Baseball & Softball Pitching Machines

Whether you are an amateur or professional player, you will surely be interested in purchasing this incredible machine that can help you improve your skills. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to find someone who can consistently throw balls. With this in mind, most manufacturers have tried to develop useful tools such as pitching machines that can help players in improving their hitting skills. The best part is that most of these manufacturers have succeeded in developing smart devices that will help strengthen the skills of any player.

We spend more than 30 hours reviewing and analyzing various types and models of pitching machines and these 5 models were our favorite ones. We have tried to find affordable yet quality models that are very easy to use and operate. Take a look at the comparison table below and choose the one that meets and exceed your requirements.

Top 6 Baseball & Softball Pitching Machines Comparison

Photo	Pitching Machines	Price
	1. JUGS Lite-Flite Machine Dimensions(in.): 26 x 13 x 11 Weight (lbs.): 35 Recommended age: 8 to adult It throws up to: 11-inch/ 12-inch Delay time : – Number of balls: 1 ball Speed range:15-85 mph	Check Price
	2. HEATER SPORTS Baseball Pitching Machine Dimensions(in.): 36 x 48 x 36 Weight (lbs.): 30 Recommended age: 8 to adult It throws up to:No information given Delay time : 8 seconds Number of balls: 12 balls Speed range: 10-45 mph , 15-60 mph	Check Price
	3. Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame Dimensions(in.): 32 x 14 x 6 Weight (lbs.): 25 Recommended age: 5 to adult It throws up to:11-inch/12-inch Delay time : – Number of balls: 1 ball Speed range: 18-45 mph , 18-60 mph	Check Price
	4. SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine Pro Dimensions(in.): 9.25 x 9.25 x 10.5 Weight (lbs.): 3.7 Recommended age: 8 to adult It throws up to: 25 ft. Delay time : 5 seconds Number of balls: 26 balls Speed range: 35 mph	Check Price
	5. Franklin MLB Pitching Machine Dimensions(in.): 17.75 x 61 x 45 Weight (lbs.): 3.19 Recommended age: 5 to adult It throws up to: 25 ft. to 30 ft. Delay time : 10 seconds Number of balls: 9 balls Speed range: 40 mph	Check Price
	6. Franklin Sports MLB 14071 Dimensions(in.): 19 x 18 x 45.5 Weight (lbs.): 4.85 Recommended age: 5-15 It throws up to: – Delay time : – Number of balls: 9 balls Speed range: –

The Pitching Machines Reviews

JUGS Lite-Flite Machine

Over the last years, the pitching machines have become incredibly popular among amateur and professionals players alike. Most of them are equipped with impressive features and are so easy to use that even kids can do it. After reviewing several machines, we can honestly confirm that the JUGS Lite-Flite Machine is by far the most interesting yet easy to use out there. It is an electrical device that is powered by a 1.3 amplifier motor. It is capable of throwing up to 11 to 12 inches lite-flite softballs and baseballs. Also, it is incredibly fast.

The speed range can be set anywhere from 30 to 85 miles per hour at 25 feet. Another important thing to know about this model is that its base casting can easily be adjusted to 360 degrees. In addition to this, there is a quick change mechanism that will help any player switch from softball to baseball and back with ease. Overall, this machine has plenty of functions so it is a great option to consider when making a purchase.

HEATER SPORTS Baseball Pitching Machine

The HEATER SPORTS Baseball Pitching Machine is a great choice for baseball players who want to improve their skills and want a quality yet affordable pitching machine. It is an advanced model that thanks to its ability to throw up to 60 miles per hour can take your game to the next level. It can hold 12 balls at a time and the delay time between pitches is about 8 seconds.

The device can be used by kids 8 years old and up as it is very easy to use and setup, no supervision required. It measures 36 x 48 x 36 inches and weighs 30 lbs.. Its lightweight feature makes it portable and easy to carry with you when you want to exercise. The reason why it is one of our favorite models is that it comes with a ball feeder system that drops a ball into the device every 8 seconds.

Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame

The Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame is in our top preferences for many reasons. The first being that it is easy to use and move from a field to another. Another important thing to know is that it can throw any type of ball, including hard balls, dimple balls, plastic and light balls. It is also worth mentioning that it can throw balls up to 60 mph. In fact, it can throw hard balls up to 45 mph and plastic light balls up to 60 mph.

Although it is a manual machine, it is extremely accurate and does a great job pitching balls. The machine has so many features that it is quite difficult to find something better than that. Its features are excellent for young players and help them a lot to improve their hitting skills. Although it is efficient and very accurate, it is also one of the most affordable pitching machines available in the current market.

SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine Pro

The SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pitching Machine Pro is a product that will surely meet your requirements. It is a good pitching machine that measures 9.25 x 9.25 x 10.5 inches and weighs 3.7 lbs.. It is a lightweight product that can easily be moved from a part to another if you want to exercise in different fields. The right age for using this machine is 8 to adult. This means that it is so easy to use that even an 8 years old child can use it without any problems.

The machine throws the balls up to 25 ft. and the delay time between balls is 5 seconds. It is also worth mentioning that is able to hold 26 balls at a time and the speed range is 35 miles per hour. It has many features as compared to other models and considering its reasonable price, we really think that this is a great value for money.

Franklin MLB Pitching Machine

Although it lacks several features and it is not as powerful as its competitors, the Franklin MLB Pitching Machine still is a great option to consider when making a purchase. It is a lightweight machine that measures 17.75 x 61 x 45 inches and weighs 3.19 lbs..

It is recommended for kids aged 5 and up. Even adults can use this pitching machine. It is portable, so it is a great choice for household use. You just have to install it in your backyard and you are good to go. Also, it is important to know that it throws up to 25 ft. to 30 ft. and its pitch angle is adjustable. This means that it can throw a ball every 10 seconds. It can hold up 9 balls with ease and its speed range is about 40 miles per hour.

Franklin Sports MLB 14071

The Franklin Sports MLB 14071 is ideal for young baseball and softball players. It is a good training tool specifically designed for practice hitting and fielding. It comes equipped with tri-pod style base and stable ground stakes that helps prevent tipping. In fact, this is what we really like about this machine. The fact that it is extremely stable is a big plus. It provides maximum stability, so it is extremely safe to use. It features a telescopic ball feeder that can be expanded to hold 9 balls.

In addition to this, it is also worth mentioning that it comes with 6 Aero-Strike plastic baseballs. It is ideal for ages 5 – 15. It is very easy to use and setup. All you have to do is to set it to the designated angle and height. It is extremely fast and throws the baseball balls really far. Also, it is quite affordable. It comes with a very reasonable price in comparison to its competitors.

Essential Features to Consider When Purchasing

If you are interested in purchasing a pitching machine, there are so important factors you need to take into consideration. A pitching machine comes with a plethora of benefits for both baseball and softball players, but it is quite important to understand that not all the machine have the same features and operate the same. They might be similar, but there is a small difference between them. Therefore, in order to know more about these products and find the best model, you should have the following criteria:

• Design

When purchasing a pitching machine, the design is one of the most important factors to consider. Generally speaking, there are two types of machines, such as the wheel operated devices and the compressed air devices. The most popular model between these two is the wheel operated one. Also, it is important to understand that the dual wheel model is suitable for experienced players while the single wheel model is best for beginners and amateurs. The first model is accurate and extremely fast. For this reason, most beginners should avoid it. In what regards the compressed air devices, these are extremely easy to use and very safe. They use air to throw the balls, so there is no danger of that.

• Types of balls

Regarding the ball types, it is very important to know several things. For example, it is good to know that most pitching machines use standard practice balls and not real balls for softball or baseball. However, you can practice with real balls, but the practice ones are more durable and resist more than the real ones.

• Speed

Another important factor to consider when making a purchase is the ball speed. This factor is essential for your practice. As such, take a look at your chosen model and consider how powerful it is and how fast it can throw the balls. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, you will need a machine that can throw more than 70 miles per hour. As a beginner, you will need a machine that throws at least 60 miles per hour. On the other hand, if you are a professional player, a device that can reach ball speeds of up to 80 miles per hour is exactly what you want.

• Portability

Deciding between manual and electric machines can be quite confusing and a bit complicated as both models have their pros and cons. While the manual models are very portable and easy to carry anywhere without worrying about anything, with the electric ones things are different. Since they are usually equipped with a battery or a generator, they are a bit heavy to transport and carry from a field to another. On the other hand, you need to understand that manual machines lack certain features while the electric ones have a plethora of impressive features that will make your game and practice much easier.