| Maybe this is a new term for you; it was for me. | | | | about $600. They also have another machine the, |
| A heater pitching machine is a device that is | | | | "Deuce Pitching Machine." This machine is more |
| designed for baseball batting practice. This pitches | | | | advanced than the previous two, offering higher |
| balls to the batter. (In baseball jargon a "heater" is | | | | pitching speed and more features. The price for it |
| a fast ball.) So, as its name describes, this is a | | | | is about $800. All three of these machines are |
| machine that pitches fastballs to a batter. There | | | | portable. |
| are several kinds of these machines. | | | | As an example of a top-of-the-line heater pitching |
| An important feature to consider is how many | | | | machine, consider one named the "HomePlate" |
| pitching wheels it has. Many of the smaller pitching | | | | machine. This machine can pitch baseballs from 40 |
| machines have two wheels. While some of the | | | | to 90 MPH. This machine has a three wheel feed |
| larger more expensive units have 3 wheels. These | | | | system, making the pitches more accurate. The |
| wheels are what throw the baseball. With only | | | | machine can be programmed in several different |
| two wheels speed and accuracy is lower. But with | | | | ways. A person can program it to throw curve |
| three wheels both speed and accuracy are | | | | balls, sliders, straight fast balls, and sinking fast |
| improved. | | | | balls. The speed can be programmed to adjust up |
| One company that makes a line of these | | | | or down in 5mph increments. There are a lot of |
| machines called "Heater" has several models | | | | possibilities that can be programmed into this |
| available. One of the their products is called the | | | | machine, to give a batter many different |
| "Heater Baseball Pitching Machine." This throws | | | | challenging pitches. This machine holds 80 balls. |
| pitches between 15 miles per hour (MPH) and 50 | | | | Empty the machine weighs 180 pounds. So, it is |
| MPH. This is a two wheel feed machine that can | | | | not as portable as others. The price is about |
| hold 12 baseballs at a time. This cost about $400. | | | | $6,600. So, the price is not as palatable as others |
| The next machine up is the "Heater Combo | | | | either. |
| Pitching Machine" it throws baseballs up to 60 MPH. | | | | So, that is what a heater pitching machine is. |
| It also holds 12 baseballs. It pitches a ball every 12 | | | | Choosing the one that is right for you is a |
| second. In addition to batting practice this can be | | | | completely different subject. |
| used to practice fly balls and grounders. This cost | | | | |