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Pitching Machines!!!
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I would like to buy a good pitching machine for my girls (I have two daughters 01 and 02)! Any thoughts on brands or place to get a good deal? Our rec league used juggs and they were the cats @$$ but expensive.
- 2001-2dad
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:51 pm
http://www.sportsadvantage.com/product_ ... 83&sport=2
You can use this machine for baseballs and softballs. It's inexpensive and it works great for personal use.
You can use this machine for baseballs and softballs. It's inexpensive and it works great for personal use.
- 3Bar
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:50 am
I use this one, best of all it's free!
Every man lives by a code:
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
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slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
nice slapper! Hard for me to pitch 54mph accurately but I do my share of live arm to my girls. Need more speed for them though.- 2001-2dad
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:51 pm
^^^^AGREE^^^^^
Nothing better than seeing the ball from the hand. Can change speeds that way too!
Nothing better than seeing the ball from the hand. Can change speeds that way too!
- 10GatorCoach
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:58 pm
Yeah net became necessary for me this year with use of cf5 and girls getting stronger. I just thought cranking a pitching machine up to 55 or more and letting them get use to seeing speed would help also.
- 2001-2dad
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:51 pm
I would much rather move up close and throw live than use a pitching machine. I don't care how high you crank up the machine, sooner or later they learn to time it and because the machine tends to throw the same basic spot over and over, they will hit it, but it's not even close to live pitching. For me, pitching machines are fine for warming up, but I would rather be 15 feet away behind a net to get them used to speed.
- sjjjbugs
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:07 pm
I totally agree that front toss from behind a screen is by far the best method. You can change speeds and locations once you get a little practice at it and there is nothing better than seeing the ball out of the hand. And as Slapper says, it's free (normally). Just make sure that you're COMPLETELY behind that screen EVERY pitch. After throwing probably close to 100,000 pitches to my DD over the years, at a hitting lesson getting ready for sectionals, she found that one time my foot wasn't behind there with a screaming line drive. $2000 later (out of pocket), I'll be the guy hobbling around Bloomington this weekend with a couple pins sticking out of his big toe (the bone was shattered into 6-7 pieces). 
As for pitching machines, I guess they have their place at your DD's ages, just to see the speed once in a while, but I certainly wouldn't invest that amount of money to have a decent one of my own (and it's definitely not worth having a cheap one). That money would be MUCH better spent on hitting lessons with a good instructor.
As for pitching machines, I guess they have their place at your DD's ages, just to see the speed once in a while, but I certainly wouldn't invest that amount of money to have a decent one of my own (and it's definitely not worth having a cheap one). That money would be MUCH better spent on hitting lessons with a good instructor.
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LeftyHitter - Posts: 64
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:14 am
OK, admittedly I was being a bit of a smartass, but there is a method to my madness. As has been mentioned, I just move the screen closer to shorten reaction time. I'm usually about 15'-20' in front of them. I can throw good locations that way, and mix the speed up. Plus it saves wear and tear on my shoulder which after several broken clavicles and a couple of separations, needless to say ain't what she used to be.
One thing I've kept track of over the years, at clinics, I make a point to ask about pitching machines from the clinicians. By my calculations, there's about a 50/50 split on machines. However, the ones who are using machines are using the fancy/expensive ones that throw multiple pitches. I've got plenty of arms already, (assistant coaches) I can spend that money someplace else. Sometimes I have the kids throw themselves, once they understand what we're trying to accomplish, they can be effective as well.
The only thing we really use a pitching machine for is acclimating younger players to the speed of the pitch. We also do a few bunt drills with it. And we only really use it in the winter inside, and not all that often. Outside, we use it for defensive drills more than anything else.
Now if you're insistent on a pitching machine, my favorite affordable machine is a Juggs Lite Flite, with the foam balls. As the balls age, and get chunks tore out of them, you will learn that you can throw certain pitches and get movement out of them, based on how you insert the balls. Move the machine close and go at it.
One thing I've kept track of over the years, at clinics, I make a point to ask about pitching machines from the clinicians. By my calculations, there's about a 50/50 split on machines. However, the ones who are using machines are using the fancy/expensive ones that throw multiple pitches. I've got plenty of arms already, (assistant coaches) I can spend that money someplace else. Sometimes I have the kids throw themselves, once they understand what we're trying to accomplish, they can be effective as well.
The only thing we really use a pitching machine for is acclimating younger players to the speed of the pitch. We also do a few bunt drills with it. And we only really use it in the winter inside, and not all that often. Outside, we use it for defensive drills more than anything else.
Now if you're insistent on a pitching machine, my favorite affordable machine is a Juggs Lite Flite, with the foam balls. As the balls age, and get chunks tore out of them, you will learn that you can throw certain pitches and get movement out of them, based on how you insert the balls. Move the machine close and go at it.
Every man lives by a code:
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
-
slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
Thanks for info. I will try moving closer to them when i pitch live arm. I'm still hoping to find a good deal on a machine. The machine will give them more reps faster and more speed. Combo should help. I like the idea of a hitting coach just not the additional expense of lessons and not to mention there are none close to my backwoods redneck town so we have to travel one hour each way. We already have two practices a week and pitching lessons.
- 2001-2dad
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:51 pm
10 posts
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