Can a Pitching Machine Make You a Better Hitter?

Pitching machines can be very important in helping players get their eyes used to high-speed, as well as breaking balls. Learn more about features to look for and why machines can be helpful in a player's development. 🚨Order My NEW Book, Clean Your Cleats 👉 cleanyourcleats.com/
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[@DanBlewett]

Do you use pitching machines in your practices?

[@Rob94hawk]

Just bought a Furlihong 666BH for my son for Xmas. Will let you know. Hopefully it's more accurate than my pitching! If it works as advertised I think it will help his power by connecting with more quality pitches instead of swinging at inconsistent pitches from me.

[@Terp5695]

Thanks coach!! Just helped me make my mind up on which one I wanted!! Good info without searching all over the web for it and being influenced by who is selling them!!

[@thomasexum9877]

I have used tennis rackets and tennis balls for catcher popups. Easier to control the ball where you want to hit it and tennis balls are hard to catch, making the catcher concentrate and focus even more than with a normal baseball.

[@DanBlewett]

Good call on your part. there was a fungo racket (maybe still on the market) that seemed like a smart product, same exact principle but meant to hit real baseballs. Only thing you don't get is the spin, which unfortunately is a big part of catching high catcher's pops - they spin back over the bleachers (sometimes going a few rows deep overhead) then spin back toward the field on the way down - this is what trips a lot of HS catchers at the Varsity level, where pitch speeds get higher and result in drastically higher pop ups.

[@thomasexum9877]

Great video, I love using pitching machines when training because like you say the consistency in velocity that's hard to duplicate over and over. To me to become a great hitter you need lots of repetition. Pitching machines allow a player to work on mastering all types of pitchs thrown in a variety of locations. Another thing it helps with is if he uses the machine to simulate pictures thrown in a variety of different areas. A hitter can gain a better understanding of his strengths and weaknesses in the hitting zone and pitch weaknesses/strength (fastball, curve, slider, etc). Love the video. Dan you are always putting out great baseball information to the public. Keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing!!!!!👍

[@adidas4275]

I coached high school soccer for 10 years & I always felt the same about equipment…. If it can stand up to 18 year old boys everyday for 6-8 months a year it is well made

[@JSustain]

Great overview. Thanks!

[@NateDogMXtv]

We have an Atec m3x that is working out well for HS player. I can load it myself in the truck and set it up/take down solo as well. It can throw 80 mph accurate.

[@huntercraft7499]

To me, it helps to train to hit. I'm a left handed batter but I've been batting right even better using them

[@keithpruitt6274]

I have a zooka pitching machine for my 10 and 11 year old boys and I love it. No electric needed, it weighs 30 pounds and is easy to set up. It throws 70 and we use it for outfield practice. I highly recommend it. I bought it used for 500$. Great videos and I appreciate your time.

[@dr.stephenmatthewbecker8991]

Great information.

[@christophermaiocca3998]

Great video....

[@ethanbaseball]

love this video

[@cwj9202]

That's valuable information on pitching machines. The LLWS/MLB reaction times are comparing apples to oranges, or what those in the engineering/physics fields like to call the principle of false equivalency. OK, so the reaction time is, say, .4 seconds from pitch release to strike zone in this LLWS/WCWS/MLB comparison. What's easier to hit in that scenario -- a pitch approaching a hitter at 70 mph or 95 mph? Obviously the former. ESPN and other networks are so guilty of conflating the issue.

[@DanBlewett]

Yeah, i mean I get that it's just a fun thing to make the kids feel like big leaguers, but it's also complete nonsense. The issue of helping players seeing higher-than-their-current-level velocity, though is a tricky one, and pitching machines do a good job of filling that role. Most kids only see game speed in actual games, which isnt ideal.

[@cwj9202]

@@DanBlewett -- Unfortunately, seeing game speed in actual games only is too often the case in these parts, where in practice the high school kids swing at puff ball pitches from a coach thrown from a distance of maybe 45'. It's no wonder they can hit the stuffing out of the high 60's/low 70's game pitches, but facing low 80 game speed pitches, they muster a mighty .070 batting average, most being unable to hit the pitch to fair territory in the opposite field. Yeah, a good pitching machine is a sound investment.

[@daryledwards9070]

Thanks coach

[@DanBlewett]

No worries!

[@daryledwards9070]

@@DanBlewett I Plano going to batting cage to hit 90 mph Lord willing to get use the speed

[@robertcozart6067]

Coach Dan what do you think about Win Reality? Could it help for pitch timing and recognition?

[@DanBlewett]

havent used it, but the concept seems like it could plausibly help.

[@bobby5202]

Thank you for the video. Do you have any tips on how to feed a machine to best equate to live pitching. For hitter timing.

[@DanBlewett]

Good question, the main thing is to do the exact same thing every time - develop a rhythm. There isnt a good way to equate to live pitching, but you can give hitters a chance to develop their timing - when to start their swing rhythm, their stride, get their front foot down - by doing the same thing every time. We just would show them the ball, put it into the mouth of the machine at the same speed every time, then give it the same gentle push into the wheels the same way.

[@dr.stephenmatthewbecker8991]

I'm thinking about building a bullpen/batting case (indoor) . If I plan on buying a machine that can throw the higher velocity pitches, breaking balls, should I plan to make the enclosure at least 60ft? what dimensions would recommend? 12x60?

[@DanBlewett]

70 if you have the space. Otherwise you’ll be training reaction time more than actual velocity. 12 wide is fine, 13-14 is nice and roomy.

[@dr.stephenmatthewbecker8991]

@@DanBlewett thanks!

[@MH-Tesla]

The problem with hitting pop flys to catchers is that it's just not possible to recreate the back spin and infield drift. It's almost counterproductive since your basically training them to catch a pop up that doesn't drift and then in game they miss because they trained on balls that drop straight down and don't realize just how far the ball will curve toward the infield.

[@DanBlewett]

oh its 100% possible...you just must not be hitting them well enough. I hit them sky-high to my players and they have the same properties as in a game. High Batspeed and the right contact angle will produce the height and spin.

[@rudivanrooijen7611]

​@@DanBlewettThat's what I was thinking. Does take some practice to master though.

[@daryledwards9070]

Win reality help but I need to get to batting cage

[@jonosterman2878]

Get th pe BATA 2. Just get it. You know you want it.

[@StinkyPony34]

How do you feel about waffle ball pitching machines for home use?

[@DanBlewett]

love a good waffle 🧇

[@StinkyPony34]

@@DanBlewett thanks i appreciate it!