Hey,
Looking to upgrade out pitching machine. Wanted to resource other coaches out there to see what they have and how they like it.
Would like it to be multi use...for pitching and for ground balls and fly balls. Also pitching to throw curve balls and change ups.
Was looking into the ATEC machines...anyone use them?
Thanks in advance!
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Atec and Jugs are the old tried and true. As long as you get the 2-wheel versions, it should give you the versatility you want. Jugs is, I believe, still a privately owned company or at least run as it's own entity so customer service support has always been very good. Atec was bought out by Wilson a while back so I'm not sure if that is still the case. Often, when the big companies buy the little ones, quality and service are let slip in place of maximizing profit - not saying that is the case here.
Lots of newer companies making more high-tech stuff that I am not as familiar with.
I have an ATEC Casey Pro. My main frustration with it over the years is how the design almost mandates flat-seamed baseballs.
You put raised seamed balls in, and it's not perfectly accurate.
THANKS FO THE INFO! TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN JUGS AND ATEC OR THE SPINBALL WIZARD.
HAS ANYONE TRIED THE JUGS SOFT TOSS MACHINE? OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOFT TOSS MACHINE? I FIND EVEN AFTER TEACHING, RE-TEACHING, AND RE-TEACHING AGAIN, SOFT TOSS IS A WASTE OF TIME CUZ THE KIDS CANT DO IT RIGHT OR IF THEY ARE NOT BEING WATCHED LIKE A HAWK, GOOF AROUND.
ANY AND ALL INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED!
We have the sports tutor homeplate ultimate for my son's use. You are able to program different pitches (up to 90 mph) and has a random feature so the batter does not know what is coming. You can load over 80 balls for a self load feature. Terrific machine.
Ihave never heard of the homeplate ultimate...just watched youtube video from 2010 on it...if that is real, how come they are not the standard? Too expensive? Breakdown easy? It seems to easily have the best features...what gives? I am a baseball junkie and have never even heard of it...weird...I gotta go research this more...
Sports Tutor has been industry leader in tennis ball machines for years - I can give them a seal of approval from that standpoint. Not familiar with this machine though, nor do I know if technology crosses over well for baseball machines.
I have owned it for over two years with no problems. My favorite feature is that my son can use it by himself, he hits 80 balls a day. Three wheel action makes the pitches more accurate than a two wheel. It is heavy but you can transport it using the attached wheels. Programming is very intuitive, you can set many different scenarios and save them including lefty and righty pitching.
Controller is not needed, but recommend the remote so you can pause pitches from the batting position. $7,300 for the machine, $150 for the remote, son hitting .474 in recent PG WWBA - priceless
That machine looks fantastic, but man too much cash for now...
