Baseball Pitching Machine Review

If you are in the market for a baseball pitching machine, it is important to do your homework before you actually go out and spend money. Because pitching machines can cost anywhere between several hundred dollars and several thousand dollars, it is a good idea to know what you are looking for, so that you get what you need without paying for something that gives you more than you will actually use.

One of the first things you’ll need to look at is who will be using the machine. If this is something you’re buying so that your son or daughter can get some practice for their little league team, you will probably be looking at a much simpler and more entry level model than would a serious high school athlete practicing for their championship-bound varsity team. Professional grade baseball pitching machines are even more high end (and expensive), and probably are much more than any individual would need on their own.

So, a basic machine that is good for younger players (say 12 and under, as a rule of thumb) will not have as many functions and features as a more sophisticated machine. The more sophisticated pitching machines throw not at just different speeds, but actually deliver different types of pitches as well. For example, a basic machine would throw relatively straight, a straight pitch, whereas the more advanced (and expensive) models will be able to throw curve balls, knuckle balls, sliders, etc.

Then you’ll need to decide which operational style of baseball pitching machine you want. Your basic choices are air powered, wheel, and arm style. An air powered machine is quite common for the more basic models. A wheel style uses one, two, or three wheels that spin inside the machine, catching the ball and shooting it out toward the batter. And an arm style pitching machine launches the ball from the end of a lever, simulating the actual overhand throw that a real pitcher would deliver.

You can also choose between manual feed (someone drops the balls in) or automatic feed (balls are delivered every 5-6 seconds automatically), and between stationary or portable baseball pitching machines. Ultimately, what you buy should be determined based on how (and how often) you plant to use it and how much you are able to spend on the machine.