Posted by: () on Thu Sep 26 08:37:22 2002

I'm beginning to work with a 4 yr. old and am interested in buying a training tool Ive seen advertised. It resembles a tetherball, it has 2 ropes connectedto the ball, it attaches to a pole and the baseball rebounds with every hit. If anyone knows where I can find it I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks

I have a friend who sells the Hit-A-Way - I do not recommend this type device for a 4 year old - to hard on timing / to heavy of a ball.
My son started wanting to hit a baseball just after his first birthday( yes 1ST birthday ) We had Nerf balls & the balls like you play in a swimming pool with along with a Nerf bat. This worked until his follow thru swing started clearing tables & knocking lamps down. We moved outdoors & moved up in equipment(TOYS) we used a toy made by Todays Kids - it had a large funnel top - heavy base with a pedal. My son could drop the plastic ball in the funnel / step on pedal & it would click giving him time to get ready to swing & then the ball would pop straight up & he could hit using a plastic bat. This TRAINED him to do alot of things / he just didnt now he was training. He was succeding on his own. We went thru 2 of these TRAINING AIDES he wore the pedal out on both. He used these until he was around 4 - but he always wanted me to pitch to him whenever I could. But to set back & watch him hit that plastic ball & his dog chase it down & bring it back to him so he could hit again is a great memory of how Baseball should be FUN. He is now 10 playing Boys Club league / Fall Baseball League & USSSA Travel ball - appox. 60 games a year & he cant get enough. I have a 2 year old that is following in his footsteps. The Pop-up toy we used I dont think they make any longer & the only thing close that I have found uses air to pop ball up but they are not very good. Just buy a heavy duty adjustable Tee a bunch of heavy plastic balls or tennis balls Hard Plastic bat or small alum, bat a helmet and let him hit give him targets to hit the ball to (R. Field / L. Field / C. Field) & just let him PLAY. Also pitch to him every chance you get as long as he hits & has fun.