A ball, glove, and bat are really all you need for baseball, but to work on specific skills, practice tools can be invaluable. Coaches should investigate whether certain tools are age-appropriate, though aids such as hitting tees are perfect for all ages. Players who practice with these other gadgets and tools will see immense improvement come game time.
Hitting Tee
A staple for tee-ball and for kids just learning the game, hitting tees are actually used at all levels of organized baseball, former professional baseball player and college coach Joe Citari notes. You can even see major leaguers hitting off a tee in spring training, to work on leveling out their swings. Tees can range in price from $15 to $75 (for the more durable models). The main feature you want in a tee is an easily adjustable height, not just to accommodate players of different heights, but also to help players work on making good contact with high and low pitches.
Rebounder
It sounds like a basketball training aid, but a rebounder (also known as a Pitchback, or under other brand names) is essentially a springy net stretched across a metal frame that can be used by pitchers as well as fielders. Pitchers can use a rebounder with a strike zone marked on it to help with location, while fielders can use the equipment to work on grounders and pop-ups. Throw the ball low on the net and it will bounce up high to simulate a pop-up; a high throw will bring the ball down for a bouncer or grounder. This tool is particularly useful for a player who is practicing on his own.
"Pancake" Glove
They come in a variety of sizes from a range of manufacturers, but so-called "pancake" gloves are essentially just flat, padded, round gloves that cannot be closed. Because you can't squeeze the glove around the ball, you are forced to use proper mechanics to get in front of the ball and get your throwing hand on the ball quickly, to be ready to make the throw. Players practicing with a pancake glove can't make lazy one-handed catches, but must move their feet to scoop up a ground ball. In addition, to keep the ball from getting away, you must get your throwing hand around the ball immediately. This will help players develop quicker hands, a particularly important trait for middle infielders and catchers.
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