JUGS Sports Curveball (2 wheel) Pitching Machine - Manual (Page 17)

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:
• When feeding the machine with leather balls, hold the ball the same way every
time. Across the seams is best, especially for curveballs.
• Have all batters and observers stand well clear of the target as you throw test
balls to adjust trajectory and aiming point.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 bat-
ter 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.
15
Operation