Pitching Machine Operating Instructions

PITCHING MACHINES

To all coaches that wish to use the pitching machines for games and in the batting cage. The machines are in the shed near the cages. Please make certain we return them when we are done and the shed is locked up.

Also in the shed, is a blue tire pump with a gauge on it and buckets of batting cage balls.  I contacted Juggs (Manufacturer of our machines) and asked them the best way to get consistency from our machines.  Here is what they recommended: (THIS MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!)

Before turning it on, check the tire pressure.  It should be 17 pounds… exactly.  Then take a 80 grit sanding sponge block and sand the tire.  You can go across the tire and up and down the tire.  This will take the residue from the soft-baseballs off of the tire and give it “grip”.  The yellow dimpled baseballs should always be used in the cages.  During games (8A and 9AA), new baseballs work the best, but since you should only use two new balls per game, use the hardest, best practice balls you have for backups.  Any ball that is overly soft will not give you the same consistency. 

One of the machines has a digital display for speed and the others have a dial.  Last year, for the 8A games we set the digital machine to 42-45 mph and the analog machines to 49-52. 

The key to having the machine throw strikes is preparing the machine.  It takes about 10 minutes for the home team to do this and it is worth it.  I always carry an 80 grit sanding sponge block and a towel in my bag. I will try and keep some in the shed also.  The other key is to make sure the balls are dry.  If you are playing on a wet field, have a towel and dry the balls off each time.  If it is really starting to rain, you may have to put the machine away and have a coach pitch.