Creative Handymen, I need your help: Hit-A-Way Baseball Swing Trainer

[Homerboy]

My son got a "Hit-Away" batting practice device for Christmas, and now that the snow has thawed, I need to get this thing set up for him

http://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-Hit-A-Way...3487055&sr=8-2

The problem is, it requires a pole (diameter of about 4+" it looks like) and/or a tree to attach too. I have neither in my yard. I'm trying to think of someway to rig this up though... but I don't want a plant a permanent big pole into my back yard.

I'm trying to conjure up a way where I can plant a "base" or receptacle into the ground in my back yard where I can attach, when wanted, a suitable pole (pole could also serve as possible double duty to attach a clothesline, or maybe even a tether-ball too?!?!

Help me get creative. (I'm not afraid of digging holes, tossing in quick-crete etc). I'm more than handy myself, I'm just having a creative block here on this.

I realize they market and sell a portable device for this thing, but its $100+.

 

[PottedMeat]

you don't have a basketball hoop like this one? :

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Performanc...ef=pd_sbs_sg_4


edit: you don't want a permanent pole but you're willing to put in a pole & concrete it?

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Perhaps browse CL free stuff for a portable basketball hoop? Then attach it to that perhaps? This way your son has two sports he could play instead of just one.

 

[Homerboy]

nope. There is a playground directly across the street with 4+ backboards. No room for a hoop in our driveway anyways.

But a post like on a hoop is ideal (and we know people with such a setup)

Edit: most those portable BBall hoops posts run on an angle too IIRC.

 

[Scotteq]

If you like - You could make a heavy base out of concrete set in a round container (so you can roll it around when you want to move it), and place a fence post in that (obviously when the concrete is still wet).


You would need a Round Galvanized pail, enough premixed concrete to fill said pail, and a fence post.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

What about filling a big bucket full of cement and putting a 5ft pole in there?

 

[Scotteq]

What about filling a big bucket full of cement and putting a 5ft pole in there?

exactly :thumbsup:

 

[highland145]

What about filling a big bucket full of cement and putting a 5ft pole in there?

:thumbsup:

 

[the DRIZZLE]

If you like - You could make a heavy base out of concrete set in a round container (so you can roll it around when you want to move it), and place a fence post in that (obviously when the concrete is still wet).


You would need a Round Galvanized pail, enough premixed concrete to fill said pail, and a fence post.

You could try doing this with a 5 gallon bucket and a piece of pipe.

 

[Homerboy]

If you like - You could make a heavy base out of concrete set in a round container (so you can roll it around when you want to move it), and place a fence post in that (obviously when the concrete is still wet).

Hmmm. Getting warmer I think.
I could go ghetto...
1) make a quick square for a frame.
2) get a 4" PVC pipe. Fill frame with concrete.
3) Jam PVC in there.
4) Toss on some heavy casters to the frame
5) ...profit?

 

[Homerboy]

What about filling a big bucket full of cement and putting a 5ft pole in there?

YES! Super ghetto! I love it.

 

[Scotteq]

Hmmm. Getting warmer I think.
I could go ghetto...
1) make a quick square for a frame.
2) get a 4" PVC pipe. Fill frame with concrete.
3) Jam PVC in there.
4) Toss on some heavy casters to the frame
5) ...profit?

The 5 gallon bucket would be simpler. Since you can roll it on edge, you don't need casters.

 

[oogabooga]

I think i played with something similar. One thing I might note is a hallow pole is less than ideal since when the ball hits it, it makes a loud noise. It can be sufficiently annoying. If noise is going to be an issue it could be worth noting.

 

[Homerboy]

The 5 gallon bucket would be simpler. Since you can roll it on edge, you don't need casters.

Yeap. I was typing that up as the bucket idea was posted.
Off to HD tomorrow!!
I will display the ghetto-ness when complete
(I think I may bolt/screw the PCV to the bucket itself just for added solidness. At the very least toss a few screws into the PVC before sticking into the quick-crete to make it secure in there.

Should the pole go dead-center? Or you think touching the side of the bucket?
I'm trying to think of the physics of it.... if the kid is swinging and there isnt enough base there to keep it from falling over. If you put it of center, to the outside of the swing, it may support the force more and not tip over?

 

[highland145]

Don't use PVC. May shatter over time.

 

[Homerboy]

I think i played with something similar. One thing I might note is a hallow pole is less than ideal since when the ball hits it, it makes a loud noise. It can be sufficiently annoying. If noise is going to be an issue it could be worth noting.

I can cap the pole on top. Should stop it from acting like a tuba. Worse case fill it and cap it.

 

[Scotteq]

Yeap. I was typing that up as the bucket idea was posted.
Off to HD tomorrow!!
I will display the ghetto-ness when complete
(I think I may bolt/screw the PCV to the bucket itself just for added solidness. At the very least toss a few screws into the PVC before sticking into the quick-crete to make it secure in there.

Should the pole go dead-center? Or you think touching the side of the bucket?
I'm trying to think of the physics of it.... if the kid is swinging and there isnt enough base there to keep it from falling over. If you put it of center, to the outside of the swing, it may support the force more and not tip over?

Dead Center: (1) So you can control it with the pole when you roll/move it. And (2) because no matter now you place it, your child will inevitably move around to hit the ball.

 

[Homerboy]

Don't use PVC. May shatter over time.

Hmmm... ya think so? I think it'd be Ok. Not to mention, what other kind of pip am I going to use? I dont think they sell 4" cast iron anymore

 

[Homerboy]

Dead Center: (1) So you can control it with the pole when you roll/move it. And (2) because no matter now you place it, your child will inevitably move around to hit the ball.

He better not! That's bad batting!!! he better stay square to home plate at all times!!!!

It could still roll if off-center, just not as easily of course. I'm just curious if its dead center and he gets a solid hit, if it'd be enough to topple it over. If the fulcrum was off-center, it would be harder to rock/tip on a hit. Hmmmmm.....

 

[highland145]

Hmmm... ya think so? I think it'd be Ok. Not to mention, what other kind of pip am I going to use? I dont think they sell 4" cast iron anymore

What? Say it ain't so. Everything's plastic there days.

Used a 2" pvc on a stand for t-ball and it shattered after a couple of errant hits. The 4" won't be being hit (hopefully) and it's stronger but might want to make it so you can replace it if you have to. Probably hard/expensive to get a heavy gauge steel post.

 

[Homerboy]

What? Say it ain't so. Everything's plastic there days.

Used a 2" pvc on a stand for t-ball and it shattered after a couple of errant hits. The 4" won't be being hit (hopefully) and it's stronger but might want to make it so you can replace it if you have to. Probably hard/expensive to get a heavy gauge steel post.

If he's hitting the pole (no homo!!!!), I got bigger problems to worry about

 

[highland145]

If he's hitting the pole (no homo!!!!), I got bigger problems to worry about

LOL

I can think of a lot on things I hit with bats that I wasn't supposed to.

 

[manlymatt83]

Still don't understand how this thing works.

 

[Homerboy]

LOL

I can think of a lot on things I hit with bats that I wasn't supposed to.

Well he's (almost) 10 and a "serious" Baseball player. This will be training for him in his eyes... not just horse play. The bat is his baby.

 

[Homerboy]

Still don't understand how this thing works.

1) connect to pole (two wires about 6 ft apart vertically)
2) swing ball so it wraps itself around pole.
3) ball now unwinds itself from around pole simulating a pitch (albeit a slow one)
4) when ball is in strikezone you swing and hit ball
5) ball wraps itself around pole from hit momentum
6) goto 3

its more of a hand/eye/bat coordination tool. No matter where that ball is as its coming towards you, you swing hard and level to get it to wrap around again. Hit it crappy (high/low) and it doesn't wrap.