JUGS Sports Jr. Baseball & Softball (1 wheel) Pitching Machine - Manual (Page 21)

19
Operation
Pitching to batters
Follow all safety performance instructions in this manual. The following feeding
instructions should be used to insure accurate and efficient operation of the JUGS
Pitching Machine.
IMPORTANT PITCHING MACHINE fEEDING INSTRUCTIONS:
1. When feeding the machine with leather balls, hold the ball the same way
every time. Across the seams is best.
2. Have all batters and observers stand well clear of the target as you throw
test balls to adjust trajectory and aiming point.
3. VERY IMPORTANT: Before you place the ball in the feeding chute,
you should look up at the batter and make absolutely sure the batter is
watching you and is ready to receive the pitch. It is extremely important that
you make sure that the immediate area in front of the pitching machine and
the flight path of the ball is clear before you feed the balls into the pitching
machine.
4. When the batter has taken his/her stance and indicates he or she is ready to
hit, hold the ball high in the air where the batter can see the ball. Then bring
the ball down to the chute simulating live action so that the batter can time
the ball correctly. Set the ball in the feed chute and release. Do not drop the
ball into the chute. Watch the ball into the wheels, then look up at the batter.
The whole feeding operation should be smooth and without interruption.
5. Every batter, after taking his/her stance, as well as between pitches, goes
through a personal readiness routine. The ball feeder should adjust the pitch
spacing to each batters’ habits accordingly. This will assure that the batter
is ready to receive the pitch and will also help to simulate live action. The
batter can then regard each throw as a separate pitch and avoid becoming
an “automatic swinger”. Generally speaking, pitches can be spaced between
6 and 10 seconds apart.