HS ball is the only place I've ever been around a machine, and I can honestly say I've never once, ever, had a positive experience with one!
Anna's college coach used to set their machine at 66/67 and to throw only a low outside pitch, then lose her stupid mind when no one could hit the ball?
Not a fan at all. If I couldn't hit outfield fly balls myself, I could see where someone would use one for outfield practice, but even then.....
There was a team we played away last season in MS who we played tight to the end. They were basically right at our level. Slightly better defense, but we had the better pitcher. Neither team could consistently make contact after the #4 hitter.
They came to our place a month later and beat the absolute crap out of the ball. 16 hits. Legit, mostly line drives. It was brutal. The only other team that hit us like that had a bunch of corn-fed "7th graders."
So after the game I asked the coach where that display came from. He said "We had staight rain-outs for almost four weeks. So after that first week I put them in the gym and set the machine on 50, and that's about all we did until today."
So...I guess my answer, for MS, would be 50.
Our #1 pitcher, despite what she's been told, really only has one pitch, and she's very good at it. Fastball, right down the middle. I'll give you three guesses on the speed...
For HS, based on what I've seen around here, I'd set it between 55 and 60. I believe the machine is a great tool, and especially when you don't have a stable of pitchers to throw BP.
Training some quick reaction time!Depends on the distance to the machine. From 35-37’ about 45-50 12u.
30New to the softball world. Plan on putting the DD on a machine once a week. What speed would one suggest for an 8yo? Ty