Posted by: Coach C () on Sat Feb 7 22:50:15 2004

I am a coach of a traveling 13 year old team and we have differing opinions on the use of batting Ts and speed of the pitching machine. A couple coaches want to set the pitching machine at 80 MPH and force kids to learn to hit it. While a few can, I believe it forces them to cheat, knowing the pitch will come to the same place at the same speed everytime, they start their swings early and hit it. I think this hurts them in games where no 13 year old will see an 80 mph fastball, and pitches come at different speeds and in different locations. While I think that throwing harder can help develop quicker hands, is this the best use of our time? Also, shouldn't a swing be perfected through repetition, such as off a T or at slower speeds, before we speed them up. This pitching machine was set at 80 at the second practice in January, in the gym.


There is a place I hit at, where certain Major League hitters frequent during the off-season, the machine is never over 50 mph. They are grooving their strokes. I do the same to resist the urge to be quick and actually have a swing.

Here's something to try.....set up two machines.....one fast and one slow. See which one they struggle with the most when they alternate back and forth. If they can't make the adjustmet to slow, rather swiftly.....they are not letting the ball come to them. Have the coaches do it to....it will be fun for you to watch!

Good Luck,

Coach C