You want to improve your pitching with a pitching machine, but not sure where to start? Well, it’s inevitable isn’t it? After all, there are quite a few brands to choose from. In this article we’ll focus on different types of pitching machines that will really help improve your baseball swing or even your slow pitch softball pitching techniques.

Here are the major types:

(1) Real Ball Pitching Machines

As the name suggests, Real Ball pitching machines throws out real balls, basically the same softballs you see at your local commercial batting cages.

For these types of Pitching Machines, you are looking for an Arm Styled Wheel Machines or the Compressed Air Machines. Because the force of the pitch, it’s wise to have a batting cage when using this machine. Invest in an auto feeder and remote control if you’re opting for a one player mode and you’re good to go!

(2) Wheel Style Pitching Machines

Ever seen those pitching machines used in high schools or even simply someone else’s backyard that runs with a spinning wheel that spits out the ball? One of the most popular choices, wheel style pitching machines can be used for baseball or softball or even slow pitch softball!

The rubber wheel pushes out the ball with a motor propelling the wheels’ movements. Most machines come with mechanical pieces that control speed and direction. The machine stands on a metal frame attached to a tripod and run on 110v power. They run on electricity so you’ll always need to have the machine close to a power source.

(3) Single Wheel Machines

These are basic machines used to throw a slow pitch or throw a fast pitch in a speed ranging from 25-70 mph. Priced usually above $900, these are one of the more expensive options. Some of these machines even are equipped to throw out a slow pitch curve ball. But this upgrade will cost you at least $300 more than the base

All in all, the single wheel option can still end up being less expensive and still very portable. However, if you prefer higher speeds or a greater variety of pitch throws, you may want to consider the Wheel Style machines instead.

We have all experienced watching teams taking batting practice.  Most of the time hitters try to hit every ball as hard and deep as they can.

We have recorded BP efficiency and found the following results:  Pops, chops, routine ground balls, and with every pitch, they try to slam it.  The going rate of hard hits is 3 or 4 out of 10.  

It is important that hitters take BP at a comfort level.  However, it is good to finish with what we call a “Power-10” focusing on hitting the ball hard with super contact every time.  Here are the guide lines:

A hitter may choose  which pitches to hit.  But call a strike if he takes a good pitch.

Scoring:

Hard Hit = 1 point

Week hit = 0 points

Swing and miss/foul/strike = -1

A hitter strives for at least 7 out of 10   (70%)  That is the minimum that we strive for.  If a hitter is not at that level, he needs to work for that.

In our general research, we have found that by making hitters do a Power-10 in their batting practice baseball hitting drills, hitters will strive to hit each ball well, and batting practice will be more meaningful.  Players who do their Power-10 at the completion of BP have these results in their regular batting:

                Efficienty at least            80%:                      Batting average over .400

                                                                70-80%                 Mid .300 batting average

                Less than                             70%                        .280-.300 batting average

Do this with correct fundamentals against good pitching.  Hitters should concentrate more on hitting the balls hard and sharply rather than hitting everything deep.  Benefits will show up in their batting averages.

If time permits, players can do more than one Power-10.  With these baseball hitting drills, they look forward to the challenge of getting better each time.

Power-10 …. A Simple way to increase hitting performance.  It will improve concentration and accuracy to the ball. 

We have discovered one of the greatest methods for teaching baseball (or anything else for that matter) is to find a key word to help the player understand the concept we are trying to teach.  And these key words work better if they are word pictures. 

One great word picture that we use to help hitters get short to the ball is what we call “Shine the Light”.  In our youth baseball drills, If we can help the hitter to visualize the knob of the bat as a flashlight, it will help him to get inside the pitch and achieve the short, compact stroke. 

Most hitters will initially drive the knob of the bat towards the ground and they begin their stroke.  This causes the bat to flip behind them, causing a long stroke, and taking the hands out of position.

Also, if the hitter lifts the front shoulder just one inch, this will also invite the bat knob to drop down .   

Here’s one of our best youth baseball hitting tips.  Imagine a lazer beam coming from the flashlight directly to the ball.  Ask the hitter to immediately “shine the light” on the ball, driving the knob in the direction of the pitch.  This will help to correct the long stroke and get the bat head into the proper contact position.

This is easy.  “Shine the Light”.  From that point the short stroke and proper contact will follow.              

We have experienced immediate improvement in our instruction in baseball hitting drills with this simple concept….”Shine the Light”. 

I was a youth baseball coach for many years. I became a coach because my son’s first coach did not give him enough playing time to increase his skill set. I was also frustrated by the way his first coach ran practices. I found that he was only making progress when he worked directly with me. So, in his second year of baseball, I became a head coach.

I knew how to play the game, but I didn’t know how to teach the game; the first thing I realized, very quickly, was my inability to transfer my knowledge to the players. I began to attend all the coaching clinics possible. Coaching clinics can be a little frustrating because you will find they are not consistent in the mechanics they teach. I found that simple mechanics, with the least amount of movement, helped alleviate frustration for both the coach and the player. In addition, simple translates into success faster. Success translates into fun.

The second thing I learned very quickly was the age group you are coaching determines the coaching style. The younger players have a shorter attention span than older players. For example, a coach should not spend more than 5 minutes on any one drill for 7 or 8 year old players. Demonstrate the proper technique, let them practice that technique a few times, and then move them onto another drill. Don’t let frustration lead you to think that there is no way they can pick up any technique that quickly. The progress of your players will constantly amaze you if practices are organized, fast-moving, and fun.

The importance of having fun, yourself, was the third thing I realized very quickly. The more fun you have coaching, the better coach you will be. Fun is contagious; players will learn quicker if they see the coaching staff having fun teaching them. A coach should strive to teach baseball, make the game fun, so players will stick with the sport, and to be fair with playing time. Youngsters practice to play; so, reward practice with playing time.

Fairness was the last thing I learned, very rapidly. Be fair with the players and be fair with your own son or daughter. Attempt to treat your son or daughter no differently than you would treat someone else’s son or daughter. The best way to accomplish this is to have someone, not attached to coaching staff, observe, and give you feedback. I was lucky in that respect. At least one grandparent and my wife were always at the games. After every game, I had immediate feedback. If I was too hard on my son, I heard about it after the game. Please remember, getting your son or daughter a college scholarship should not be goal. It is important that your son or daughter stick with the sport because they are having fun. In addition, be fair with playing time for all of your players. The reality of baseball is that mistakes happen. The only way to alleviate mistakes is playing time. So be fair. Remember that it is not where a player starts that is important, it is where they finish.

This is the first in a series of lessons from “Lessons from a Youth Baseball Coach”. All of the lessons can be found at Baseball Armory – “The Baseball Blog”. Baseball Armory – “The Baseball Blog” is sponsored by Baseball Armory. Baseball Armory is an online store that contains quality Akadema softball and baseball gear. Infield and outfield gloves, catcher’s mitts, metal and wood bats, cleats, turf shoes, batting gloves, sunglasses, apparel, equipment bags, glove care products, and miscellaneous baseball and softball accessories are some of the equipment in the Akadema product line.