Even More Asian Wiffles

Yet another group of guys in Asia getting together for some wiffleball. The sport appears to really be catching on there. However, I'm not entirely sure of what origin these guys are? Japan? Taiwan? Maybe Korea? Perhaps one of our followers from Taiwan or Japan could give us a hint...

Episode #2 of Non-Stop Black Top

Black Top Wiffleball League's new program, Non-Stop Black Top, has released it's second episode and it's picking up where it left off...not bad.

Mighty Ducks Win WSWL Championship

New team, the Mighty Ducks, wins the 2011 Winston-Salem Wiffleball League championship. Congratulations to the WSWL Mighty Ducks for taking out the 2010 champions - the Kenny Powers Krew (KPK). The Mighty Ducks didn't really have an impressive season, finishing with a 6-6 record. The Ducks defeated the Red Faces in the first round of the playoffs then won against the Meerkats in the second round. Then in the semi-finals the Ducks sent KPK to the loser's bracket. KPK beat the Meerkats then had a rematch against the Ducks for the championship. Here's the playoff bracket. This team really pulled it together when it mattered...in the playoffs. I never would have guessed that a team with 3 out of 4 of its players being rookies could take the championship. They were 1-3 against the 2nd place Meerkats and 0-3 against KPK in the regular season. The odds were against them but they somehow managed to pull off the ultimate upset.

 

Humboldt Professional Wiffleball Association

There have been leagues throughout the history of organized wiffleball that have not featured teams but focus only on the statistics of individual players (Cleveland Wiffleball League, etc.). Humboldt Professional Wiffleball Association is the largest league of it's kind. According to their most recent data they have around 40 players and a third of them are women. They pick teams every game and it's a free-for-all every time. For some leagues who have trouble keeping teams afloat this format should be considered. The only lame thing about this league is they don't have a website, instead they have a myspace...and they somehow manage to not even keep that updated. That's pretty pathetic if you ask me. But they do put out a video every once-in-a-while.

Worst Wiffle Video Ever?

I've watched thousands of wiffleball videos on the internet in the past 6 months and if this one ranks as one of the worst I've seen. Thoughts?

Taking your pitching to the next level

If you regularly watch Wiffleboy28's videos you'll find that he's not only a fixture for great pitching but a wealth of information if you're wanting to improve your pitching. Just when you think he's covered just about everything he posts another rather informative video. One of the latest is a video on conditioning your pitching arm. While that may be completely ridiculous for some, there are some people out there who may find this video incredibly helpful as they attempt to improve their pitching game. There's nothing wrong with this video, however, I feel that it would have been better if he would have had a sweatband on and a leopard print jump-suit and made an 80's workout video to accompany his training advice. AND 1 and 2, and 1 and 2, and 1 and 2...

Sunday Double Feature

Double Feature today! First the WWL Week 9 Highlights...always a delight to watch because of the commentary. And then there's more from the dudes in Taiwan. I know that they look a little sloppy now but keep in mind that this game is super new for them. It'll take a while for them to come around for big hits and have good control and faster pitches. They're playing in a really public area too which is getting the game out there and the potential for growth is there. Wiffle in Taiwan will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.

Little Taste of London Wiffleball Tournament Footage

While I attended the 13th Annual London Wiffleball Tournament in Ohio last weekend I took over 4 hours of footage and am a little lost when it comes to sorting through it to edit some final video. So if you were wondering while you visited the site this morning why there was no post for the day...it's because I began the laborious task of editing video. Hooray. Anyway, I finally threw a small clip together as an appetizer of videos to come. Ideally most of the videos would be up by now but let's be realistic. This isn't NBC and there's not 50 people working on audio and video here. While the video is alright at 360p you can watch it in 480p, 720p, or even 1080p if you so desire. Enjoy.

Biggest Bat Known To Man

It appears that the fattest wiffleball bat known to man was unsheathed at this year's Wiffle Ball World Series. When one of those bats makes contact with the ball you can probably hear it from a mile away. Even if you're moderate on barrel size you've got to admit this bat is just too fat. Mercy!

Hey...This Actually DOESN'T Suck

If you haven't really been into the Black Top Wiffleball League this video is a great place to start. I know what you're thinking - believe me, I was thinking it too. Yes, another ESPN-ish news program that really sucks. But I was delighted to find out that this was a pretty nice program when I watched it. Hats off to all involved. This is the pilot of what will supposedly become a regular "weekly" show from the league called Non-Stop Black Top. While I doubt it will happen weekly, I do hope that there are more episodes.

Why You Shouldn't Play Wiffleball On A Beach

Check out the mediocre highlights of the Brain Trust Beach Wiffleball League. I would tell you all the reasons why you should never play wiffleball at the beach but I cannot do that because that's one of the articles in the next issue of the Wiffler's Digest Magazine.

Episode 10 of This Month In Wiffleball On The Web

Palisades WBL release their latest episode of their acclaimed This Month In Wiffleball series. Love them or hate them, no other league makes a better video program. The camera work - phenomenal. The commentary - marvelous. This video just might take the crown for most use of "get that shit out of here."

London Wiffleball Tournament photographs

I took over 100 pictures at the tournament and got over 2 hours of footage. It will take a while to sort through the film so enjoy what photographs have surfaced at the Wiffler's Digest Facebook page.

It's finally here...the 13th Annual London Wiffleball Tournament. There will be casual players from the Columbus, OH area as well as dudes from Kalamazoo Wiffleball League, Wiffle in Southeast Michigan, and Potomac Wiffleball League. Looking forward to meeting everyone there. If you see a dude with a video camera at hand, chances are that it's me. Come say hi.

The Wiffle Rat Has A Story

If you wanted to know more about that oversized rat playing wiffleball on a recent post on here, you're in luck! He's part of the Ellsworth Wiffleball League and they made a special post about it. The blog even got a mention. How nice. Here's the link to find out more about the wiffle rat.

Oyster Bay Wiffleball League All-Star Game

I called Oyster Bay Wiffle Ball League a "godsend league" in January on episode 1 of the NWLA podcast. Why? They are a super solid small league that uses a leaguelineup site. I don't think I have to tell anyone why that is a rarity. Their older videos (last year and early this year) featured a backstop with thick netting that really obstructed your view of the field while watching their videos. They have recently made a nice strike zone and obtained a backstop with thinner netting...which makes their videos a thrill to watch again. Their all-star game just happened and this video is short and sweet and features "Jump Around" by House of Pain...bonus points for these guys for picking a decent song. Who doesn't like that song? I cannot tell you how many times I've heard the same modern pop garbage like the Black Eyed Peas in the background of wiffleball videos. Seriously. Get it together. Pick better songs.

1st Issue of Magazine is Complete!

Attention all readers! Ever since early June there's been serious talk of a free online wiffleball magazine starting up and now it's a reality. When I first started this blog, I originally wanted to do a magazine with the same name. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the writers who contributed articles to the 1st issue and Mason Everett for formatting this first issue. Without their assistance this idea would have remained just that...an idea. A project like this is simply too vast for only one person to achieve. Having said that, if you are interested in writing articles for future issues email us! Also, the magazine in .jpg form is in a little less quality and if you want it in it's full quality email us at wifflerdigest@gmail.com and you'll receive an attached .pdf file of the magazine. This will be your way of "subscribing" to the Wiffler's Digest Magazine and whenever the magazine is done it will be sent directly to you via-email.

Also, I know this first issue is only 19 pages but when you consider the fact that there is only one ad in this issue you should understand that it's acceptable for it being this short. Flip through any magazine and it's nearly 50% ads unless it's a fashion magazine...then it's more like 75-80% advertisements. Let us know how you like the 1st issue and if you have any comments or questions feel free to do so on this post, on our facebook page, or by email. Golden Stick readers may find the Performance Enhancing Bats article slightly offensive but if you have a rebuttal put it in article form and submit it to us and your side of the argument will be submitted. We want the magazine to be as diverse as possible and are not out to represent just one side of an argument or represent only one kind of league.

New League Out of Parkersburg, WV

Take a look at one of the newest leagues to spring up in the country. Meet Timmerman Yards Wiffleball League out of Parkersburg, WV. I got an email from their commissioner about a week ago and he went from talking about starting a league in just that one week. This guy means business as he quickly go the ball rolling and set up a field in his tiny back yard. It looks as if it's maybe about 40 feet from mound to plate and that's it...that's the field. You may turn your nose up at such a small field and criticize but there have been leagues to make such a small venue work in the past. I don't know of any leagues, other than this one, currently sporting such a tiny field. They have one-man "teams" right now and I'm interested in seeing how it all turns out by season's end. But if they stick around for another season there will be noticeable improvement in pitching and hitting will become far more difficult - making this league even better to watch.

"Mortal Kombat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

These guys from Taiwan are serious. There's already another game posted on their Youtube channel. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better...they used part of the Mortal Kombat soundtrack in this video. So it's impossible for me to watch this video without laughing because it seems that every 10 seconds or so you hear "Mortal Kombat!!!!!!!!!!" Another neat thing about this video is that the foul territory is in black and white. I've never seen that before.

Wiffley Field / WSWL Begin Playoffs

"Home to Southern Illinois's finest wiffleball stadium" is what the local news had to say about Wiffley Field. I'd have to agree although I'm unaware of any competition for that claim. It's not like there's dozens of wiffleball stadiums in that area and Wiffley came out on top. But the guy who built the field has been working on it for the past 8 years. Clearly this guy really loves the game. Anyway, WSWL has began their playoffs already, making them the earliest league to have their playoffs (with the exception of Tampa Wiffleball League, of course) this year. They tried out a new angle for this video and you get to see a lot more of the field and don't really miss any plays. But there were no home run robs...what's up with that?

Wiffleball Game in Taiwan

Recently I posted a video of a dude in Japan pitching. Now check out these dudes playing in Taiwan! Amazing.

Reggie Sanders & WWL Week 7

Reggie Sanders is teaming up with SARRC & MLBPA to fight Autism. There's a wiffleball tournament to raise money for Autism TODAY in Scottsdale, AZ. The rest of the information is at the end of that video. Washburn Wiffleball League put up their Week 7 Highlights video recently and it's just as good as the rest...the commentary is among the best of small league videos.

Oversized Rat Plays Wiffleball

Sometimes, while cruising the web, I encounter a wiffleball video so strange that it really defies explanation. Here we have someone in a giant rat costume playing wiffleball in a park in what looks like Philadelphia. There's really nothing else that can be said...

Help WSWL Choose Play of the Year

If you watch the Winston Salem Wiffleball League a lot you'll quickly notice that stellar outfield plays are apparently the norm. But there are some plays that are a cut above the rest. Commissioner Joey Kahler has made this video exhibiting the top plays of the year and is asking for YOUR help to decide just which play is the best. Make sure to help them out and vote...I know I did. Click here to go to their site and vote.

PSWL Day 3

PSWL has another video out and as usual...it's pretty entertaining. Like last time, they've really changed up the angles and views and it's been for the better. The best parts of their videos lately have been the out takes at the end.

Already Playoff Time For Some

For some of us - we're in the middle of the season...but for others it's almost playoff time. Winston Salem Wiffleball League made some great playoff promos last summer and it looks as if we'll be seeing the same thing this year. They easily have one of the coolest trophies (which is shown from time to time in the video). It's a grim reminder that the summer can't last forever as more and more leagues begin to have their playoffs.

Happy 4th of July

Unless you've "liked" us on Facebook you might have missed the latest wiffleball article in the Wall Street Journal. Well it's about 22 rules to keep in mind while playing wiffleball at your 4th of July family/friend gatherings. It's truly a humorous read. Also check out Winston-Salem Wiffleball League on the local news (video). Just add it to the growing list of media recognition the sport has received in the recent months. Happy 4th of July everyone! And try to squeeze some wiffleball into those family activities today...somewhere between grilling out and watching fireworks.

Best PSWL Video Yet!

Parson's Summer Wiffleball League has really improved with variety of angles used in their most recent highlights video. You get to see a little more interaction between the players too. As always, there's some nice plays...particularly a HR rob at about 2:50 into the video. The best part of the video is at the very end when the camera guy gets nailed in the pills while filming. It's awesome.

I have a new favorite video

I don't think there's much that needs to be said. Obviously the dude who got hit thought using anything other than the yellow bat pissed off the pro-captain caveman bat. The Sugar Ray song playing in the background is the only reason I think this video was made more recently than in the 1980s.

Satire? I hope so.

Do enough video searching and you'll find countless trailers for wiffleball "movies" that are just horrible. BWA has apparently decided to go down this route as well but not in the way that you'd think. Take a look at the trailer and decide for yourself if it's serious or just making fun of that growing genre of videos on Youtube.

Parson's Summer Wiffleball League 2011 Season Starts

PSWL finally started their 2011 season a couple days ago. This was one of my favorite leagues to watch last summer and it's good to see that they're back again....I was beginning to wonder if their season would ever get started. Their videos are usually pretty entertaining and feature great plays. The only thing I wish they'd do (a common complaint I have with a lot of league videos) is that you can't see the whole field of play in the shot. The fact that they don't appear to use a HD camera cuts down on the wide angle too. My suggestion? move the camera back a little and put it more behind the plate so it's more centered up. The odds of a rogue ball hitting the camera increase a little but if you put a piece of plexyglass in front of the camera you can eliminate any damage the ball could cause. But if you have a 3rd party filming the games then the glass is unnecessary. I'm looking forward to more PSWL videos in the future.