]

baseballdad,

I can vouch for Freddy on this. Had a small concern with a bat I purchased from Zinger and after to working with Freddy through email correspondence, we worked out a solution that I thought was extremely fair and more then generous on his part.

I have a customized (names on the barrel) 36" Zinger X222 that is just beautiful, that I couldn't be happier with (although the sound does take some getting used to) . . . thanks to Freddy and Michel for their attention to detail and customer satisfaction . . . I've already recommended them to others.

I've never bought a fungo from freddy at ZINGER bats BUT I have bought a cabrerra model..absoulutely perfect..finish grain everything...you cant go wrong :happy::thumbsup:

[bhss89]

I'm in the market for a fungo bat but ran across the "Coaches War Club". Anyone out there have one of these "fungo" bats? If so, please review.

Thanks in advance.......

Haven't heard of the "War Club." I have used a friend's SSK in the past and it was excellent. I currently use a Hoosier Bat Company 36" and like it a great deal. Durable with consistent results.

http://www.hoosierbat.com/images/hb100fungo.jpg

http://www.hoosierbat.com/home.html

[THop]

baseballdad,

I’m a traditionalist and work mostly with high school aged kids, but I settled on aluminum about 10 years ago when I became old. I think it’s 36 inches in length and I know it was manufactured by Easton.

As far as how to use one, it’s a lot like hitting, in my opinion. 50% technique and 50% elbow grease.

The following is what I wrote to some new coaches a little more than 6 years ago, but in my opinion it’s still very solid advice. Hope it helps.

1. Always use two hands (with middle and highschoolers). The quickest way to tell everyone that you are a rookie is to hit pre game infield/outfield using only one hand.

2. Toss hand: I have seen great fungo hitters that toss using the top hand as well as their bottom hand. If you have never done this before, I would recommend using your bottom hand while the bat rests on your back shoulder. Toss the ball no more than “hat high” then grab the handle as you take your hands back. Contact “ground balls” near chest level, “line drives” near waist level and “fly balls” near shoulder level.

3. Hitting outfield fungos. A coach must consistently hit routine grounders and line drives (to be charged), fly balls to be tracked and routine fly balls (caught with momentum toward the throwing target). After the outfielders throw to third and home during pre game infield, their fungo coach should continue to hit these to them from one of the base lines (while another coach conducts the remainder of infield warm ups).

4. Hitting fungos to the catcher. Only a true “fungo engineer” can do this well consistently. Of which I am not one. A coach must have a limber back. We recommend using the hard foam, white (Atec/Nerf) balls to hit “elevator shaft” pop-ups. One reason is safety, but they also spin more violently reminding catchers how pop-ups always spin toward the field. Toss these a little higher and hit them just above head level.

5. Keep hands inside the ball (pull the knob) until the last possible moment. The best fungo hitters maintain the “L” angle (created by the lead arm and bat) longer than most. They un-cock their wrists (hands over/under) extremely late.

6. Call the play that you want them to make so you can monitor technique. Teach them that it’s perfectly OK (almost preferred) to make errors in practice. It is a training ground. Games are for show casing skills learned during practice. “Spectacular achievements are always preceded by unspectacular preparation-Roger Staubach. This applies to fungo coaches as well.

7. Practice. Remember “practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect”-Johnny Majors. This applies to fungo coaches as well.

8. Take good care of your hands (your players are depending on many reps). Wear Batting gloves (two pair if you have soft skin) during all practices. At night, soak in a hot bath (with Epsom salt) if you are old like us.

9. Lead by example. If you expect your players to get dirty (and sweaty), then you should too. I once knew a high school coach that wouldn’t wear a hat or hit pre game infield/outfield because he “had a date after the game”.

10. Don’t be overly superstitious. I knew another high school coach that once decline to take pre game infield during an entire 7 game win streak because “it was bad luck”. He honestly convinced himself (and his players) that it would “jinx” them. Sadly, this was over a 3-week span (25% of their season) so many of his 20 players got zero work at all! Fortunately, they lost the “8th game” by committing something like 6 errors. True to form, he screamed “what’s wrong with you guys?” more than a few times during that game.

11. Believe in a routine. A solid, consistent routine is comforting and allows coaches and players to remain comfortable and focused on the task at hand. Pre game infield/outfield also sets the tone for the game. How they perform it does not. They will execute better if they practice a routine often.

12. Traditional wood fungo bats are great. However, on 60/90 fields, coaches might want to think about investing in an aluminum fungo bat in order to get the outfielders more realistic balls to field.

13. Teach your players how to hit fungos. You’d be amazed at the number of high school and college players that can’t toss to them selves and hit well (regular bat either). This is due to a generation of too many structured games and practices and too few “sand lot” and pick up games (in my opinion).


THop

[wogdoggy]

good post TG..and its terrible that kids cant even soft toss themselves...I agree

[baseballdad]

Thanks for the advice I'll try it out.