Overview
When it comes down to the batter vs. the pitcher players are always looking to get one over on each other. As the pitcher, you want to prepare for each pitch the same way each time so you don’t tip the batter of his teammates to what’s coming. If you fumble with a certain grip each time this becomes a tell that they other team can capitalize on. That’s why it’s important to be able to reach into the glove seamlessly and locate each grip within the same timeframe.
The Claim
The makers of Gripz baseball say that the indents in the ball make it so your fingers go right where they’re supposed to for each of the major grips used by pitchers across the country. They say that you need to try out different pitches so you can decide which ones work best for you and develop your own repertoire of pitches that batters will fear. They talk about muscle memory and how their balls help you condition your hand to automatically find the right spot, each and every time.
The Appeal
Anyone that wants to make it to the big leagues as a pitcher is looking for an edge. They have a point when they say that pitching is mostly mental, but so many aspiring pitchers focus on their physical conditioning and overlook the mental aspect of the game. You’ve got to keep so many things in your head as a pitcher, such as what you know about the batter, what the scouting reports say, how many runners are on base, and the signals from your coach, you definitely don’t need to be thinking about how to hold the ball.
The Cost
You can get a Gripz baseball two-pack for $25. There’s also a four-pack for $50 and a six-pack for $60. So you’re looking at about $12 or so per ball, less if you buy them in bulk. Since each ball has its own unique imprint, you’ll need a different ball for each pitch you want to work on.
The Commitment
You’d have to spend time conditioning yourself with these grip balls, and the training they recommend sounds easy enough if you’re willing to put the time in. They say that the muscle memory occurs instantly, but the more you train with it the more effortless your actions will become. You know when you see a pitcher on the mound in an MLB game he’s no longer thinking about the way he holds the ball. He’s done it thousands of times that his body just goes through the motions and he can let his skill and preparation pay off.
Evaluation
The idea behind the Gripz baseball is a solid one, and their patent checks out. The only drawback we see is that you have to have a different ball for each grip, and it would be better if they could have figured out a way for one ball to rotate into different grips so you don’t have to buy a collection of them to learn all the pitches. Aside from that this is a nice instructional tool and a way for players of all ages to get a better grasp of the grasps.
At a time when so many ballplayers are suspected of using performance enhancing drugs and other illegal ways to get one over on their competitors, this represents a fair way to condition and train yourself so that you can throw your pitches with more control and accuracy. When you consider that some of the deadliest strike out pitches are not fastballs, it’s very important to make sure you have an arsenal of pitches at your disposal.
We’re giving our Thumbs Up rating to the Gripz baseball system, although it’s important to remember that only a small percentage of players make it into Major League Baseball. This may or may not improve your chances, but in the meantime it should make you a more effective player and allow you to have more fun playing the game. If it helps you strike out just one more batter each inning it can make a huge difference in your overall game and results.
Our Recommendation
If you’re been struggling to master the grips for the different pitches, these may prove to be a way to get you past the point of over-thinking it and let your body just know what needs to be done.
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View Comments
It's a shame that I had a lousy father and I didn't even learn to catch a baseball until the age of 14, when my best friend taught me. I'm a father now, but unfortunately I don't have much firsthand experience in baseball. I don't know why a product like gripz exists and I don't know what it does even if you explain it to me. I guess I'll just get it and figure it out with my son, he loves baseball and I just want to give him something that will help him improve his game. Apparently gripz is a good product.