Pitching Machine Equipment

1. Purchasing a pitching machine is not only a one-time expense, it's an investment in the future of your program. It pays to make sure your machine will last through the years. A pitching machine cover protects the machine itself, as well as your investment in your players and team. Most covers are heavy-duty and weatherproof, and should protect your equipment from all the elements that come into play with an outdoor sport.

2. One of the most convenient advantages of pitching machines is their portability. They can be used by different programs or teams, or taken on road trips for players to warm up, stay sharp, and add a familiar routine in unfamiliar territory. Pitching machine caddies ease the burden of moving the machines, while also greatly cutting the chance of damaging them during transport.

3. Pitching machines often work well with special injection-molded, rubber practice balls specially made to stand up to everyday, repeated use. These balls are called machine pitch balls, dimple balls, or just dimples; using them is an ideal option for limiting wear and tear on your real baseballs, while still getting plenty of batting practice.

4. Recessed-dimple pitching machine balls are regulation size and weight, and can take the beating of the batting cage. The dimples actually improve performance under batting-cage conditions. However, these balls can be hard on your prized, expensive aluminum bats and wheel-type pitching machines.

5. Those who prefer something closer to the real baseball or softball "feel" can opt for pitching machine balls with leather covers and low-profile seams. These balls give you the performance of the real thing with the toughness and durability of a machine ball; they are often made of Kevlar, the same material used for bullet-proof vests.

6. Younger beginner players may love RIF (reduced injury factor) baseballs made of polypropylene. These balls can be used both indoors and outdoors, and make terrific pitching machine balls, too. Perhaps most importantly, they don't hurt when they hit you. These "safety training baseballs" will encourage your youth leaguers to put aside their fear and concentrate on their hitting technique.