Pitching Machine

I thought some ideas and discussion would aid in your thinking and decision making process.

I have also included 'My wish list' of equipment (which we also sell at discount prices) and some insight of my approach to how I use the time I have to have the kids 'have fun 'learning how to work' on their stroke.

Response to Your Request for 'Hitting Aids' Ranking of hitting 'tools'

Aa. Live BP - It has no replacement.

Ab. Fastballs (baseballs) Candidates: ATEC, Bulldog, Jugs II, Iron Mike, Pitch He Rankings 1. Iron Mike ... (Big Bucks) 2. ATEC Dual Casey !!! (Bigger Bucks) 3. Jugs II (Most Reliable) 4. Bulldog (Most Economical) 5. Pitchers Helper (Most Flexible)

Ac. Breaking Pitches (baseballs) Candidates - ATEC, Bulldog, Jugs II, Pitch He Rankings 1. Jugs II (Most Reliable) 2. Bulldog (Most Economical) 3. ATEC Dual Casey !!! (Bigger Bucks) 4. Pitchers Helper (Most Flexible)

Ad. Change-up ((Baseballs) Only One Candidate 1. ATEC Dual Casey !!! (Bigger Bucks)

Bear's Hitting Aid Wish List.

Qty Type est Unit Costs Function

1 Iron Mike $2500 Simulate Live BP Hardballs Only Arm Slot Tng

1 JUGs Casey $1800 Breaking Pitches Both LH & RH Variable Speed Portable Indoor/Outdoor

1 JUGS Feeder $400 Semi Auto Feeder (holds 20)

1 JUGS S/B 1800 Pitch Machine Overload Trn

1 Pers Pitcher $250 Wiffle Balls Auto Feed - Semi Underload Trng

2 STRIKE ZONE 115 Stationary Hitting Mech Trng

1 ATEC Strike Tng $350 Sponge Balls Manual Feed Indoor/ Small Distance Var Speeds Fballs, Hammer BP Slider LH & RH

2 Strike Zone $300 Stationary Mech Hit Aid

5 dz Wiffel Balls $100 Golf Wiffle Balls

3 dz 7" Baseball $150 Smaller Baseballs

3 dz 12" or Heavy BB $150 'Old BB or Softballs

3 dz 9 " Dimpled $150 Machine Balls

3 dz Sponge Balls $100 JUGS vs Other

5 dz RO Baseballs $300 Rawlings

1 Batting Cage $1000 Various 90 x 15 x 15

1 Thunderstick $50 (or broomstick)

5 Wooden

Station 1. Solo Hitter Ball-on-.Rope - 'Swing Mechanics Tng'- 20 Swings, Eye Tracking "Right ON, Right Over Ernie

Station 2. Strike Zone Ball-on-Rope - 'Swing Mechanics Tng'- 20 Swings, Eye Tracking

Station 3. Personal Pitcher Wiffle Ball - Short Distance 30 Swings, Underload & pickup

Station 4. JUGS S/B (or short toss) 12" Balls - Short-Med Distance (or heavy 9") 40 Swings, Overload

Station 5. ATEC Trainer Sponge Balls - Short Dist 40 Swings, Curve Balls

Station 6. JUGS KC Dimpled 9" Balls - Reg Dist 1/2 Cage 40 Swings, Curve Balls

Station 7. IRON Mike Baseballs 9" Balls - Reg Dist 1/2 Cage 40 Swings, Arm Slot Tng

Station 8 Short Toss Baseball 7" Balls - Short Dist 40 Swings, Underload

Station 9 Live BP BP Baseball 9" - Regular Field 15 Swings, 2- Opp Field 2- Fly Balls 11- On Your Own & Pick-up

This Hitting 'Camp', for each station takes about 8 minutes w/ 2 per station w/ 2 minute for rotation for HS age players.

With HS aged with 20 campers, Our Long Hitting Practice 3 per week takes about 90 minutes.

In 12&U with 12 players this is Our Basic Long Hitting Practice 1 x per week takes about 45 minutes, with the 'extra kids shagging live BP, while 'resting'.

Our goals for every day of camp is 100 throws, 100 swings, 100 fly balls, 100 ground balls.

As you may review, We try & run our Winter Skills & Drills Camp Sat or Sun. The 'new' kids who are 'raw' will have medical 'conditions' in the spring with their 'soft' hands. This becomes a major problem with Mommies for their 'protected' child. Most of the kids hand problems are solved with 'batting' gloves. We find very few kids whom does not like 'working' on his stroke.

(A debate we have observed and discussed is the quality of stroke vs quantity of reps.) The positive feedback Because of this, we have employed a Quality Stroke Hitting Practice, with more emphasis as shown in Station 1, with more hand/eye drills, tracking concentration drills, DisTemper Drills, & other fun stuff .. Funny Ball Drills, Line Ball, Pepper Drills. and 1,2,3 Perfect or Foul Drill. The kids following practice always like the 'game' situations. Hope this helps

Good Luck

Bear

email at BEAR2327@hotmail.com