Pitching Machine

Pitching machine, batting tee, front toss, side toss, live pitching. All have valid points, great tools mixed and matched can have good results. Each tool help to fix certain trouble areas but none by them selves can fix all flaws and when only using one of them exclusively can create other problems.

I would rather get behind a screen at 15 where I can control every pitch placement and speed.. seems to be the best thing for us .. have the jugs and a atec 260 but rarely use them ... seems that girls get to timing the pitch by sound too .. which they will not have that in live play.. sure they have their place and use but seem to be more trouble than they are worth to me

Been using the Hack Attack machine a lot this season, for both hitting and fielding work.
Honestly, using it for hitting has been great. I start hitters off at around 55 and work up to about 64 mph. I tried turning it to 10 once, but having ball hit to you at 73 mph, as practice didnt work very well, but it was exciting to watch.
Using the AD Machine Balls, i am able to get the ball to break based on seam orientation and the surface wear of the ball. Some of the AD star balls have become a little rough on the surface. Causing them to move a little more.
I generally put more of a over the top spin, like a drop ball, like i said base on seam orientation, depends on if the ball will break or not.
This machine if used correctly, ha ha, is able to never put the ball in the same place repeatedly. Batter have to read ball coming out of machine.
Using it for bunting and slappers too.

Keep in mind that for every ball from the machine, there is also at least one if not two balls that are thrown live arm.

Fielding is where it shines, oh my check out the video below. My bat is not consistent when doing fielding, well actually never consistent. this thing takes repetition to a new level.
Can work fielders ,in and out, on everything from hard bouncers to high pop flies and it will bounce them off the fence of a 220 field.
I generally use the dimple balls with fielding, unless we are doing a drill that requires the ball to bounce. then will use regular machine balls. the reason is that the dimple balls have unrealistic bounce, kind of like a super ball.
But the great thing about dimple balls is that they don't do the same amount of soft tissue damage as regular balls.


Check it out with DD, kind of long but you get the idea in moment or two.

Merrill - What settings do you use to get certain mph? How is it different for mph w/ dimple balls or 'real' balls?

I am certain all machines have slight differences, I uses a pocket radar to get my starting speed, I think it was top at 6,6 and bottom of 5 will get about 50/52.

I work my up one click at a time, adjusting the upper two wheels at the same time. if I set the left higher of lower I then get a ball the will curve to the side with the lower setting, which is fun for both hitters and outfield, can be used to counter the effects of a strong wind as well.

Dimples balls are very similar in speed to regular balls using the same settings, a variance of maybe +2 mph.
This machine has 3 dials, one for each wheel.

To attain a drop ball spin the 2 upper wheels are set higher, example, (tops are 7,7 and bottom is 5.5), at this setting ball is leaving machine at approximately 62-64.

The image below is settings I use for outfield, they were practicing sliding catches, this gives a strong rise ball spin, helping keep the ball in the air a little longer, making practicing the sliding catch a little easier.


I hope that answers your question.

Thanks!

I've actually got a Jr. Hack Attack. I don't have a radar gun, though, so was just curious what numbers you were getting. I've always thought that anything 7+ is moving pretty good, so glad to hear you're saying maybe 60+

You say 6/6/5 is 50-52 mph, and 7/7/5.5 is 62-64 mph. Do you think it's that much faster between those two?

yes, i get a big increases in speed up to eight and then it kind of flat lines with gradual increases out to 10, but will say, ball coming out at a setting of 10,10 and 8 is impressive.

the dial numbering mislead me until i put the radar on it then started to get a better understanding. at 110,10 and 8 on bottom wheel i am getting 71/73 when using it for outfield,

Maybe after tryouts are over will try to graph the different setting that i am using to give everyone a better idea of what sped curve versus the dial settings.

I know that once you hit 7 and above, it's not that easy to square those dimpled balls, even for an older, more advanced hitter. It's coming fast, and it's hard to time. The idea that it might be hitting 60+ might be comforting to those who've struggled with it.

Merrill Danner said:

Fielding is where it shines, oh my check out the video below.

Check it out with DD, kind of long but you get the idea in moment or two.

Click to expand...

What I learned from your Video is how beautiful your Soil is in the infield.

In my zipcode Gravel Miners would get excited to see our infields.