Pitching Machine Softballs
JP Note:
This is a very long article with some great ideas. Due to its length, It has been divided into 3 specific area of interest.
PART 1 - An Overview
PART 2 - Standard Components
PART 3 - Important Food For thought
PART 1 - An Overview
Why There Is a Need
The numbers of young ballplayers and the yearly growth of travel baseball and fastpitch softball have created a shortage of indoor training facilities in many or even most parts of the country.
The attendance in MLB (majors) and MILB (minors) has risen for the past 4 seasons as of this writing, the CWS (College World Series) is now a primetime ESPN event as is the MLB 1st year players draft each June... so we know the shear numbers of players who want to make this their prime sport is indeed growing and the future in baseball and fastpitch softball is growing.
Don't Forget Girls Fastpitch Softball
As players play more and better competition, the High School teams have become more competitive so it is the trained ballplayer, not just the better athlete who makes the team and continues on to the next level.
There is no McDonalds or Wal Mart in the training field, so certainly it is left to entrepreneurial-types who have "the baseball bug"... that passion for this game of ours that seldom if ever leaves us.
There is a very good chance that this describes you in some way (who else would be reading an article of this title)
Can We Help You?
We began supplying various components for new and existing training facilities in 1999 and now help out new and perspective owners with most aspects of these ventures.
Along the way we have learned a lot from these experiences and the many owners who have become our friends and business associates.
We launched our "Pro Division" in 2005, headed by our own Coach Arnald Swift, a 34 yr coach (retired) and can now offer you a fulltime, seasoned professional in this field... and believe me, there is no industry of experienced professionals who do this... just scattered companies who offer various parts and pieces.
The Core of a Successful Facility... an improving return customer!
There are a finite number of ballplayers within your local geography in any given season. Your facility cannot exist for long without those customers wanting to return again and again. If they are happy about being there, they have a better chance of improving. If they improve, it stands to reason that they will be happier to come back... which fuels their future improvement and successes... a circle that you can easily see.... and so many have younger siblings who of course want to emulate their bigger brothers and sisters too!
Interested Coaches and a Sound Building-Block Approach!
The happy, improving player receives maximum benefit from organized, structured, weekly instruction from a "reasonably qualified" coach who knows his own curriculum and cares whether the player actually does improve!
I feel that coaches, like players must be interested and passionate about teaching and helping players reach their goals to truly help players improve, though more playing and coaching experience certainly can add to the student's experience.
I also feel that an organized building block teaching approach is actually more important than the pedigree of the coach... especially when teaching the younger levels where strong mechanics and fundamentals must be committed to muscle-memory first... in order for the player to stay around long enough to take on the more sophisticated training aspects that older players will eventually be learning.
The Common Products Found In Facilities
Here are the components found in most training facilities:
Batting cages, some of which share duty with pitching tunnels, barrier netting, turf floor covering, homeplate stance mats, mandatory if cage floors are not turfed, highly recommended if they are, L screen pitcher protectors with very heavy nets, highest quality adjustable batting tees, a supply of machine pitch dimple balls, and a good quality leather practice ball, misc items from a few batting helmets, a set of catchers gear and a mitt or two, to a few fungo bats and various mid-grade wood and aluminum bats. Video software and a small room for viewing can be added later when opening budgets are stretched.
Coach John Peter
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 ATEC SFT POWER YELLOW PITCHING MACHINE SAFE SOFTBALLS DOZ YELLOW AT4550 $39.99 Time Remaining: 7h 26m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Combo Softball Baseball POWER STREAK Pitching Machine $449.00 Time Remaining: 9h 46m Buy It Now for only: $449.00 |
 80 x 80 Pitching Machine Screen Baseball Softball $159.99 Time Remaining: 10h 3m Buy It Now for only: $159.99 |
 FIRST PITCH Combo Baseball Softball Pitching Machine $649.00 Time Remaining: 10h 23m Buy It Now for only: $649.00 |
 11 Pitching Machine Softballs by Martin Sports 1 dozen $33.49 Time Remaining: 10h 30m |
 JUGS Fast Pitch Softball Pitching Machine $470.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 22m |
 STRIKE ONE Softball Pitching Machine By SPORTS TUTOR $1,095.00 Time Remaining: 14h 29m Buy It Now for only: $1,095.00 |
 Atec Rookie Softball 12V Cordless Pitching Machine $999.99 Time Remaining: 14h 32m |
 BaseLine Baseball Softball Compo Pitching Machine $649.00 Time Remaining: 18h 26m Buy It Now for only: $649.00 |
 STOP WATCH BASEBALL SOFTBALL PITCHERS SPEED WATCH $12.99 Time Remaining: 21h 32m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
 Baseline Pitching Machine Baseball FastPitch Softball Team League Practice NEW $649.99 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 39m |
 Pitching Machine Baseball Softball Combo FirstPitch Original 20 80mph $825.00 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 18m Buy It Now for only: $825.00 |
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Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun (Colors may vary)
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DescriptionThe Bushnell(r) Velocity(r) radar gun offers easy point-and-shoot operation that can be used for tracking everything from racecars to pitching speeds. A large LCD display makes it easy to read the speed. Features
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Fisher-Price Triple Hit Baseball
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DescriptionLearn to hit like a pro. There are three ways to play with Triple Hit Baseball, so anyone can learn. Beginners can hit from the tee to teach hand-eye coordination. In Rookie mode, balls pop up automatically, one after another... Features
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SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer
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DescriptionSKLZ Zip-N-Hit Batters Trainer Zip-N-Hit Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. Players have fun while developing confidence and power. As much fun to "pitch" as it is to bat... Features
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Franklin Sports Mlb Pitching Machine No. 6696S3
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DescriptionPractice your swing until you're hitting like the pros. This quality pitching machine helps your aspiring MLB player get trained for baseball season. Requires four "D" batteries, not included.Features:Measures 9... Features
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ATEC 12V Battery Charger
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Description12 volt battery charger for ATEC battery. Features
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Little League Drills and Strategies : Imaginative Practice Drills to Improve Skills and Attitude
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DescriptionThe authoritative sourcebooks for parents, players, and coaches Baseball is a complicated game to learn, particularly for a 9- to 12-year-old's attention span. Bewildered managers, coaches, and parents of the more than 2... |
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Bow Net Baseball/Softball Big Mouth Portable Net
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DescriptionBow Net Big Mouth Net...Practice Your Pitches Anyplace! Bow Net's Big Mouth Net allows you to work on your pitches or other sports techniques in the comfort and convenience of your own backyard. The ultra durable net sets up in seconds and stays stable throughout your conditioning and is designed with a special sock net to catch baseballs and softballs... Features
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Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame Pitching Machine
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DescriptionGamemaster 200160111 Louisville Ultimate Pitching Machine (EA) Features
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Jugs Hitting Tee
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DescriptionLearn batting fundamentals, batting skills and more with the Hitting Tee from JUGS! This effective batting tee features a durable solid rubber base with a heavy duty steel reinforcement plate and a fully adjustable extension tube for batters of all heights... Features
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