quote:
... Doesn't help with strength very much...
Just what machine does?
Where are you planning on using it? Home? On the field? Individually? With the team?
We bought a Personal Pitcher from www.personalpitcher.com which throws golf wiffle balls about 3 years ago. It pitches from about 20 feet and we have used it a lot. Really like it. Use it in our basement. Take a little bp whenever we want.
Not as good as real size/weight balls but very good for reps while learning to swing properly. And, it's in your price range. I believe they are around 175.
Instrumental, along with the knowledge learned from s e t p r o .com to take my son from an under .200 hitter to .300+ his jr year in high school.
Trial and error learning requires alot of reps. This will give them.