For most people, a baseball pitching machine is a one time purchase. For this reason, it behooves you to make the right choice so that you do not end up having to live for years with a faulty baseball pitching machine. There are four major factors that must be taken into consideration: Type of machine, space, price and age of the player. Here are some guidelines for choosing a baseball pitching machine.

Real ball throwing machines throw real balls or machine pitch dimple balls. Both types of baseballs weigh 5 oz. Wheel style pitching machines are the most popular types. They are seen in backyards, high schools, colleges and in pro ball. These machines consist of rubber wheels, a motor that propels the balls and a specified electronics system with speed and direction adjustment knobs. While the machine runs on 110v current, many fields without power will use a generator.

Single wheel machines are for entry level players, and are great for initial baseball instruction. They generally throw a straight pitch between approximately 25-70+ MPH. A few of these models are also capable of throwing a curve ball. Two wheel machines can throw and simulate any pitch from any angle. It can throw left or right-handed pitchers at speeds from approximately 25 to well into the 90 plus MPH range.

Arm style pitching machines throw a straight, accurate ball at varied speeds of 25 to 85 plus MPH. If the player spends a good deal of time practicing by himself, he might consider a machine with an auto-feeder. These simple mechanisms will allow a ball to enter the pitching machine every 7 or so seconds.