V-Grip School

There’s something that differentiates Mattingly Sports from other bat companies: we personally care about a player’s performance. That’s the point of the V-Grip — it is designed to help kids swing the bat correctly, and put them into the best position to hit the ball.

The passion behind the V-Grip design — that of helping others — extends throughout the company. Once in a while, we get a “pat on the back” from a happy customer. For example, this letter to Mattingly’s Operations Manager Joe Smeraglino:

Dear Joe Smeraglino,
I’m writing this letter to let you know what an impact you and your company have had on my 10-year-old grandson. After talking to you and receiving the bat and book by Don Mattingly, the sessions in the backyard and the teaching, have become like a school. Everything that you told me was right on the money.

I tell Dan to do something and I’m able to show him why and how, and make sense about what I’m trying to teach. The basic things about hitting that are like a well-kept secret. Without your help, Dan would be caught in the Little League system: play ball, win at all costs, and get through as best you can.

I could go on and on, but know this: with your help Dan at least will know the fundamentals of batting and hitting.

THANK YOU for taking the time to help a grandfather who was reaching out for help. I spent so much money on tapes, lessons and bats before speaking to you and learning about the V-Grip — know that you did an old man a great big favor.

– Frank Butler & Daniel Butler

Don Mattingly Teaches Hitting

On Tuesday June 10th, Don Mattingly gave a one-hour clinic on hitting at Modell’s in Milford, CT. We’ll have more details on the event posted here soon, but in the meantime you can watch a video of the clinic as shot by WTNH Newschannel 8 in Hartford, CT, by following this link or clicking the video below.

Kevin Long Teaches Hitting

Last week at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Rockaway Mall, NJ, New York Yankees batting coach Kevin Long stopped by to offer hitting tips to a group of youngsters from the Rockaway Township Little League.

Kevin went over the fundamentals of hitting and also demonstrated a few drills with individual players. The event — which took place last Monday, April 21st — ran about an hour and included a Q&A with Kevin as well as an autograph session after the lesson.

Come back to the V-Force blog to find out when an MLB hitting coach will be coming to YOUR area to talk about hitting!

Kevin Long talks about the importance of balance in your batting stance.

Kevin signs an autograph and answers questions after the lesson.

Kevin Long poses with members of Mattingly Baseball and Dick’s Sporting Goods. From left to right: Jim, Kevin, Jeff, Jake, and Howard.

More pictures from the event can be found on the Rockaway Township Baseball Association website here

Success at Kaskaskia

The Kaskaskia College Blue Devils have won 120 games in 3 years and have been named and Academic All-American Team for 2006 and 2007!

Kaskaskia is a junior college baseball team that uses Mattingly V-Grip bats exclusively, and has had 9 ballplayers drafted by pro teams in the past five years. More importantly, they have sent over 40 players to four-year schools in that same time span, including D1 programs such as Arizona State University, Tennessee Tech, and Indiana State (among others).

Head coach Brad Tuttle is a big believer in the V-Grip technology.

“I believe the Matting MVP V-Grip bat has increased our extra base hits dramatically.”

Kaskaskia College was the first community college in Illinois established under the Junior College Act of 1965. It has a rich tradition of providing comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective educational opportunities for lifelong learning.