Posted by: Dumber than Dirt Joe (joe.flowers@nofreewill.com) on Mon Jun 6 18:18:21 2011

Yeah, you've got to have a good pitching machine and a good radar gun to match what they are seeing. You also need to match the height and distance at the pitcher's release point. I had to add legs to my machine. Use the pitching machine and then step out and throw them some that you pitch to them yourself. Cycle back and forth, so they don't get too used to either one too much but you need them to have success at both. Also, it is important that when you push the ball in the pitching machine that you give them a sign that you are doing so and keep the same timing so they can time it. You don't want to keep them guessing because they need some sort of indication that the pitch is coming and about when whether it's a real pitcher's arm or not. I like to do this at a real diamond or at least in an open field so they get the feedback and joy of a good hit. I believe this to be essential.

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