Dan411
Star Player
The Louisville Blue Flame pitching machine is what you need. Very durable, with an adjustable arc/velocity, and very reliable/consistent with the "pitches." If you're skeptical, do a little research on here, you'll find nothing but positives.
lukeamdman
Active Member
^^ Yep
Blue fame is awesome.
Blue fame is awesome.
Party mafia
Well-Known Member
check your local craig list for the LS blue flame pitching machine. Used one should be cheaper than the new one.
Gilchrist44
New Member
The one that the BP Hero uses seems to work good. He even has a set up video to show his setting and tips. LS Blue Flame
lukeamdman
Active Member
Last year Walmart had them on sale for $90, and a new cashier somehow cut the price in half and couldn't correct it. Got mine for $45.
blakcherry329
Well-Known Member
I'll pitch to you for $75(plus travel expenses) ijs
FranDog33
Coach
Blue Flame is by far the best. I remember my pops buying one when they new, before Louisville bought the rights to them. Works for baseballs, softballs, even whiffle balls.
I have a PopToss tee for when I can't get anyone to take BP with me. It works quite well, but I use it on a soccer field to keep dirt out of it.
I have a PopToss tee for when I can't get anyone to take BP with me. It works quite well, but I use it on a soccer field to keep dirt out of it.
MarlSrSoftball
Into Semi-Retirement Still activebut not League
If you are going to bat alone IMO nothing beats the Wheeler Dealer. A little pricey but well worth it if you do a lot of BP.
The BP Hero
Addicted to Softballfans
wizkid2016
Active Member
I've looked into the poptoss a few times.
I also have the same problem. When I practice with my team, no one ever throws strikes and it messes up my swing.
I've used the blueflame and it's the best i've seen.
Luckily my good friend has an indoor ironmike machine with a slowpitch arm. Nothing beats this machine indoors.
I also have the same problem. When I practice with my team, no one ever throws strikes and it messes up my swing.
I've used the blueflame and it's the best i've seen.
Luckily my good friend has an indoor ironmike machine with a slowpitch arm. Nothing beats this machine indoors.
dunkky
Well-Known Member
Although machine throwing is much better than T, from my experience, it is also very different than human throwing. yes, it's not 90 m/h ball, but still their motion and other aspects makes it different. If anyone lives in north Dallas(Mckinney), we can do some BP on Sat. I am a pitcher also, so throwing strikes is no issue for me. Has not been the case for opposite, maybe i am getting one strike out of 5 or 6 throwing. Forget about strikes, i am talking about hittable balls.
Normy
Well-Known Member
Never actually used a pitching machine but I could see how this could cause problems timing wise. Nothing can totally replace live pitching but a machine would definitely come in handy at times. When we have a team practice and nobody else wants to pitch. Maybe a 50/50 mix would work in that case. I love pitching, just not two hours straight during practice.
The BP Hero
Addicted to Softballfans
There a couple cues I use and tell other people to use.
1) Look down when you press on the pedal. When the operator looks up, hesitate just a second and then throw. This gives you a general idea of when the ball is going to be released. Usually when the operator looks up my weight is loaded and I'm ready to go. In the video below, skip to about the 4:00 mark just to get past all of the into crap and see how Dalton does what I'm describing there.
2) You can also have the operator use their glove hand and swing it in the motion of a pitchers arm. As their arm passes the handle then release it and it'll give you the timing that way. See James do that in this one.
Not saying any of this is right or wrong, and it may not work for everyone. Just a couple ways to make this machine work better for you. I truly believe these are great. 2017 was hands down my best year at the plate, and I attribute most of it to this machine.
1) Look down when you press on the pedal. When the operator looks up, hesitate just a second and then throw. This gives you a general idea of when the ball is going to be released. Usually when the operator looks up my weight is loaded and I'm ready to go. In the video below, skip to about the 4:00 mark just to get past all of the into crap and see how Dalton does what I'm describing there.
2) You can also have the operator use their glove hand and swing it in the motion of a pitchers arm. As their arm passes the handle then release it and it'll give you the timing that way. See James do that in this one.
Not saying any of this is right or wrong, and it may not work for everyone. Just a couple ways to make this machine work better for you. I truly believe these are great. 2017 was hands down my best year at the plate, and I attribute most of it to this machine.
Normy
Well-Known Member
Dang, sounds like Wally World is the place to look!
Bow Commander
Well-Known Member
Dang, my Wally World's are always asking $179. I'll keep my eye out though.
hitless45
Addicted to Softballfans
WalMart in your area is very generous.. Pics of receipt of it didn't happen..lol
Not around here..
Pretty much the same here.. I did happen across a WalMart in the next town north of me and saw the clearance sign with the price $89.99 but they were all out of them..
lukeamdman
Active Member
I got my blue flame from Wal-Mart for $45.
oppotaco13
Active Member
I'm a pitcher and I always tell them I don't pitch bp because starters don't do that ****
I'm also a primadonna.
I'm also a very avg pitcher
Normy
Well-Known Member
Lol, I'm about to that point myself!
lukeamdman
Active Member
I had one of my best years for batting after taking thousands of pitches in BP from the blue flame in the last year. 2015 and 2016 were terrible years for me.
What it really helped with was identifying strikes much faster. 99 out of 100 pitches with this thing are strikes, so you get a really good eye for what they look like.
I also have two different settings with the same point of impact behind the plate. One is an ~8ft arch and the other is ~10ft and it takes less than 30 seconds to make the adjustment. Early on this year I was caught off guard by some lower pitches but practicing for both 8ft and 10ft fixed that right up.
I still take live pitching whenever I can, but it really saves a lot of time in BP when you don't have to watch all those bad pitches go by. Swinging at garbage isn't a good idea either.
Normy
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info. I will definitely have one of these for the team come spring.