By guest author: Mike Singh
Pitching machines have so many advantages. You have the opportunity to build upper body strength needed for batting skills, improve your hand-eye coordination and tune your batting technique under the supervision of an instructor or through video feedback. These advantages extend to both baseball and softball. But are all pitching machines are the same? You probably know that this isn't the case. Now, the next question would be - what would a good baseball machine look like? We're glad you asked. Lets discuss some points to keep in mind when you are shopping for the best pitching machines or even just using one.
First, you have to know what age group will be using the machine. If this is for kids or little league players starting out, the speeds of 20 to 40 mph will work best. One thing to keep in mind is that these machines should be accurate and pitch in the same area. In this age group you aren't necessarily looking for variety in pitches and would prefer consistency. Sometimes the younger players want to practice at faster speeds but as a coach you should strongly discourage this. The only exception would be to the case where a player has put in long hours of practice and is very consistent in his hitting at the lower speeds.
Second, pay attention to the quality of the motor and the pitching machine tires. The motor is the most important part of the machine. So, a high quality motor will outlast one of a cheaper variety. Also, the performance of the machine would not degrade as quickly if an excellent motor is used. Get as much information as you can about the motor before you make your purchase.
Besides the motor, the type and quality of tire wheel assembly is also very important. Avoid machines which use a solid rubber tire. When such tires wear out, they can fall apart resulting in an injury. I'm not kidding. To minimize the risk of injuries, replace the tires before they get too old or worn out. Also keep in mind that when you replace some tires, you have to replace the wheel also because the tire is sometimes glued onto the wheel.
Third, for the older players i.e. in middle through high school, the machines with two wheels are a good choice. Players of this age need to get more experience with a variety of different pitches like sliders, curveballs, knuckleballs etc. Machines with a single wheel will only be able to pitch in one fashion at limited speeds. For a multi-purpose machine, look for speeds with a range of 20 to 105 mph. The higher speeds are a nice to have. More than likely you will not need to use the machine at the highest speeds.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh
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