The most often asked inquiries when looking for Softball pitching machine are about the many types of pitching machine balls and the distinctions between them. Making the appropriate choice of pitching machine and balls is difficult, but deciding which balls will work best for your practice should not be anything you have to worry about.

It is strongly suggested that you only use the balls developed expressly for each manufacturer’s pitching equipment. One manufacturer’s pitching machine may not operate as well as another manufacturer’s pitching machine.

Because most pitching machines employ hard balls with no seams or seams that aren’t as high as actual hard balls, it’s never a good idea to use real baseballs or softballs in any pitching machine, even if it is explicitly labeled for usage with actual balls.

By now, you should be able to figure out which Softball for the pitching machine is ideal. There is now just a question of determining what each ball is and why you would choose it over the others.

Balls in Miniature Form

Mini balls, about the size of a golf ball, are used in practice to help athletes improve their hand-eye coordination and dexterity. While it’s not always easy to hit the small balls, they make things simpler in a game-time setting since they seem like watermelons when dealing with regular-sized balls. Two types of tiny balls are soft mini balls and quick small balls.

Use soft microlight balls to practice in a smaller area, such as a garage or basement. Mini light balls don’t have the same flying distance or pitching speed as rapid golden balls, and a 40mph ball speed appears enough for folks who utilize soft tiny balls in a more condensed area where the pitching machine is closer to the “plate.”

Compared to soft small light balls, rapid mini-light balls are 50 percent quicker (approximately 60 mph). These hard plastic balls fly faster than soft microlight balls because they are more rigid plastic. Although they may be utilized in smaller locations like a garage or basement, a pitching machine near the “plate” in a tight space could pitch too rapidly for you to get your bat around in time.

Using these balls inside is not recommended since they are more challenging, which might cause more damage to items like walls and mom’s favorite vase.

Light Balls

Soft-Lite Balls — are softer than hard poly balls and move at a pace roughly half that of hard-lite balls. This slower-moving ball is perfect for helping young batters improve their coordination between their hands and eyes. Soft lite balls, hard lite balls, and Slider imitation leather balls are all options for light balls, which are the same size as a regular baseball.

Durable and lightweight balls Faster and more precise than any other ball, these balls are made of polyurethane, a strong, long-lasting material. However, the Slider simulated leather ball may be used in any pitching machine, but it was intended exclusively for the Slider line of pitching machines.

Machines that throw curves benefit significantly from the precision provided by these specifically designed balls. To promote a more authentic batting experience, the lower profile seams on the ball generate just enough spin to fly to various parts of the hitting zone organically.

Real Softball for pitching machine

Because they can only be utilized in machines that can hurl real baseballs, “real baseballs” is a bit of a misnomer. They may not be official baseballs, but the “genuine pitching machine balls” give a hitter a full baseball-hitting sensation, even if they aren’t. This website offers these pitching machines in poly ball and leather versions for Heater and poly ball versions solely for BATA pitching machines.

Baseballs with Leather Pitching Machines – Made exclusively for pitching machines, the low profile seams on these balls produce a little movement on a pitch, better replicating real hitting situations. A strong polyurethane makes these “real” Poly Baseballs for pitching machines. The dimpled shape enhances pitching precision. A strong polyurethane makes these “real” Poly Baseballs for pitching machines. The dimpled shape enhances pitching precision. This ball style performs considerably better when using a pitching machine that throws curves.

Softballs

Softball for pitching machines is dimpled to improve accuracy. Softball for pitching machines is dimpled to improve accuracy. Twelve-inch lite balls, twelve-inch “real” balls, and eleven-inch “real” balls are the three types of softballs available. When it is said “genuine” softballs, they weigh about the same as a regulation ball.

A pitching machine softball will not damage the wheels as much as a standard softball. The thin coverings of regulation softballs make them unsuitable for pitching machines. Even if they don’t break the wheels of a pitching machine, regulation softball coverings are known to peel off extremely rapidly if they are utilized.

• Softballs 12 inches in Diameter – These polyurethane balls feature a dimpled shape that allows them to go quicker and more accurately than heavier balls.

• Real Softballs — 11-Inch Softballs These balls, made of ultra-strong polyurethane, are smaller in diameter than standard softballs, enabling them to move more quickly. Because of the smaller size, it’s simpler to hit the somewhat more giant 12-inch regulation ball, which aids hand-eye coordination.

• Softballs – 12 Inch – Authentic These polyurethane balls are the same size and weight as standard softballs, plus they’re made to last. As a result, they travel with fantastic precision.

• MLB-Approved Batting Practice Balls

Here, you’ll find several pitching machines capable of throwing genuine, regulated balls. Actual balls may be used in these devices. However, it is not recommended.

Every pitching machine manufacturer strongly advises using machine balls rather than genuine, regulation balls! Every pitching machine manufacturer strongly advises using machine balls rather than genuine, regulation balls! A pitching machine’s wheels will deteriorate more rapidly if the seams on regulation balls are present, and the paint on the balls frequently peels off on the reels, making them so slick that they can no longer grasp balls after getting covered with the color.

Final Words

Baseball and genuine Softball for pitching machines are particularly incorrect because the seams generate an uneven surface. Pitch-machine-induced stress on balls may cause glue used in combination with the seams to keep leather in place to become a problem as well. 

When the adhesive in regulation balls breaks down, the balls will become “soft.” When baseballs are hurled from pitching machines, the covers are often pulled off, resulting in a dangerous situation.