Browsing Posts tagged Pitching

Baseball Pitching Machines

 A baseball pitching machine is a great tool to help hitters improve their hitting. There are many benefits in owning a baseball pitching machine.
 When buying a baseball pitching machine there are five things to consider.

1. Pitch speed-You want to have a pitching machine with the proper pitching speed for you.

2. Number of wheels-You want the right amount of wheels.

3. Transportability-Pick a pitching machine which is easy to transport.

4. Parts and accessories-Generators,auto ball feeders,dimpled balls and covers are important to your pitching machine.

5. Warranty-Make sure you are properly covered with your investment.

 Pitching machines come in different styles. An arm action pitching machine and a circular wheel machine are very popular. Pitching machines are useful for batters who can practice on their own. Batting cages are useful for pitching machines. The starter baseball pitching machine is ideal for young players and leagues where pitching machines are used in actual games. Pitches are normally 30 mph in these games. The curveball machine actually spins the ball in an opposite direction. The spin goes forward, which causes the ball to curve downward. Since the ball is curving toward the ground, gravity does not prevent it from curving. It actually helps it. You can put different spins on the ball. The 2 pitch sidewinder pitching machine can throw straight fastball and 3/4 curve, straight fastball and 3/4 slider, tailing fastball and sidearm curve, and tailing fastball sidearm slider. The 2pitch3 baseball pitching machine can throw a 95 mph and a 75 mph curveball in one set up. There is also the twin pitch pitching machine which gives you 2 pitches in one set up. There is a pitching machine available for all ballplayers.

 Pitching machine parts and accessories are important to your baseball pitching machine. Auto ball feeders feeds balls at different intervals. Can be used with almost any pitching machine. A power generator is an alternative power source for running your single wheel pitching machine, or automatic ball feeder units in locations where there are no electric outlets. Baseball pitching covers protect your machine. Dimpled balls will dramatically extend the life of your baseball pitching machine. A pitch selector allows you to feed fastballs and curveballs without the batter knowing which pitch is coming. Two downhill feed chute extensions are connected to the in-feed chutes. Two balls are rolled down the feed chutes at the same time. The batter can see the balls roll down. Both balls appear just before the pitching wheels, but only one comes out. This feature makes it impossible for the batter to predict the pitch, but allows for ample timing of when the ball will be pitched.

I hope this article will be a tremendous help in your hunt for purchasing a baseball pitching machine best suited for your game. Besides improving your game, you can share your pitching machine with teammates and have a lot of fun.

About Author
Author-Eugene Rischall, Owner, Baseball Training Emporiumwww.baseballtrainingemporium.com

I’m well aware that most of a pitcher’s practice time should be spent throwing the baseball. I’m also well aware that a pitcher who is serious about being successful should find some time for practicing his fielding as well. Ten minutes a day and a couple of times a week is all it should take. Let’s look at some very basic basic baseball fielding drills that a pitcher should practice.

Grounders Back to the Mound. Field the ball and throw to all four bases a couple of times. It’s amazing that some pitchers with pinpoint control when throwing to their catchers will miss their target when throwing to third base by ten feet! The reason is quite simple. They are making throws that are unfamiliar to them. Practice throws to all four bases and they will no longer be unfamiliar throws.

Fielding Bunts. Practice fielding bunts in front of the plate and down both lines. Practice throwing to all four bases.

Fielding Bunts Suicide Squeeze Situation. Practice getting the throw to your catcher quickly and accurately.

Covering First Base. In a nutshell, sprint to the first base line about four steps from the base. Turn and run in fair territory down the line. Chest high target and tag inside of the base with your right foot.

Covering Home Plate. Be very cautious when covering home plate. Along with the line drive back to the mound, it is an extremely dangerous play for a pitcher! Make sure to stay in front of the plate and in fair territory. Make a quick swipe tag with your glove going quickly toward the ground to tag out the runner. In other words, you only want the base runner to slide into your glove and make sure the rest of your body is out of harm’s way. Baseball pitching careers have ended because the pitcher has stood in the path of a sprinting base runner. Stay in front of the plate!

Baseball pitchers should practice their baseball fielding like it’s a live game. If you practice at only half speed, the results you get may be only slighter better than if you did not practice at all. Hey, if you’re willing to put in the time to practice and improve your baseball skills, you deserve to get all the benefits from that practice time. Don’t cheat yourself.

In closing, just remember that it makes no sense at all for a baseball pitcher with pinpoint control to miss one of his infielders by ten feet when throwing to a base. It can cost the ball game. Finding some time to work on your baseball fielding is time very well spent and one of the more important baseball pitching tips.

Larry Cicchiello PhotoAbout Author
Larry’s very user friendly eBooks cover 320 topics on playing excellent baseball. ANY baseball player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips are available at Larry Baseball.com

I truly believe in my heart that any questions that are asked should be totally respected and answered politely. I’ve answered many questions about baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball coaching and more over several decades. I can proudly say that not once did I ever think the question was not a worthwhile question and I always showed the utmost respect to the person asking the question. However, there is one question on the topic of baseball pitching that I’m having a hard time coming to grips with. It is way off base, no pun intended. I must have heard it 1000 times. The question is one that is asked to a baseball pitcher about pitching to a real good hitter.

The big question asked to the pitcher is…”How do you pitch to… so and so?”

The sportswriter, sportscaster or baseball commentator is asking a pitcher how he pitches to a certain outstanding baseball hitter. I’ve learned a lot over the years by simply listening to these guys. For the most part, they are very intelligent and great baseball people. But like I said, this question irks me! Does the person asking the question think that the answer may be breaking balls, low and away? Or does the person think the answer is fastballs up and in? Or can it be changeups down low? The proper answer given by any intelligent pitcher will always be the same and I’ve heard this answer 1,000 times in the last four or five decades. It’s almost word for word, the same exact answer.

And the answer to this annoying question is…”I try to mix up my pitches, change speeds and move the ball around on him.”

What other answer can there possibly be? OK, I’m kidding a little bit about being annoyed. In all honesty, the question really doesn’t bother me but I want to make a point.

I understand that as a pitcher, you may have a favorite pitch you like to use to a certain very good hitter, but you can’t rely on it exclusively. Baseball pitching tips require keeping the good hitters guessing. Let’s use an outstanding right-handed hitter as an example. If you kept throwing him fast balls low and away, it’s just a matter of time before he creams one to right field or to right center field. If you kept throwing him fastballs up and in, eventually he will cream one to left field or left center. If you threw him all breaking balls, once again, eventually he will clobber you.

The point here is that real good hitters do not have glaring weaknesses! That’s the reason they are real good baseball hitters. They may handle some pitches better than others, but they have no glaring weaknesses. A pitcher has to mix it up because the real good hitters will make adjustments. If a batter is having a hard time with your changeup, you can’t simply keep throwing it. The good hitter will go from looking terrible and then on about the fourth changeup he will put the baseball in orbit. That’s why your only approach is to mix up your pitches, change speeds, change locations and there is no set answer as to where you specifically try to locate a pitch or what particular pitch you throw to get them out. It’s not really a bad question but I just wanted to make a point.

One of the most important baseball pitching tips to remember is that different pitches, different speeds and different locations should be your only approach to be successful against the great hitters.

Mix it up and go get em!

Larry Cicchiello PhotoAbout Author
Larry’s very user friendly eBooks cover 320 topics on playing excellent baseball. ANY baseball player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips are available at Larry Baseball.com

Jugs has many different types of baseball training aids that will greatly improve your baseball and softball game. They can be used by adults, high school, and little leagues. Jugs has baseball training aids to help improve hitting, pitching, and fielding.

Jugs baseball pitching machines are very popular. Jugs Softball Pitching Machine has a speed range of as low as 15 mph to 60 mph. Will pitch fastballs, slowpitch, risers, and dropballs. Jugs 101 Baseball Pitching Machine throws 30 mph to as high as 90 mph. Pitch selection and speed are dial-a-pitch. The Combination Pitching Machine throws as low as 20 mph and as high as 104 mph. Throws fastball, curveball, and slider. Jugs also has the Curveball, Super Softball, Jr. Pitching, Lite-Flite, and MVP pitching machines. Whatever your need, Jugs has the right pitching machine for you. Ball feeders for your pitching machine include 18 Ball Baseball, 14 Ball Softball, 18 Ball Baseball-Lite Flite, and 14 Ball Softball-Lite Flite. Types of balls available for your feeders are dimpled, seamed, lite-flite, softie, bulldog, small-ball and pearl.

Accessories are very valuable baseball training aids. Hitting tees are perfect for T-Ball batting practice. The 5-point hitting tee can be used for both baseball and softball. Included is a Tee Drill Book. Jugs has a portable generator to work with your baseball pitching machines. New hitting stick is a 30 inch, 16 oz. bat. Good for eye coordination. Will help you get quick hands and a quick bat. Small-instant protectice screen is 6 ft. high and 4 ft. wide.

Protective screens include quick-snap which are easy to assemble. Has a durable thickness of #4000 twine protection. They include L-shaped pitchers screens, square protective screen for basemen, softball screen, and Jugs lite-flite/slowpitch screen.

Jugs fixed-frame protective screens has double-thick netting of 240 lb.-breaking breaking strength, twisted polyethlene. The L-shaped, softball, square screen w/sock net, square fungo and short toss protective screens all come with a 1 year guarantee.

Netting comes with 4 different breaking strengths, 119lb., 191lb., 381lb,. and 691lb. Backyard , youth leagues, and high school use 119, 191, and 381lb. breaking strength. Colleges use 191, 381, and 691lb. breaking strength. Professional uses 691lb. breaking strength. They are all made with dura-tech netting.

Jugs has batting cage frame sets for all standard size Jugs nets. All sets come with ground sleeves, crossbars, and uprights. Instructions are quick and easy. They are made with industrial-gauge galvanized steel. 5 year guarantee on all Jugs batting cage frames.

Jugs also has different complete packages that are very valuable baseball training aids.

I hope this article will help you when trying to find the right training aid that will improve your baseball and softball game.

About Author
Author-Eugene Rischall, Owner, Baseball Training Emporium http://www.baseballtrainingemporium.com

Bata Baseball Pitching Machines

Bata baseball pitching machines have steadily become recognized as the best baseball pitching machine in the world. Used by San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners.

There are five important factors to consider when evaluating a baseball pitching machine.

1. The type of construction.
     Bata baseball pitching machines are made of solid steel. There are no sand-castings or plastic on the frames or stand.

2. The motor and electronics.
     Bata uses only high-quality US made permanent magnet motors and solid state electronic control.

3. The wheels.
     As explained below, Bata uses the most effective design.

4. Ease of use.
     Bata baseball pitching machines are simple to set up, easy to adjust, easy to transport.

5. Capacity.
     Machines are suited for players of all levels.

Bata baseball pitching machines are the only machines that use Unique Goodyear Rubber Soft Trend pitching wheels. The soft tread wheels are solid, die cast, flat faced rubber treads, molded and vulcanized onto a machined aluminum core. The result is better accuracy, more speed, and better consistency. The wheels start out with a concise consistant shape, they maintain their shape regardless of the speed, and they are precision balanced to within 1 gram per foot. This makes Bata wheels run smooth and true.

Bata has various types of baseball pitching machines. The Bata 2Pitch3 baseball pitching machine is capable of throwing up to 95 mph fastball and a 75 mph curveball in one set up. Batting off this machine is like batting off a pro pitcher. When used with the Toggle Pitch Selector, the batter cannot predict which pitch is coming. He can only react to the pitch, as he would against a real pitcher. The Bata 2 Pitch Sidewinder baseball pitching machine is similar to the 2Pitch3 except that the maximum speed on the Sidewinder is 70 mph on both pitches, and the Sidewinder can pitch left or right handed. The Bata Twin Pitch baseball pitching machine can also throw two different pitches in one set up. A fastball or change up, or two fastballs to different locations. Ideal for softball. The Bata Starter baseball pitching machine throws fastballs up to 50 mph. Ideal for machine-pitch leagues and all players up to 12 years of age. The Bata B1-Curveball baseball pitching machine is the ideal in between baseball pitching machine. It is capable of throwing fastballs, curves, and sliders. The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has three independent pivot locks. This allows you to adjust one axis without disturbing the others. The Bata 2 baseball pitching machine has built-in transport wheels, so you do not have to roll it on the pitching wheels.

In conclusion, Bata baseball pitching machines give you more for your money. See you in the big leagues.

About Author
Author-Eugene Rischall, Owner, Baseball Training Emporiumwww.baseballtrainingemporium.com