Smart Slugger
Swing-tracking sensors for baseball bats
have advanced to the point where the data
they produce can benefit major leaguers.
But until now the devices themselves were
inelegantly stuck on the bottom of the
knob. Thatâs about to change: Angels
center fielder Mike Trout teamed up with
batmaker Old Hickory and sports-tracking
company Zepp Labs for the first wooden
Smart Bat which discreetly houses a
removableZepp 2 sensor. That means the
MVP can swing his own beloved maple-
wood Old Hickory unencumbered while a
built-in 3-D Swing Analyzer captures and
tracks data such as bat speed at impact
swing duration and swing angle. And
so can you. Of course thereâs no
guarantee youâll start hitting like Mike
but it canât hurt.Smart Bat $145;
Zepp 2 $149; oldhickorybats.com
Back to Basics
Weâre all for innovations in workout and sports gear but some clas-
sic designs require nothing more than a subtle refresh. To that point
theModest Vintage Player Heritage Medicine Ball ($219; modest
vintageplayer.com) takes a tool used by Roman gladiators and makes
it look cooler with handsome hand-stitched leather. For added com-
fort and a smoother break-in theNokona Bloodline Pro baseball
glove ($500; nokona.com) swaps commonly used cowhide for supple
lightweight kangaroo leather. And theTitle Wooden Handle Leather
Jump Rope ($15; titleboxing.com) has slick bearings comfortable
handles and a sturdy rope. You supply the sweat.