Building your Mound -Cliff Note Version

For those of you that want to build your own mound in the backyard or if your the field maintenance manager for your league/youth program here is some advice that can help you along the way.


One you want to start with a good foundation. I would recommend clay bricks. These are great especially on a budget. Lay down about 2-3 inches in ground. To cover a landing area I usually will advise about 50-65 bricks depending on the level of players that will be utilizing the mound. For older pitchers more bricks because of the strides. Younger players less. Water is key to any good field. I would recommend some moisture but not an over flow of water. The water will help make the bricks soggy so they can bind together once dry. Doing this prior will help later when you lay down your mound clay. Let the bricks semi dry about a good 30-45 mins before laying down your mound clay. Another alternative to bricks and my favorite is the Jox Box system. Used in a lot in the collegiate and professional play. These are great cause you can bury those in the desired depth (2"-4"s)and cover it with your mound clay. Once those are in you never have to worry about future holes again. Just with this setup price could run about $600 plus shipping. The low maintenance might be worth the price.

Now that the foundation is done. You are going to want to lay down your mound clay. One of the newest products out there is the Stabilizer Hilltopper Mound and Batters Box Clay. Great stuff to use out the bag. Just tamp into place and your ready to pitch. However if you do not have access to this, any mound clay will do. With the bags I would go about 5-15 bags depending on the size of your mound and how deep you want to go. There really isn't a set formula for " how much your going to need." New mounds will require more, because you want to build up and really get that packed in there. However with repair jobs a few bags will be fine to mend the holes. Next put your pitching rubber in prior to applying your mound mix and your ready to go!

Hope this helps out some. Again this is the cliff note version. If you need more info shoot me a pm. Would be glad to help

I like putting a 1/4" layer of infield fines on top of the mound clay. This helps retain moisture in the clay and it gives the pitcher a faster surface to drag over that is a bit more consistent with what they'll find on a good field.

Keep in mind that you'll want to mist the pitching surface with water before pitching on it if it gets too dry. The perfect level of moisture is when cleats dig in all the way to the sole with body weight and are removed without the clay refilling on itself.

Great write up otherwise though, thanks!

-W

If I ever switch to baseball, I will remember this.

Sorry, couldnt resist.

I used keep our pitching mound, circle, lane, rubber, perfect for her meaning nice and level / flat. She's not a digger but I dug out a push off angle at the rubber. Since most if not all rubbers she pitches off of have that dug out.

halskinner said:

If I ever switch to baseball, I will remember this.

Sorry, couldnt resist.

Click to expand...

This is geared toward softball.................

halskinner said:

If I ever switch to baseball, I will remember this.

Sorry, couldnt resist.

Click to expand...

This is geared toward softball.................

Sorry double post.

mound (mound)
n.
1. A pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris heaped for protection or concealment.
2. A natural elevation, such as a small hill.
3. A raised mass, as of hay; a heap. See Synonyms at heap.
4. Archaeology A large artificial pile of earth or stones often marking a burial site.
5. Baseball The slightly elevated pitcher's area in the center of the diamond.
6. Archaic A hedge or fence.
tr.v. mound·ed, mound·ing, mounds
1. To fortify or conceal with a mound.
2. To heap into a raised mass.
[Origin unknown.]

Sorry a "pet peeve" of mine.

If Sue Enquist can call it the mound, I suppose anyone else can too.

pridefpsb17 said:

mound (mound)
n.
1. A pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris heaped for protection or concealment.
2. A natural elevation, such as a small hill.
3. A raised mass, as of hay; a heap. See Synonyms at heap.
4. Archaeology A large artificial pile of earth or stones often marking a burial site.
5. Baseball The slightly elevated pitcher's area in the center of the diamond.
6. Archaic A hedge or fence.
tr.v. mound·ed, mound·ing, mounds
1. To fortify or conceal with a mound.
2. To heap into a raised mass.
[Origin unknown.]

Sorry a "pet peeve" of mine.

Click to expand...

Language, any langauge, is arbitrary by definition. The reason the noises are coming out of our mouths are considered a language is because another person is there to recieve it and understand it. If a person is speaking Swahili to a person who does not understand that language, then the speaker is only making noise that is not being understood by the listner. My point is, when the word "mound" is used by a person on a softball pitching forum then everyone knows exactly what he/she is talking about. Why must we constantly try to make a point about a word (mound) can only be used when only referencing baseball when everyone knows the speaker is referencing softball? This is a softball pitching forum, not a baseball pitching forum!!!