Hitting equipment

[NoNothin]

Anyone have any experience with this machine or have recommendations for something different?

http://www.wcsportinggoods.com/product. ... 316&page=1

NoNo

[NoNothin]

Not sure, but I'll let you know. After I bean three or four girls they are asking for a new pitcher, so I gotta try something.

NoNo

[DonnieS]

I think I have owned or do own most of those machines including that one. It worked well for a while (2-3 years), but the plastic pieces in the feeder wore out - I have also used the personal pitcher - these are not bad either, I bought one for my grandson for his birthday. What I have seen and now have purchased is the jugs small ball machine - it looks and feels strong enough to last. I have a jugs pitching machine, the jugs lite-flight, and those are going strong after lots of use, and lots of travel, I am expecting the same from the small-ball machine. It shoots a golf ball size ball that looks like a base ball - it has a feeder, which is a necessity for me.

Not to put these machines down too much, I used the heck out of them, then crammed them in the back of the suburban to travel to far-off lands so they did take a beating. If you are buying it for your own kid, fine, if not - and you are looking for team use, look at the jugs product.

[NoNothin]

Thanks Donnie, just looking to get my own dd some work in between practice, so this might be just the ticket. Everything I have bought for teams is like putting money in the slot machines here......don't expect to ever see it the same again.

NoNo

[Tucson]

The small ball machine is good for a year or two, as is the one that is the long arm, that just drops a ball down. Joe Mauer sells one like it.

I agree with Donnie. Mine got a lot of use and abuse. It is sort of you get what you pay for.

With the small balls, wind was a problem, but you can set them up in the garage if you want. I liked the one that just dropped the balls down every 5 sec. because it was real softballs.

[DonnieS]

Amy, have you used the Jugs Small Ball machine ? I just got mine - when the rain stops I will set it up and use it. The high school coach here got one and likes it - the ball is the golf size ball that I wanted. I watched them work out with it, I will do it differently, I usually set up a line of hitting stations, from the small ball, to the jugs lite flight (set up very close to force quick hands/ quick decision) then a couple of T's, then probably use the regular pitching machine to work on the situation hitting, inside pitches, then work on letting the outside pitch come in deep, and then end with live pitching.

[Tucson]

No, I haven't even seen one. I just Googled it. Let me know how it works out.

[dittoz]

I have one of these machines...

Outdoors, it's not an issue at all. The blower motor is small.
Indoors, it is quite loud - probably a lot like your basic small shopvac.

If I had to do it over again, hnestly, I probably wouldn't buy this again - I got a deal from Mike Epstein a few years back at the conclusion of one of his camps - he brings several out brand new and then sells them at the end of the weekend. It was cool indoors, but the range for the pitch isn't more than about 15-20' and the noise admittedly is a bit much.

A little rickety, a little noisy, but not a bad machine. Just a little expensive for what it is at retail.

[DunninLA]

How do you guys like the Personal Pitching Machine? It is battery operated and it looks like it is quiet. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/produ ... Id=1855784

I have the Atec hitting streak with the light balls, but mine needs A/C and it is heavy for carrying around. I kind of like the idea of setting it this little machine in the garage, and especially before tournament games, as part of a 5-6 station hitting rotation.

[DonnieS]

>> How do you guys like the Personal Pitching Machine? It is battery operated and it looks like it is quiet. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/produ ... Id=1855784 <<

I liked it very well and the service the distributor provides is quite good. I went through 3 over the last 5 years in pretty heavy use. They are a good value for the price - but they do wear out - plastic parts, etc. In their last hours, they also provide some entertainment value with the sounds the wore out gears make being close to some bodily noises, fortunately only noises. The machine is so small it can be carried on trips and the battery inside the machine is very long lasting.