IMPROVE FIELDING:
With the Grand Slam you can add our 45 degree elbow and include fly ball catching. You place the elbow at the four way, where the shooting tube normally attaches. Then insert the shooting tube so it is going up at a 45 degree angle rather than straight. Catch the ball with bare hands, so when you use a regular baseball or softball catching will dramatically improve. By turning the shooting tube around 180 degrees you can then shoot the ball on a flat surface, to practice grounders. Have your player catch the ball with bare hands or a "thin" flexible glove (a gardening leather glove is the best). Got to use common sense on this and DO NOT shoot the ball at a higher speed than what your player can handle. On the grounders, be sure to shoot the ball just in front of the player so that they have to nearly touch the ground to get the ball. This will prevent the old "oh no, it went under his glove" - error. This practice really requires adult help to be effective. You will both enjoy the results and time together. For the older boys that "think" they are beyond this, I got this tip from a pro that uses the machine for this additional practice.
