Dunham's Sports

A Plan for Every Season

SportsFan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:27:24 +0000

Vary your approach to catch more largemouth bass.

In spring, many a young man’s (and young woman’s) thoughts turn to … catching largemouth bass. For the avid angler, there’s nothing like an opportunity to return to his or her favorite outdoor activity. Understanding how largemouth bass adapt to the seasons will greatly increase your chances of catching more than your fair share.

“Bass constantly change their location within the lake in relationship to the season,” said Jim Burrows of Pure Fishing. The change in location and the fish’s needs requires different approaches and equipment.

“The beginning of the season is when bass are beginning to think about spawning and need to bulk up for this strenuous process,” said Dan Quinn, Rapala pro staff manager. “Many bass anglers suspend jerkbaits, such as the Rapala Husky, when the water is cold.”

“It doesn’t take long for the fish to move into shallow water,” added Bryan Plenzler of Wellman Sports Marketing. “I recommend a jig or a lipless crankbait. Be sure to match the lure color to natural colors. Bluegill and crawfish colors tend to work the best, especially in northern climates.”

Plenzler recommends fishing in dark bottom bays near the old lily pad roots, since they tend to warm up more quickly than the surrounding areas. If you’re going to follow this advice, then Burrows recommends SpiderWire’s Stealth Braid, a braided super line, in the Moss Green color.

As our experts explained, largemouth bass can be found anywhere in the lake during the summer months – from the deep to the shallow.

“One of my favorite things to do in the summer is fish in the weeds, as opposed to around the edges, using a Strike King Rodent softbait on heavy line and a heavy sinker,” Plenzler added.

“I recommend a Berkley PowerBait Worm fished slowly in the pockets of the weeds and near their edges,” Burrows said.

“A dynamite approach to trick bass into biting is fishing quickly and covering a lot of water with a lipless crankbait, such as the Rippin’ Rap,” Quinn stated.

“As the season winds down, bass begin to think about the winter months ahead and will go on a feeding frenzy. When this is happening, there is no better, or more fun, way to catch bass than by using a topwater lure, such as Rapala X Rap Pop or Rapala X Rap Prop,” Quinn explained.

Catching your trophy fish is easier for 2013, thanks to such products as the newly introduced Lakemaster mapping compatible with Hummingbird GPS units.

“The importance of GPS and mapping is huge for bass fishing. For example, with Lakemaster mapping, you can select a depth range and the unit will highlight that depth for the entire lake,” Plenzler explained.

Other hot products for 2013 include the Gary Yamamoto 5” Yamasenko Sinking Worm– great for summertime fishing. New from Rapala is the Scatter Rap family of lures.

Plan and equip yourself accordingly with these products from Dunham’s Sports to catch largemouth bass throughout the 2013 fishing season.

-Hook, Line & Sinker

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Don’t Fear the Fairway

SportsFan — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:16:39 +0000

Today’s long-hitting fairway woods are engineered to hit clean on everything from hardpan to long grass.

As a young golfer way back when, I was afraid to take the 3-wood out of my bag. That club was the golf equivalent of the monster under the bed. The very thought of trying to push it through the long grass on the public links where I played was enough to bring nightmares.

I’ve outgrown my fear of fairway woods, but some golfers never have, and that’s unfortunate, because today’s clubs are far easier to hit than even those of a generation ago, let alone those of the primeval epoch of which I speak.

New Designs, New Confidence

Hybrid clubs that combine features of fairway woods and irons have been the subject of more attention than fairway woods in recent years, but changes in the design of the woods promise to bring these long-hitting clubs out of the bag and back into the forefront of the game.

Taking a cue from hybrid technology, many of today’s new-design fairway woods feature a shallow face and low center of gravity, making them easier to hit. While the 43-inch length of a 3-wood makes it a challenge for many golfers, some makers offer what one might call a fairway/hybrid combo with a somewhat shorter shaft. Others market 4-woods, which have a shorter shaft and a bit more loft – again making them easier to hit. Models designed to produce draw can add a bit more length to fairway shots and a bit of additional loft can make any fairway wood easier to hit. And as with drivers, clubs with adjustable loft are becoming available.

Most of today’s best fairway woods claim a high CT or characteristic time, which is a measurement of the trampoline effect that a club produces when contacting the ball. The USGA places limits on CT, and the longest hitting fairway woods all come close to that limit.

Fabulous for the Fairway

The Adams’ Super S Fairway stainless steel wood features that maker’s cut-thru sole slot, which works with the crown slot to generate a spring-like effect that optimizes energy transferred to the ball. According to the maker, the club’s CT is just barely within the limits set by the USGA. In addition, a refined crown slot generates a higher launch angle without increasing spin. The result is long carry distance.

In keeping with what seems to be a trend for both fairway woods and drivers, the Super S is styled in a way that increases the perceived size of the clubhead to instill confidence and make alignment easy.

TalyorMade’s RocketBallz Stage 2 fairway woods are manufactured with special steel that enables a thinner face. In combination with TaylorMade’s speed pocket design, that thin face causes the contact area to flex faster, resulting in a high CT, increased ball speed and more distance. Ball speed is further enhanced by a low and forward center of gravity.

The Tour version of the Stage 2 fairway wood features adjustable loft. The 3-wood base loft is 14.5°, and it can be adjusted up to 16° or down to 13°.

Clubface styling and graphics of all TaylorMade fairway woods promote easy alignment.

Nike’s VRS Covert fairway woods feature a higher CT than previous models. The VRS Covert Tour has a deep face height for mid-trajectory ball travel. Loft can be varied by means of Nike’s Flex Loft adjustment system. The VRS Covert has a fixed loft angle and a standard face height for high-trajectory ball travel. speed through aerodynamic efficiency.

Adams says the new driver is the first with a VST expanding sweet spot that enables consistently longer drives. It’s also the most aerodynamic driver Adams has ever produced. Because the clubhead slips smoothly through the air, speed is optimized. The company has even given thought to clubhead color and says that the matte white crown and contrasting faceplate make the head appear larger, which helps with alignment while inspiring confidence.

Cobra’s adjustable driver is called the Amp Cell. The drivers MyFly™ technology provides six different loft settings over a range of 3°. The manufacturer says that its SmartPad technology squares the face at every loft setting.

A 12% larger face shape is said to deliver faster ball speed even on miss-hits. The titanium head is available in four dramatic colors.

The Amp Cell Pro model has a 440 cc head with a lower, more neutral center of gravity and is available in two colors.

-Par Shooter

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The New Old-Fashioned Way

SportsFan — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:27:10 +0000

Pete Browning got the first finely crafted Hillerich & Bradsby hardwood bat in 1884, and ever since, many super stars of major league baseball have made that manufacturer’s Louisville Slugger their weapon of choice.

H & B Louisville Sluggers are still carefully made from fine hardwood, but the process has evolved over the years. It frequently begins in H & B’s own timberland in Pennsylvania and New York. There, northern white ash and maple trees that have reached the age of 60 or more are harvested. The finest logs are then selected at the mill. After hand sawing into square billets, the wood is vacuum dried.

A proprietary machine, built for the sole purpose of making Louisville Sluggers, compresses the grain of the barrel to achieve optimum hardness. Next, filler is applied to close the grain. The filler is topped with several layers of a topcoat seal. The resulting finish is said to be the hardest of any wood bat on the market.

Over the years a variety of hardwoods have been used to make Louisville Sluggers. At one time, hickory was very popular, but it’s too heavy for today’s players who emphasize bat speed. Ash was the most popular wood through most of the modern era, but in recent years, maple has achieved equal status, as many players experienced success with maple bats in the 1990s.

Babe Ruth swung a mammoth hunk of H & B timber. It was 36 inches long and weighed a whopping 42 ounces. Mickey Mantle’s Louisville Slugger was considerably lighter at 32 ounces. While Major League Baseball rules allow bats up to 42 inches in length, no one has ever used an H & B bat of that size. The longest was a 38-inch stick used by Al Simmons in the 1940s.

“Wee” Willie Keeler, a right fielder of the 1890s, stepped to the plate with a Louisville Slugger that measured 30½ inches. That’s the length prescribed today for a 120-pound little leaguer who stands just over 4-feet tall. Willy, who had a .341 career batting average, wasn’t a lot bigger at 5 foot, 4 inches and 140 pounds. He is said to have been the first to say, “Hit ‘em where they ain’t.”

Both that strategy and the Louisville slugger Wee Willie swung remain key parts of the game.

-Home Run Hitter

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Hit Long Hit True

SportsFan — Tue, 28 May 2013 12:08:11 +0000

The new breed of high-tech drivers can help you master that tee shot.

You’re at the tee, in the zone, and locked in on the task at hand. You address the ball, raise your driver and swing powerfully in a graceful, perfect arc. The clubhead makes contact right on the sweet spot and square to your target. The ball soars into an azure sky before landing in the fairway, hundreds of yards away and perfectly positioned for a short and easy shot to the green.

Then the alarm clock sounds, and you wake up.

We all execute perfect tee shots in our dreams, but on the golf course it’s not that easy. Hitting that little ball hard and straight with even the best club seems nearly impossible to the novice golfer and is vexing to even experienced amateurs.

Perhaps that’s why golf club manufacturers lavish so much attention and research on the development of new drivers. And for 2013, they’re offering a bumper crop of innovative new clubs, many of them featuring adjustable heads that allow precise tailoring of loft and clubface angle. At the same time, they’ve improved materials and streamlining in order to maximize energy transferred to the ball and optimize the ease with which the clubhead moves through the air.

TaylorMade, long a major supplier of drivers for touring pros, is among those marketing an adjustable driver. Tom Ovasky, senior director of product creation, as quoted in Golf Digest, said, “With a few adjustments, golfers can improve their results in minutes.”

That’s what we like to hear.

Tech Assistance at The Tee

The new breed of adjustable high-tech drivers utilizes one or more adjustments to change the face angle, loft setting and lie. By altering those variables, the path in which the ball travels as it leaves the club can be changed, as can the direction and rotation of spin. All of those factors have an effect on how far the ball will go and where it will land.

If we were all perfect golfers, we could find the driver that’s best suited to our game and stick with it. But most of us are far from perfect when it comes to swinging a golf club consistently, and our game varies greatly from one day to the next. An adjustable club head allows compensation for those variations while compensating in part for the individual golfer’s weak points.

Some makers offer adjustable clubhead weighting as well. By moving weight inboard, a slice can often be corrected. And an uncontrollable slice is probably the most common problem that amateurs face on the tee.

Other features common to the best new drivers include wider sweet spots, weighting that optimizes the moment of inertia for longer drives, and even clubhead styling that helps golfers square the driver’s face when addressing the ball and may even make the clubhead look larger than it really is. That, say the manufacturers, can inspire confidence. And confidence is a big part of the game.

Choose Your Weapon

TaylorMade’s R1 series of drivers allow a dozen different lie, face angle and loft settings. Movable weights enable further adjustment and an adjustable soleplate can change face-angle appearance at address. The manufacturer says this driver than can be tuned to fit both Tour pros and amateurs. According to TaylorMade spokesman, Brian Murphy, the R1 is the number one driver played on the PGA Tour.

The R1 offers seven standard and five upright loft options between 8° and 12°, along with seven face-angle options. To expand the sweet spot of the clubface, TaylorMade employs Inverted Cone Technology. In addition, the clubhead is styled to help the golfer address the ball squarely. TaylorMade notes that in trying to square a conventional, unmarked clubhead, many golfers fall victim to an illusion that suggests the clubface is square when it is actually open, inviting a wicked slice.

Nike has developed an adjustable driver as well. It’s called the VRS Covert, and it features independent adjustment of loft and face angle, allowing golfers to customize the club to fit their swing, thereby maximizing distance and accuracy. Dual axis adjustment decouples the loft and face angle variables, thus multiple configurations are possible.

This conforming driver is built with a cavity back for longer, straighter shots, and the manufacturer’s Nexcor face technology provides a wider sweet spot.

The driver is available in “Tour” and “Performance” versions. The Performance club is engineered to redistribute weight into the corners, thus increasing the moment of inertia in a traditional head shape.

The Adams’ Super S driver is, in the words of its maker, “a big bomber” that allows easy adjustment of loft. Adams’ Fast Fit Adjustability provides a 2° range of loft variation, enabling golfers to change the adjustment as their game varies. A streamlined head optimizes clubhead speed through aerodynamic efficiency.

Adams says the new driver is the first with a VST expanding sweet spot that enables consistently longer drives. It’s also the most aerodynamic driver Adams has ever produced. Because the clubhead slips smoothly through the air, speed is optimized. The company has even given thought to clubhead color and says that the matte white crown and contrasting faceplate make the head appear larger, which helps with alignment while inspiring confidence.

Cobra’s adjustable driver is called the Amp Cell. The drivers MyFly™ technology provides six different loft settings over a range of 3°. The manufacturer says that its SmartPad technology squares the face at every loft setting.

A 12% larger face shape is said to deliver faster ball speed even on miss-hits. The titanium head is available in four dramatic colors.

The Amp Cell Pro model has a 440 cc head with a lower, more neutral center of gravity and is available in two colors.

-Par Shooter

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Get Up and Go-Kart

SportsFan — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:12:17 +0000

When the weather warms up, everyone is looking to get out of house and into the sunshine. When biking gets boring and in-line skating is dull, go-karting is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

With go-karting, you won’t have any problem getting the kids outside, and you won’t hesitate to join them.

“There’s something about a kart in and of itself that just screams ‘active’ – it gives you the get-out-and-go mentality,” says Lindsey DeLong of American SportWorks. “It encourages families to not only explore new ways to have a blast in their own yard, but it may encourage them to find new places to adventure to (and try the kart out on, of course!).”

All of the American SportWorks go-kart models are two-seaters. That means more members of the family can join in on the fun! All of the American SportWorks models also come with the company’s history and expertise.

The models include the Marauder which comes with a 208cc, 4-stroke engine and a three-year engine warranty.

The Black Widow also comes with a three-year engine warranty and has a 136cc, 4-stroke engine.

The Carbide is a new model that features all the best parts of the retired Quantum model. This new go-kart features a speedometer, bucket seating and what DeLong calls a “buggy” style.

While go-karting is designed for fun, safety should come first before taking one out for a ride. As with any powered vehicle, seat belts and helmets should always be worn and riders should stay alert and be prepared for the drive.

The owner’s manual is a good resource to learn more about the vehicle and how to operate it safely. Before starting out, drivers should be familiar with the course and its surroundings.

“The best thing to remember is that it’s all about fun and not necessarily crazy stunt riding. Leave that to the pros!” says DeLong.

Being prepared to operate the go-kart won’t be like cramming for a test. DeLong says that operation of some of the American SportWorks go-karts are as simple as stop and go. Some models are equipped with a pull start while others have a key ignition. There are also models that come with neutral and reverse gears, but others just have brake and gas pedals.

So this spring, enjoy the great outdoors and experience the adventures of go-karting. It’s like fun on four wheels.

“Spring fever is only enhanced when you can zip around your yard in a kart,” DeLong says. “Go smell those fresh spring flowers – at 24 mph!”

-Off-Road Warrior

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The Golf Pro Sponsor Shuffle

SportsFan — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:48:54 +0000

The game on the links isn’t the only competition in professional golf.

While touring pros battle each other on the links, golf equipment manufacturers fight for their loyalty in the marketplace. Getting your clubs in the bag of a top pro is a sure way to boost sales. All of the major golf manufacturers want the highly visible pros to use their equipment, and they devote considerable effort to making that happen.

Why Switch?

Touring pros change equipment and make new sponsorship deals for a number of reasons. Often, it’s because a manufacturer offers better financial rewards, but sometimes the change is made in the interest of getting on board with an equipment maker whose products feature new technology or have been shown to be working well for other tour golfers.

Who’s on First?

Equipment and sponsorship changes generally come in the winter, as the PGA Tour’s signing season for equipment and apparel companies begins on January 1. And while not every golfer hunts down a new deal every year, enough of them move to another brand to make the first day of signing season as big a deal as the first day of hunting season.

This year, TaylorMade picked up six pros early on, taking Lucas Glover away from Nike and Ryan Moore from Adams. Nike, meanwhile, signed five pros who were former Titleist players, while Adams added Jeff Overton to its roster and Cobra made a deal with Jesper Parnevik.

Who are you wearing?

While golf equipment manufacturer work to get their clubs in the bags of the most visible pros, apparel manufacturers strive to get clothes on their backs. I guess they figure we duffers will don the same duds as our favorite pro. This year, Scott Percy switched from Lyle & Scott to IZOD Golf Apparel, while Webb Simpson opted for IZOD after having been dressed by Ralph Lauren at previous tour events. It’s sort of like the green carpet show of the pro tour.

Buy a Spot on my Hat

If you want to promote your product by sponsoring a participant in a sporting event, it will likely cost you about $2 million dollars to get your company’s name on the quarter panel of a top Nascar team, but it might cost you even more to get your logo on the cap of a top contender on the men’s PGA tour.
Of course caps aren’t the only place where ad space can be purchased. The sleeves and chest pocket go for big bucks as well. Even the shoes and back of the collar are for sale. And of course the bag that holds those clubs is often seen on television, so it’s valuable real estate. It’s all part of the marketing of golf and the people who play the game professionally.

Anyone want to buy some space on my ace bandage?

-Par Shooter

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Paddle Your Way to Adventure

SportsFan — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:07:52 +0000

Today’s kayaks offer safe, inexpensive fun for the entire family.

If you’re a frequent visitor to our lakes and streams, you’ve likely noticed that more people are enjoying the same waterways while paddling a kayak. In fact, according to The Outdoor Foundation, 32 percent more participants took up the sport between 2009 and 2011. That’s not surprising when you consider that it can be enjoyed by young and old, is relatively inexpensive and the equipment requires little maintenance.

“Kayaks are friendlier today than they have ever been. They are more stable, more comfortable and easier to use. They’re also safer. The cockpit opening is longer and goes past your knees, making it easier to exit the kayak in an emergency situation,” said Mark Palinsky, of Old Town.

If you’ve considered joining this extremely enjoyable and relaxing activity, here are a few options and suggestions.

Fishing and River Kayaks

As our experts pointed out, we’re seeing two significant kayaking trends in: people are buying them to fish and to paddle along our scenic rivers.

“The river kayaks are simply an extension of what people have experienced for years. They have rented kayaks and canoes at liveries and have enjoyed the experience so much that they have decided to purchase the kayak for personal use. Our Swiftwater 10.5 kayak is ideal for this use. The fishing kayaks are great for those who want to get away from fishing from shore and don’t want to use a powerboat. I recommend our Patriot or Blast models. They are designed to carry fishing rod holders and come in camouflage colors,” said Greg Larson of Confluence Water Sports.

Another option for anglers is Pelican International’s Castaway 100 sit-on kayak. It offers plenty of speed, capacity and storage space. Mark Palinsky, of Old Town kayaks and canoes, offers yet another approach.

“You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy an angler kayak. Kayaks that are serviceable, with a large cockpit and high level of stability, such as our Vapor 10 model, are very good for people who like to fish. What many of our customers have found is that it’s less expensive to buy a base model and customize it to their specific needs,” Palinsky said.

Kids’ Kayaks

As many parents are discovering, kayaking is an ideal activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family, including children. Before you purchase a kayak for junior, Palinsky offers the following advice:

“Like shoes, the kayak has to fit the child. Shoes that are too big make the child clumsy and shoes that are too small are not comfortable. Frequently, parents will buy a 9-foot boat and will have their kids grow into it. It’s not necessarily the best approach,” he said.

Palinsky recommends making sure the kayak is designed to accommodate the child’s weight and that the foot pegs can be easily reached, since they help provide stability.

Stand Up Paddleboards

Also extremely popular nowadays are stand up paddleboards (SUPs). In fact, The Outdoor Foundation reports that nearly 60 percent of stand up paddling participants tried the activity for the first time in 2011.

“SUPs are wide surfboards that you stand up and paddle with and are more versatile than kayaks. You can sit, kneel or stand up on them. Women are using them for yoga and core exercising,” said Lisa Senecal, Pelican International.

Dunham’s Sports carries three different Pelican International models: Vibe, for smaller paddlers (up to 120 pounds), Flow, for intermediate paddlers and Surge, for more performance-oriented paddlers.

“We’re seeing an increase of SUPs in river use, especially in Michigan,” Palinsky added. “What a wonderful way to go down the river; they provide a much better view of what’s in front and around you.”

Kayak Care

One of the most appealing aspects of this sport is that the equipment requires little maintenance.

“Pretty much all of the kayaks that Dunham’s carries are low maintenance – even no maintenance,” Senecal said.

“We have sun protection built into the boat, but not on the seats. We recommend using a good UV protectant to prevent sun degradation,” Larson added. All of our experts recommended storing kayaks on their side when not in use.

Dunham’s Sports carries a wide range of kayaks and SUPs for a variety of purposes, configurations and price points. Be sure to consult with a sales representative to help you make an informed decision so you too can enjoy our area’s wonderful waterways.

-Paddle Bum

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The Right Tools

SportsFan — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:41:41 +0000

Gloves and bats that don’t fit the player’s game are an obstacle to skill development

Baseball was king on the southside of Chicago in the 1950s. I grew up a few miles from Comiskey Park, and as a six-year-old I was dying to get in the game.

My dad was born and raised in Sweden, so baseball was foreign to him, but he knew I pined to play ball, so he bought me a glove. It was an Andy Pafko model, and it was flat as a pancake with no discernable pocket. To catch the ball I would try to sandwich it between glove and free hand. I played with that glove for a couple of years, developed all kinds of bad habits and dropped many balls. In later years I bought a good glove, but that early experience had left its mark, and I lacked confidence in the field.

Starting with the Right Equipment

There are many factors that affect the development of young players, but few are as important as having the right equipment. Baseball skills are complex, and learning is difficult. But handicapping a player with a bat that’s too heavy or a glove that doesn’t fit will lead to failure and frustration.

Fits Like a Glove

Wilson has developed a chart that prescribes baseball glove size and type for players of every age and position (see facing page). Consult it before choosing a glove or ask your Dunham’s sales representative to help you choose. By the way, the gloves Wilson designs for pros are identical to those Dunham’s sells. Everyone gets the best equipment.

Asked how a glove should be selected, Ali Brewer, of Wilson baseball said, “The first question we ask is what position you play.” A 12-year old middle infielder generally needs a glove that’s 11 to 11¾ inches in length with a shallow pocket. With a shallow pocket, a shortstop or second baseman can get the ball out quickly and make their throw. Younger players require smaller gloves. A six-year-old infielder should have a glove that’s 10 to 10½ inches long. In every case, the glove should be easy for the player to maneuver and must fit the hand. Apply common sense here.

In a video on Wilson’s web site, San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez says, “You want a pocket but not too deep a pocket. At second base, I have to be quick getting the ball out.“

Outfielders require a longer glove: 11¾ to 12½ inches for older youths, and 10¾ to 11½ inches for eight- to ten-year-old players. Josh Hamilton, the Angels all-star outfielder, says, “As an outfielder you want as big a glove as you can possibly have.”

Extra length can give an outfielder the reach needed to grab over-the-wall flies and bad-bounce line drives. The double welting of Wilson gloves prevents the fingers from bending back when the ball slams home and makes cone catches possible.

The requirements for other positions vary, but your Dunham’s sales representative can help you choose the best glove for any player and position.

Swing the Right Stick

Swinging a baseball bat that’s the right size and weight is critical to success at the plate. Hitting a baseball isn’t easy, and the best players track the pitch until it’s close to the plate, and then swing rapidly and accurately. A player bogged down with too heavy a bat can’t generate the speed necessary to hit a fastball. And a player swinging too light a bat will not hit with power.

An efficient swing is extremely important now that bats must meet standards for the amount of energy transferred to the ball. Today’s aluminum and composite bats don’t generate the trampoline effect of yesteryear. A properly sized bat and correct swing are critical.

Dunham’s carries a wide range of bats, including DeMarini, Easton, and Hillerich & Bradsby models. Among the H & B offerings is the classic wood Louisville Slugger. All are great products, and your Dunham’s sales representative can help you choose one that’s best for you or your youngster.

A Range of Choices

All bats must meet strict performance guidelines. For little league, non-wood bats have to meet a bat performance factor of 1.15 or less. For intermediate leagues, NCAA and senior league play, non-wood bats must conform to BBCOR standards. In addition, there are barrel diameter and length restrictions for each category. Your Dunham’s sales representative can help you choose a bat that will meet all requirements.

The performance standards were instituted to make the game safer, but they also ensure that aluminum and composite bats perform more like wood bats. So while non-wood bats once outperformed classic bats by a wide margin, that’s no longer the case.

But technology still plays a role in bat construction, and if player preference is a guideline, certain bats rise to the top of the charts. Among top choices in the NCAA college baseball ranks are the DeMarini Vexxum, which combines a composite handle with an alloy metal barrel; the Louisville Slugger TPX Attack, featuring composite construction; and the alloy-metal Easton XL3.

All are premium choices, but every manufacturer also produces more affordable bats suitable for even the youngest T-ball slugger. All are available at Dunham’s.

Size Matters

In addition to the product dimension and performance requirements specified by various baseball organizations, there are common-sense guidelines that suggest how much bat a player can handle. Bat manufacturers have developed a chart that makes recommendations for length based on size and weight (see chart on page 21). For example, a 95-pound little leaguer standing 4½-feet tall would probably do well with a 30-inch bat. But handle diameter, barrel shape and weight are important too, and taking a few practice swings with a bat is a good way to determine its suitability. If your ballplayer struggles to get the bat around, it’s too heavy.

In brief, it’s all about matching the equipment to the player. The best bat or glove doesn’t get in the way but rather complements the player’s style, strength and ability level. While only raw talent can make an all-star, having the right equipment can help every player perform at his or her maximum.

-Home Run Hitter

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Gear Up Fore The Season

SportsFan — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:59:38 +0000

High-Tech and Bold Colors Come to Golf Apparel

A s snow relinquishes its grip on the Midwest, we’re finally seeing some color: green on our lawns, red on robins’ breasts and a rainbow of bright colors in Dunham’s Sports golf apparel offerings.

“For 2013, we’re seeing an explosion of color, with more prints on shirts and bolder colors, making it easier for fashion-conscious golfers to mix and match,” said Scott Taylor of Under Armour.

That sentiment is echoed by Michael Zampini of Callaway Apparel.

“A big trend for spring is color. We’re seeing a big push to heathered fabric,” Zampini said. “People want to have the right apparel on the course. They want their apparel to fit and have it look and feel like they belong on the course, whether they actually do or not.”

Finding the right golf apparel is no problem, since Dunham’s Sports carries a wide assortment of styles from the leading brands, including the aforementioned Under Armour and Callaway, as well as Adidas, Canyon Creek, FootJoy, Nike, PGA Tour and TaylorMade.

Like your golf clubs, today’s golf apparel is high-tech, with special materials designed to keep you comfortable year-round.

During the early and later parts of golf season, the key is staying warm and the brands available at your local Dunham’s Sports have you covered.

“Layering is extremely important to heat retention. Our HeatGear® compression products keep you warm without being bulky,” Taylor said.

That approach changes for the summer, when the objective is to keep you cool.

“We build our brand around all-performance fabrication, with moisture-management products that keep golfers cooler in warm weather,” said Roddy Millichamp of PGA TOUR.

“Every brand offers a polo shirt that wicks moisture. At Callaway, we go one step further, with a shirt that features a ventilated back panel. The difference it makes is significant,” Zampini said.

Helping keep you cool is a given. Many manufacturers also offer odor-resistant technology and a level of protection against the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Think about it: today’s golf apparel keeps you cool, fresher and protects your skin!

Most of the products mentioned in this article are also available for women. In fact, PGA TOUR kicked off its Ladies Tour line this year.

“This is a great-looking lineup that doesn’t have to be worn strictly on the course,” Millichamp said. “It includes shorts, skorts and capris. The bottoms hook up with sleeved and sleeveless tops and offer the same high-tech functionality of the men’s line.”

Spring, summer and fall, Dunham’s Sports has the serious golfer covered with apparel specifically designed for the season. These are the same products worn by PGA players and available to you at terrific prices, meaning there’s more money left over for additional rounds or new clubs.

See you on the links!

-Par Shooter

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