WebBall.com - Machine Pitch

Let the machine do it, because...

Comments from many who voted during our April 1999 Nose to Nose..

Machines let you get your swings in and teach without worrying about where the ball is going.
With the machine they don't have to worry about getting hit and are free to concentrate on their mechanics.

The players begin to develop better swing mechanics. In a coach-pitch division the managers end up trying to hit the players bat and the batters develop long loping swings.

I did both of them, and most players were more ready to compete when they changed the division because the ball has the same speed and trajectory as a real pitch. Plus they aren't afraid about being hit by the ball.

Some speed, reasonable control. Have to focus more. Can be varied for differnt abilities.
A pitching machine can be more consistent and helps younger kids develop eye hand coordination in batting.

When a coach pitches, it causes most kids to get a 'swing-up' motion (like a golfer) rather than developing a level, power swing.

Pitching machines are easier to hit, and can get you used to faster pitches than you would be comfortable having a coach throw. Because coaches can get wild. Besides, if you have a pitching machine, both teams get the same kind of pitching. With coach pitch, they pitch the way that lets you get the best hit.

I have only coached where we had coach pitch. However, I feel a pitching machine would be best for kids after T-BALL because they are less intimidated by the machine (not as afraid of being 'hit by the pitch' and its easier to work on batting mechanics and fundementals.

At that age mechanical habits are being formed. I feel that a machine will provide a more consistant pitch, allowing coaches to focus on fundamental batting skills. Besides every coach hates to strike out his own batter!

The pitching machine gives the batter a good pitch 90% of the time. The pitching coach cannot say this.
It's more challenging.

Pitching machine is much more consistent and Dad's arm does not need a rub down.
Batters get more consistent pitches to hit and they don't have to worry about being hit by the ball. (And because there are more girls playing at that age, the coach doesn't have to worry about beaning little Suzie.)

In order to throw at a speed that the player can hit, you will need to throw a slight 'lob' ball, thus creating an up-swing of the bat. This upper-cut swing intensifies with age. I advise all coaches to use a machine at that age or pitch a little faster.

I feel the machine will allow the kids to get a more consistent swing. Too often, I've seen kids develop a severe uppercut, due to the fact that the coaches lobbed pitches up to the plate.

A machine with its steady,consistant speed and delivery will provide a training tool for young players to develop a level swing.

This age group is in development. Once they see the machine throw strikes they do not have to worry about being hit so they can concentrate on making good contact.

There is something to be said for a machine that can consistently put the ball in the strike zone. A machine allows the coach of a young team to better organize the allotted time for practice.

You get the speed you want the kids to face. Although not wide, you do get balls coming in high and low. Kids don't have to worry about getting hit (even coaches aren't perfect).

Last year I coached a rookie ball team personaly at that age, there are not enough pitchers to pitch consistantly. To have pitchers pitching would put to much stress on a few strong pitchers.

Also without quality pitchers, the number of walks would be sky high. The rookie ball years should be looked at like an all around teaching year. All players get consistent pitches with the machine which allows the players to develop there hiting abilities. It's hard to learn much when your more concerned about some kid on the mound who will more than likely put the next pitch in your ear.

We have been using pitching machines for our teams up to age 11 for ten years. Advantages include consistent strikes, lots more action, everyone hits, all balls are in play, nobody walks but you can strike out (5 pitches). Once they reach age 12 they do need a month or so to adjust to live pitching but their defensive skills are excellent since they have handled alot of balls at the younger ages. Finally I do not think that we can underestimate the need to keep the game moving or else we will continue to lose kids to soccer and other more active sports.

Pitching machine is good for working on mechanics of hitting because you can get a consistent speed and location. The child must also learn how to track balls and know what he/she can hit and to be able to judge speed and location. They should be exposed as early as possible to these learned skills so they can enjoy other challenges of the game.

We actually use the machine in our Babe Ruth league for ages 8 - 9. I firmly believe this builds confidence in a child, plus it allows them to work on proper mechanics without the 'fear factor'. No waiting for a kid or a coach to throw a strike. I am definitely a supporter of the machine.

When my son was in the 'pee wee' division, the coaches pitched, including myself. Since we pitched to our own teams, coaches would consciously try to give the batters a great pitch to hit. In addition, the thought of accidently beaning a young player tends to cause the coach to layoff the speed. A machine is far more consistent in the strike zone and can bring the ball with greater velocity, thus increasing the skill of bringing the bat around and the skill of learning the strike zone for close pitches. As my son has moved up through the league, I noticed that most of the players that hit for average and power in the 'coach pitched' division, had a very difficult time in adjusting to pitches thrown with greater velocity by an opposing player. At that time I began bringing my son to the local batting cages with machines. It was then that he began to learn how to 'catch up' with the pitch.

The kids have a hard enough time getting used to any kind of pitching. I sure don't think they should start with live pitching from anyone but a machine.