radness
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- Dec 13, 2019
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Too bad Old Iron Mike didn't play Fastpitch they might have produced One to throw underhand.
Is hitting off a pitching machine necessary?
- Thread starter lancer360
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- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
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Is that their name? I would ride my bike to the batting cage, it was like 10 miles one way. If I tried to do that now they would need to wheel me into the batter’s box..nice to be young
- May 27, 2013
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I think so. They have different types of them but I distinctly recall one having an arm.Is that their name? I would ride my bike to the batting cage, it was like 10 miles one way. If I tried to do that now they would need to wheel me into the batter’s box..nice to be young
- Oct 26, 2019
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Yes they were called the Iron Mike - usually blue with a big hopper. We owned a batting cage facility when I was a kid and we had a few of them.
Funny story about those. I hit one back up the middle into the machine once and (without me knowing) it bent the arm/hand some. Next one hit me square in the back.
A pitching machine is a tool. Just like any other tool, if you know how to use it, it is very helpful. If you don't know how to use it, it is worthless.
Batters need 100 swings a day. Variation between pitching machine, tee work, front toss, and live pitching helps break up the monotony.
Pitching machines are part of a progression:
Batting tee: Ball is stationary.
Pitching machine: Ball moves, but at constant speed and constant location.
Live pitching: Ball location and speed varies.
- Mar 7, 2020
- 17
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We use one of the pitching machines a lot, but not for hitting. We use it for defense ( grounders, pop ups, fly balls, throws to 2nd, throws from outfield to plate). Yes we will have the defenders field balls an throw, but only throw it 1/3 of the time. the rest come off the machine. Saves their arm while giving us extended ability to field throws.
We use the other machine for hitting when we anticipate facing 60mph+ that day/week.
We use the other machine for hitting when we anticipate facing 60mph+ that day/week.
Machines have a place in the progression and, from what I see, they're a part of many college hitting programs.
If you can't eventually zero in on a flat fast-ball coming at a predictable speed and trajectory...one right after another...I'm not sure you're much of a hitter.
If you can't eventually zero in on a flat fast-ball coming at a predictable speed and trajectory...one right after another...I'm not sure you're much of a hitter.
- Mar 7, 2020
- 17
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If you can't eventually zero in on a flat fast-ball coming at a predictable speed and trajectory...one right after another...I'm not sure you're much of a hitter.
I'm sorry, not all of us have a roster full of college prospects.
I'm sorry, not all of us have a roster full of college prospects.
- May 17, 2012
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I always wonder about players that can't hit off of the machine. They claim timing issues but if your swing isn't built to resist, is it a high level swing?
If you aren't resisting aren't you guessing?
The older players I see who can't hit off a machine consistently have a very small contact zone, and the machine is pitching outside of that zone. I remember a couple of DD's team mates who had reasonable consistency and great power if the ball was at or near the knees, but they'd routinely whiff on any pitch nearer the waist. Yeah, they had their moments and mashed the ball if they got the right pitch, but they really weren't very good hitters. Unfortunately, they were also impervious to self-assessment or any sort of feedback.
