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A Look At Indoor Batting Cages
Batting cages play a central role in baseball and softball training. They are enclosures that help control the flight of baseballs and softballs during practice, and can be used to help improve a batter’s speed and accuracy.
When shopping for...
Buyers Guide - Golf
The Truth
Lets be honest you decided to click on this link for one of the following reasons:
You want to improve your golf game (score).
You were intrigued by the prices we offer compared to Name Brand equipment.
You want to finally have a...
International Spring Training
Baseball Team Detroit Tigers and The Italian National Baseball
Team will play an exhibition game at Lakeland, Florida on March
4th. The Italians are preparing for the World Baseball Classic,
for this reason, they will train in the Tigers' spring...
Pedro, Beltran, and the Mets as seen by one true Yankee Fan:
Pedro, Beltran, and the Mets as seen by one true Yankee Fan: It’s the middle of the NFL playoffs, and what has grabbed the interest of many sports fans has been the off-season maneuvering and acquisitions of the Mets and Yankees. In the past, the...
The Benefits of Portable Batting Cages
Many advanced baseball and softball teams use portable batting cages to ensure adequate training while on the road. Just like standard batting cages, portable models act as a virtual catcher, helping to control the movement of baseballs and...
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Pitching Machine Safety
While pitching machines are a proven safe and effective tool for hitting and fundamentals development, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind. What follows is a summary of simple and safe pitching machine practices we have used in our past experience, but ALWAYS read the manual that came with your machine for full safety and maintenance guidelines.
Batters should always wear the necessary protective gear when in the cage with a machine or on the field for grounders or fly balls. Helmets and protective cups are a must. Do not allow any player into the cage if they are not wearing an officially sanctioned batting helmet.
The person feeding a pitching machine should always stand behind an L-screen or similar barrier and should wear a helmet themselves as a precaution against batted balls hitting the ceiling of the cage and falling down.
If using a pitching machine after rain, or on a dewy morning, balls will pick up the moisture and can behave unpredictably on feeding through the pitching machine. Make sure your hitters are extra vigilant as a pitched ball may come out of the machine erratically.
Visually inspect batting cage and L-screen netting regularly and patch when necessary. A hole in the netting can quickly lead to accidents. As a part of this, always use high quality, thick netting material. In the long run, this will prove safer and more cost effective than using cheap material in the beginning.
In the batting cage, only two people should be present at any given time — The batter and the feeder behind their screen.
Use good judgment in setting the pitching machine’s speed to a player’s ability. Just because a pitching machine can throw a ball at 102 MPH doesn’t mean your player is ready for that speed.
Before any batter enters the cage, always feed a few test pitches into the pitching machine to ensure that the pitching machine is accurately aimed and so that the batter has an idea of what to expect. Perform the same procedure when any adjustment is made to the machine, i.e. a new type of pitch or a
different speed.
When setting up the pitching machine, make sure the machine is level and the legs properly stabilized.
Any power cords running to the machine should be firmly plugged in and should be regularly examined for fraying.
Damaged, sliced, or cracked balls may behave erratically and should be replaced as soon as possible.
The person feeding the pitching machine should always let the batter know to expect a pitch. Generally this is done by holding the ball up over your head and then placing it in the feeder.
Regularly check your pitching machine for wheel damage or other problems that may impact its ability to perform properly.
Never operate a pitching machine under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but simply some of the important safety tips we have collected in our many years of using pitching machines safely, effectively, and enjoyably. A pitching machine is a tremendous tool for improving your baseball skills, but like any machine, it can be dangerous if not used properly and with care. So get out there and enjoy all the benefits of your new Jugs or Atec machine, but remember that safety always come first. For the final word on any safety or maintenance issue relating to your pitching machine, please consult the manual that came with it.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall the operator of this website, or its officers, agents, employees, or counsel be liable to any person or entity for any loss or damage in whole or part caused by, resulting from, or relating to any error or omission (through neglect or otherwise) or other circumstances involving the procurement, collection, compilation, interpretation, analysis, editing, transportation, transmittal, communication or delivery of any information contained in this website.
About the Author
Carl Fogle is a longtime baseball coach at the high school and community college level. He is also the webmaster of http://pitching-machines.us and a leading expert in the use of pitching machines in the development of young baseball players.
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