Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought this for my son, but have to admit I have a great time with it myself. It feels like this must be what it's like to be a big leaguer and use the pitching machines that they use. Except of course that this uses small, lightweight foam balls and not hardballs. The "hitting stick" is a smaller than standard bat, so the concept is that you're hitting a smaller ball with a smaller "bat" so that when you hit with a regulation ball and bat the "target" seems much bigger. My son has followed the training regime fairly closely, and believes he is better able to track the ball when I'm throwing real pitches. We've set this up in our basement using the power cord (the light, soft balls make it so that it can be used indoors) but it also comes with a battery pack so that you can take it to a ball field. The battery pack is not as powerful as when it's plugged in, and since it's not necessary to set up 46-feet away (official LL distance from pitching rubber to home plate) there is really no reason not to do this in an even small to mid sized yard. The product is sturdy but doesn't weight much, so I've found that the "pitcher" needs to hold it still to get the pitches to hit a consistent spot. Not a problem.
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It's been said that the toughest thing to do in sports is hit a round ball with a round bat. Now you can hone your skills even further with the Jugs Small-Ball pitching package, which tests your mettle with a ball half the size. By practicing against a 5-inch Jugs polyurethane foam ball, hitters learn to track the ball better from the release point to the impact zone, while simultaneously sharpening their mental focus. In addition, the Small-Ball machine helps hitters improve depth perception by forcing them to keep their head still and eyes level. And young hitters can learn the fundamentals of hitting without the fear of getting whacked by a real baseball.
The Small-Ball pitching machine is built of heavy-duty steel, with adjustable legs that help simulate a realistic delivery height for both baseballs and softballs. More significantly, the machine throws fastballs or overhand curves with uncanny accuracy, with simulated speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. Just load up the 25-ball feeder--which offers both manual and automatic feeds--and the mechanism will release a ball every five seconds. Plus, when it's time for fielding practice, you can adjust the machine to instead shoot fly balls and ground balls. Safe to use anywhere, including backyards, garages, or your chosen practice field, the Small-Ball pitching machine is popular among backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, and colleges.
The Small-Ball pitching package also includes a number of other items to prepare you for your practice routine. For example, the package includes the Small-Ball instant protective screen, which sets up in front of the pitching machine to protect the machine itself and a coach standing behind it. The screen requires no setup--just unfold it when you're ready for practice and fold it back up when you're done (the screen collapses into a 27-inch circle). The screen, which is made of sturdy yet lightweight fiberglass tubing, measures 4 by 6 feet (W x H), weighs less than 5 pounds, and comes with its own nylon carrying case. Also included are four-dozen small balls for use in the Small-Ball pitching machine. Each 5-inch polyurethane foam ball helps you develop better hand-eye coordination, quicken your bat speed, and boost your mental concentration. Perhaps most importantly for younger hitters, it also minimizes the fear factor should the pitch be located inside.
If the Small-Ball pitching machine and four-dozen small balls don't seem like enough to hone your skills, you can turn to the included hitting stick, which measures 30 inches long and weighs a mere 16 ounces. The stick--which is really an ultra-thin bat--can help you improve your focus even more by requiring a more-refined swing to make good contact. Finally, the Small-Ball package comes with a lightweight and portable home plate and a drill book for instruction.
The Jugs Small-Ball pitching machine operates on standard 110-volt AC power, but can also function on a separately sold battery pack. The portable design weighs only 23 pounds and carries a one-year warranty.
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