Sports Product Review

Volleyball is a booming sport and everyone at Excel Sport Products, (www.excelsportsproducts.com) is working day and night to stay ahead of the competition. A leading manufacturer of training aids and equipment for volleyball, water polo and soccer, Excel knows how to design products that help your player be the best he or she can be.

The new Crush It is designed to allow players to get in repetitions without having to stop and shag balls. Players can improve spiking technique, approach, arm swing, vertical jump and endurance, while learning full arm extension and correct body position in relation to ball at contact. It’s easily set up in a gym, or even a garage or basement. Most unique and clever is the way the ball is attached from the sides, allowing the player to hit the top and simulate real game action.

If you’ve got an outside hitter who wants to practice indoors, they'll learn to “Crush it” with products from Excel.

Source: Excel Sports Products

It’s so nice when something works as advertised. A week ago I heard my nine year-old daughter crying downstairs. She’d been out practicing in the backyard with her new soccer ball. She kicked one too high and it went over the fence. That would be nothing to cry over, but it struck the neighbor’s palm tree and punctured on a sharp frond. Her new ball, which she’d had less than a week, was ruined. The only thing to do was throw it away.

Or not. I got a Ball Doctor from Unique Sports, (www.uniquesports.us) and decided to give it a try. The website says, “seals leaks and punctures in all valve inflatable balls without a bladder. Just insert syringe in ball valve and depress plunger. Pump up pressure and bounce ball vigorously. It is fixed for continued play.”

It works. In less than the time it took to tear open the package I’d injected the goo into her ball, re-inflated it and we no longer heard the hissing from the puncture. The ball is as good as new.

Next time you have a football, basketball, soccer or volleyball that won’t hold air, don’t give up on it—rush it to the doctor. One painless shot is all you'll need.

Source: Unique Sports

Swing the hips. That’s what I’m always telling my Little Leaguers who have a tendency to try to hit the ball by swinging their arms with their rear ends extended out. The 8board from Grail Sports, (www.grailsports.com), is a neat little training device to help get your hips into your swing in all kinds of sports, including baseball, golf, tennis and even volleyball.

The 8board is a figure-8 swivel board. Simply place one foot on each pad and rotate the hips to create momentum. Your body will create a natural “coil” away from the ball, and then a strong rotation back to it. The biggest muscles in the body are in the lower half and the pros know that the secret to generating a strong swing is by generating a powerful trunk rotation.

If you could do a better job creating lower-half torque in your sport, hop on an 8board and bring your hips along for the ride.

Source: Grail Sports

Volleyball training has never been easier than with the Pass Rite from Tandem Sport, (www.tandemsport.com).  One of the problems players often encounter is using too much upswing on a set or pass, which causes a lack of control and erratic shot. No more after a couple sessions with the Pass Rite.

This simple device uses elastic bands to restrict the upward arm movement, allowing the player to register the perfect touch each time. Consistent use will create muscle memory that stays with the player after the device has been removed.

Now, when that ball comes over the net, instead of whacking it up to roof, your teammates will assume its going to be a perfect pass. And they'll be right. All because of Pass Rite.

Source: Tandem Sports

Another great product to go in our file of self-training devices, Hoop Spike from Rip Tide Volleyball, (www.riptidevolleyball.com) allows aspiring volleyball stars to practice their spikes solo, anywhere they can find a basketball hoop.

The product ingeniously slides over a conventional rim, and the tethering device hangs through the net. Simply attach a conventional ball and let the fun begin. The protected tubing can be adjusted to bring the ball down as low as needed, or, if you have an adjustable rim, you can modify the height that way as well. Two can even train on the Hoop Spike—one spiking and the other blocking.

Everyone loves the feel of a good, clean spike. Now, you can get that feeling hundreds of times a day with no ball to chase and no setter needed. Hoop Spike really will bring your game to a new level.

Source: Rip Tide Volleyball