Baseball is a popular sport that’s loved by people from all over the world. But unlike other popular sports like basketball and soccer, it isn’t as easy to practice baseball. Typically, you need at least one other person to practice many of the drills and exercises involved in training.
That’s where baseball pitching machines come in. Baseball pitching machines essentially serve as a pitcher and throw balls consistently enough for you to train even without a second person. They can also be used to consistently throw a ball a certain way, which is perfect for training other players.
What Is a Baseball Pitching Machine?
A baseball pitching machine is a device that pitches a baseball, softball, or another ball through the use of mechanical energy. The device can either be powered by spring tension or electrical energy.
Why Do You Need a Baseball Pitching Machine?
It lets you practice on your own
Practicing baseball can be difficult without a second person. This is especially true if you’re practicing your swings - if there’s no one to throw the ball, then you can’t really practice your accuracy. With a baseball pitching machine, you don’t even need to find a volunteer - simply place the machine in front of you, turn it on, and get ready!
Consistent, sweat-free throws
Training baseball can really rack up a sweat - and if you’re a coach, it can be difficult to have you or your team members throw consistent pitches without getting tired. With certain baseball pitching machines, you can get consistent throws that always follow the same trajectory. It’s great if you want to let your team practice without human error getting in the way.
Things to Consider When Buying a Baseball Pitching Machine
Remember these factors when choosing a baseball pitching machine.
Accuracy
Even though it’s a baseball pitching “machine”, many of these machines are far from accurate. In fact, you’ll find that the throws often won’t end up in the same space all the time, especially if you’re using cheaper models. This can be a problem if you’re trying to practice a certain type of pitch, as opposed to just trying to hit the ball in the first place.
Some pitching machines try to remedy this by allowing you to adjust the angle of the device, but this isn’t always effective, as the accuracy can still be a problem. You either want spring-powered pitching machines designed for the accuracy or high-quality pitching machines that can pitch consistently and at a high rate. With added accuracy comes a higher price, but it’s worth the extra cost if you want better training.
Power source
Baseball pitching machines can work using springs or with electric power. Spring-powered pitching machines have the advantage of being completely tech-free - you don’t need to plug it in anywhere, nor do your risk damaging any electronics if it gets hit by a stray ball. Unfortunately, these machines do also require you to put a bit of manpower in every throw.
Electrically powered pitching machines sacrifice accuracy and consistency for power, speed, and an automatic touch. You can feed multiple balls in these machines, so you don’t need to lay a finger until the machine runs out of balls. However, don’t expect to have any sort of meaningful training other than practicing hit accuracy with these machines, as they can only throw one way.
Price Range
You’d be surprised by how affordable pitching machines are these days. The cheapest ones cost only $25 or so per unit, which is very cheap compared to other, larger models. Of course, these machines are not very consistent, but they get the job done nonetheless.
If you want accuracy or speed, then prepare to invest a lot more money. You’ll typically be spending $120 or more on a baseball pitching machine of good quality.
People Also Ask
Are pitching machines useful?
Baseball pitching machines have their ups and downs. While they cannot teach aspects such as timing, for example, they can definitely improve one’s hit accuracy if they’re just starting to learn the sport.
Why are baseball pitching machines difficult to use?
Pitching machines aren’t like humans, and therefore have no prerelease action to them. Some units indicate when the ball is about to be thrown, but for the most part, it’s different compared to an actual pitcher, which can throw people off.