Baseball Pitching Machine Review

The baseball pitching machine is a great way to get batting practice on your own and without wearing out a pitcher’s arm. The machine was actually invented at the very end of the 19th century, in 1897, by a math professor at Princeton. Of course, that first machine was pretty basic compared to what’s on the market today. If you’re thinking of buying a machine, you’ll have a lot to choose some. Here are some of the aspects you should weigh, so you know what you’re looking for before from the start:

• Baseball or softball? Some baseball pitching machines also double as softball machines (or even for hockey training if you are a goalie), with the capacity to pitch balls of both sizes and weights. You can buy machines that are exclusive to each sport, but if you or someone in your family plays the other, it might be a good idea to get a machine that does both.
• Mechanical style. Pitching machines come in a couple different styles, on a mechanical level. Some shoot the ball out of the hole using the force of swift, concentrated air. More powerful baseball pitching machines use two or three wheels that grip the ball and shoot it out of the machine. Still others use a sort of catapult style lever that simulates a pitcher’s overhand throw.
• Pitch capability. If you’re buying for a beginner or little league player, you probably don’t need a machine that throws different pitch styles; young batters are just working on making solid contact with the ball at all (and young pitchers aren’t that sophisticated anyway). For more advanced players, look for a machine that can throw a variety of pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, etc., and at different speeds.
• Loading style. Some machines, when turned on, are set running continually, and someone stands next to the machine, drops the ball in or hits a button when it’s time to pitch, and the machine pitches the ball. Others are set to automatically pitch a ball every certain number of seconds. The loading style you choose depends on whether you plan to use your baseball pitching machine alone or with someone else there.

Automatic baseball pitching machines are really an excellent invention for today’s batters. However, any time you play a sport, there are risks you need to know about and precautions you need to take in order to keep yourself and those around you as safe as possible.

This is especially true around a baseball pitching machine. These machines often deliver balls at fast speeds. Unlike a live person, they cannot respond to what is going on; they simply keep doing what they are designed to do. Especially in the case of a pitching machine set to automatically propel a ball every 5-6 seconds until it is shut off, safety is especially important. If you get hit by a ball, or if you look away at a distraction, the machine does not know and will shoot another ball at you anyway.

That said, following a few simple guidelines can make huge strides in terms of the safe use of this very beneficial practice machine. Here are 5 rules of safety for baseball pitching machines.

1. Always wear a helmet. Just as you would never walk up to home plate in a game of baseball without a helmet, don’t use your pitching machine without one either. Any time a baseball is being thrown at pitching speed (even a slow pitch), protecting your head is the most important thing—more important than hitting the ball! The helmet rule is #1 and applies to both adults and children alike.
2. Read the instructions. This is true with most products you buy, but applies especially in the case of a baseball pitching machine, due to the nature of its purpose. Make sure you know how to load the machine, how to maintain it, and how to turn it off. Also heed any instructions regarding unsafe use of the machine. For example, many machines are dangerous if used with a baseball that is wet. Read the instructions so you know what to do, and what not to do, before you even turn it on.
3. Be prepared. This is also true in a variety of situations, but you need to know what to do if something goes wrong and someone is struck with a ball in the head, or otherwise injured. Keeping a first aid kit, ice pack, and cell phone nearby will make you much better equipped to respond effectively if something unexpected happens.