Pitching machine advice

 for about $3.100 you can get into a nice machine that will throw left and right handed curves and sliders and fastballs around 85mph. It has a 20 ball feeder but you will need an electrical source to run it. http://pitchingmachinesale.com...itching-machine.html

Jugs makes a machine that sell's for about $1100. I don't know of any gas powered units.

You CAN put a baseball in that machine. I've seen it done. Where it comes out is anybody's guess. Wear full-body armor.

Lite Flight is for a little softy squishy yellow ball, I don't think that's what you want.

Buggs, you state that you are on disability.  That is important to your quest for a machine.  Without knowing your disability, most recommendations will be worthless.  Most of the machines are going to require the ability to lift a heavy object to set up the machine.  At least for ATEC and Jugs.  A used pitching machine might be your best bet and they can be found at places like Play it again sports.  Buggs, something else to think about without knowing your disability, is whether you are physically able to hit, pack, and hookup some of these machines. 

A suggestion might be to find a used ATEC Rookie machine but you would still have to find a small generator to run the machine unless you have access to electricity. 

There might be a local guy who runs the little league or the rec program in your town, you could ask them if they know someone who has a used machine you could try out and then purchase. Ask around in your town, someone might be able to help you out. good luck getting some hitting in.

Buggs:  I have done a lot of work with kids on the spectrum ... i recommend you look for a "one wheel jugs" that runs on electricity. there are a lot of these out there that are still in good shape. if you have a PA, he or she could set that up and throw balls to you and you would have hours of fun hitting.  try ebay or craigslist in your area... if you tell us what state you are in there might be someone on this message board who would know of someone who could locate a decent machine for you.

okay, dumb me, i see that you said you live in Tukwila, Wash... darn, i have no contacts in the NW, anybody know someone that could help Buggs out????

I vote for a nice Tee and Net.  Relatively low cost and you do not have to chase balls all over the yard.  Just a thought.  Good Luck.

Lefty

I hear you. 

The tee is use daily in high school, college and pro ball.  Pujols takes 1,000 swings off the tee prior to each game.  Just saying it's a good alternative and a great workout.  I still hit off the tee just for fun daily - a good workout for an old guy....

There is an atec model which can run off battery power.  Youth leagues use them for machine pitch.  I would look for one of those.  Good luck. 

I have used one of those machines, but it was just once or twice, years ago. A youth coach I knew asked me help out, and showed me how to use it for batting practice.  I thought it was a piece of junk. It took forever to charge up and throw.  I put it aside and threw BP myself.  Much better.

Since you're pleading for advice, I will give you some.

Do not waste $1000 or more on a pitching machine. It's not that much fun hitting off of one, and it's no fun at all picking up the balls afterwards. Players use them to get a lot of cuts in quickly, especially in the off-season, but it's not that much fun, and not all that useful.

If I was you, instead I would:

1. Find a men's 30 or 40+ baseball team. That would be 100 times more fun.
2. Find a men's fast pitch softball team. That would be at least 50 times more fun.
3. Find a co-ed or men's slow pitch softball team. That would also be 50 times more fun.
4. Take $10  and go to the local batting cage and hit there. That would be 10 times more fun and 100 times cheaper.

You'll pretty much have the same results with any machine if you try to use real balls  - not able to launch consistently due to the seams.  There are some balls made for machines that are just like real balls but very low seams. 

-5 means the bat is 5 ounces less than the length.  So, your 34" bat weighs 29 oz.

Buggs, you can get a 1 wheel Jugs machine in your area off Craig's list. ( I saw a couple of them on there). they throw real baseballs and they throw good strikes. get one with short legs (3) and it will be easy to handle and set up.

this is what I would do anyway; that zooka is too expensive if it doesn't throw 95% strikes.  good luck