Get the Best Baseball Pitching Equipment For Your Team

Baseball pitching equipment is a great way to improve the skills of any player. Pitchers can not constantly pitch fast, consistent balls for an entire team. Not only would this wear out pitchers during practice, it would also put undo strain on their pitching arms, thus providing quality baseball pitching equipment for your team is crucial for the safety and moral of your team. Pitch machines are a safe, reliable alternative that helps keep all of your players batting better than ever. Of course, other softball training aids come in handy to create an all around team that wins games.

Baseball and Softball Training Aids

Pitching machines are just the tip of the iceberg when getting a team ready for a big game. Batting cages and diamond time are equally important. Baseball pitching equipment makes outdoor batting cages a worthwhile expenditure of time, but players also need to practice running, throwing and fielding balls. The cages allow for safe batting practice, but they do not allow for all around training. A good training facility contains a full sized baseball diamond, treadmills, weight benches, different bats, recording equipment for swing evaluation and much more. However, pitch machines are some of the more expensive and important equipment, and getting them right is crucial.

Choosing the Right Pitch Machines

There are many different ways to evaluate baseball pitching equipment. Look at pitching machines for:

• Portability – Is electricity available to run your machines? Most pitch machines require 110 volt outlets to function. If you do not have access to electricity, or are uncertain where the machines will get the most use, you may want to consider a spring loaded machine or adding a generator to your purchases.

• Expense – The money in your pocket will be a determining factor in the machine you buy. Prices can range from under $200, for simple spring loaded machines, to over $2,000 for machines that fire pitches at over 100 mph.

• Types of Pitch – Are your players comfortable hitting curve balls? If not, you need to find machines that offer a variety of pitch options. Some machines only pitch the basic fast ball, while others offer sliders, risers, curves and more.

• Speed – Little league players are not going to be swinging at pitches of over 50 mph, but college ball requires machines with at least 85 mph capacity. The faster the pitch, the more expensive the machine. Carefully consider your needs before shelling out for a super fast pitching machine.

• Softball vs. Baseball – Pitching is vastly different depending on the sport. Baseball pitching equipment does not always work for softball training aids. If you work with athletes in both sports, a single machine that does both can save you money.

Brand is also an important part of choosing the right equipment. You may recognize some of the more common brands: Zooka; Jugs; Atec; Personal Pitcher; BATA; Heater and more. Different brands specialize in different baseball pitching equipment. Make sure that the machines you choose provide the functionality you need.

Safety First when Training

Make sure you remember basic safety when planning your training facility. Batting cages are an essential part of keeping balls where they are supposed to be. A missed pitch has the potential to do serious damage, making outdoor batting cages a critical element to practice. The cages, both indoor and outdoor, prevent balls from hitting neighboring players and other breakable targets.

Putting Together a Training Package for Success

Training a successful baseball or softball team takes time, dedication and the right equipment. Do the research. Find the baseball pitching equipment that gets your players in peak condition for the season.