Pitching Machines - Consumer Guide

When batters set out on their goal to improve their swing, a high quality pitching machine is used to deliver consistent pitches to help develop muscle memory. Muscle memory in baseball/softball will turn average batters into above average batters, and using a pitching machine in your baseball or softball practice will help speed the developement process no matter the skill level.

All baseball/softball machines are not created equal. It sounds kind of cliche but it's the truth. Some can only throw a particular type of ball, while others can throw a combination of ball sizes and types.

The various types of balls are standard sized baseballs, 11" & 12" softballs, foam balls, and wiffle balls. The speed that the ball can be thrown also has a lot to do with the type of ball that's used in your pitching machine.

What Type of Pitching Machine Do You Need?

Beginner - The first stage in baseball/softball stardom is starting with a tossing machine for beginners that slowly throws/tosses the ball at a normal pace for easy development. The speed for a beginner is different for everyone, but some tossing machines can toss as speeds as low as 10 MPH. These beginner tossing machines are reliable and lightweight for easy storage and or transportation.

"Little League Baseball" - For everyone that is intending to get a training aid for batting for little league use you must remember to verify that the softball or baseball machines can throw RIF (Reduced Injury Factor) balls such as wiffle or dimpled balls. This ensures if someone is accidentally hit with a ball the injury is not as severe. RIF balls have a max speed of 60 MPH. Couple that with the texture of a dimpled ball and it provides a layer of protection against serious injury.

High School/College/Semi-Pro/Pro - For high school all the way to professional baseball/softball use, you need a machine that can pitch a variety of balls and pitches at all speeds. You want to look for machines with 2 wheels, dual motors, and machines that have a top speed above 80-90 MPH. Heavy duty pitching machines for this level of player can consistently throw fastballs, slider, left, right, curveballs, and some can even throw knuckleballs so keep this in mind as well. A 360 degree swivel head is another feature that all machines for pitching should have to allow you to throw pop ups, ground balls and pop-flys in any direction of the field.

Softball v/s Baseball - Yes, there are machines designed to throw softballs exclusively, as well as some machines that only throw baseballs. You can, however, choose what's called a combo softball/baseball pitching machine that can be switched to throw softballs, baseballs and a variety of other types of balls very easily.

Accessories - Lightweight pitching machines can be easily moved and can only hold a few balls. The heavier, stationary machines can hold the most balls but lack in mobility. You will need to decide which one is right for your needs.

No matter if you decide on a lightweight pitching machine or a heavy stationary one, ball feeders which some can hold up to 80 balls can be bought along with your pitching machine. Some brands offer ball feeders included with the purchase, while other brands sell ball feeders separately.