The 5 Best Pitching Machines
Pitching machines are a very helpful resource to have when learning how to hit in baseball. They are essentially machines that replicate the throwing of a baseball so that hitters can practice their swing against an actual oncoming ball. These are the machines that are used in batting cages, as well as on any major college or professional team. There are also much smaller ones that are for home or park use for the younger player. A good pitching machine should be able to spit out balls at a multitude of different speeds. The higher the speed, the more advanced the hitter should be, and the better it will simulate real plate appearances. However, if you are looking to go over your technique, then you will want to slow down the speed so you can focus more your swing. With these considerations in mind, here are the best pitching machines!
ATEC Casey Pro Pitching Machine
This machine is one of the better and more advanced pitching machines available. ATEC is known for making high-grade machines and this is one of the better products, if not the best product, that they offer. It is actually the official training machine of Major League Baseball, and features speeds as high as 100mph! You can also rotate the direction of the machine 360 degrees, giving you the option of throwing off-speed and breaking balls. It is easy to control the direction of the pitch and it even has wheels for easy to maneuver access.
BATA-2 Baseball Pitching Machine
This BATA machine is absolutely great because its soft-tread pitching wheels allow you to use actual leather baseballs. Whereas most other machines have harder wheels that only allow you to use dimpled balls, this machine lets you simulate with actual game balls. It also allows for more accurate pitches while still reaching speeds as high as 105 mph.
Ryan Express Baseball Pitching Machine
The Ryan Express Pitching Machine is one of the best machines for high school and college players. It was designed by pitching legend Nolan Ryan, and features settings that allow you to experience many different types of pitches. You can adjust through, fastballs, left or right sidearm curves, and left or right overhand curves. This machine has variable speeds ranging from 45 to 90mph. Without a doubt this is the best mid-tier pitching machine.
Heater Baseball Pitching Machine
This Heater Pitching Machine is a great machine to start off learning how to hit. It pitches regulation and smaller size balls with accuracy and precision. There is a 10-speed dial which you can change speeds from 15 to 50 mph. This is great for the little leaguer in your family as it even comes with a feeder that can hold 12 balls at a time.
BATA Twin Pitch Baseball Pitching Machine
This machine is unique in that there are two ways each pitch can come out. You can set up the machine so that each pitch setting is a different type of pitch. This is great because in most hitting situations you have to decide between two pitches, so this is a great way to practice for real life experiences. You cannot predict which pitch is coming, making this a great way to hone down your swing for multiple pitch types.
