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This article highlights our reviews and picks for the best pitching machine for softball available today.
Read on to learn more about our top overall recommendation as well as our budget-friendly pitching machine pick.
Pitching Machine for Softball - Our Top Picks for Fastpitch or Slowpitch Softball
A fastpitch softball player who can hit well is a valuable asset to a team.
Becoming a better hitter takes practice, and one of the best tools to help with practice is a pitching machine.
We're not going to spend a lot of time writing about how important pitching machines are for getting your reps in. For perfecting things like timing and pitch recognition.
You already know these things, that's why you're here.
So we're going to cut right to the chase and showcase what we believe to be the best pitching machine for softball.
We also review and highlight our runner up pick and our top pick based on affordability.
While our top picks are machines designed for fastpitch softball, each can be easily adjusted to work well for slowpitch softball as well.
Scroll for more.
Best Pitching Machine for Softball
Top Overall Pick: Junior Hack Attack
The Junior Hack Attack is our pick for best pitching machine for softball players.
It's a well-built, powerful and versatile machine that works for fastpitch players across a wide variety of ages and abilities.
The way that Sports Attack built this pitching machine, it's capable of delivering different pitches at high speed and it does so in a consistently accurate way.
The softball version of the Junior Hack Attack can throw fastballs, risers, change ups, dropballs, curveballs (and more) with precision, making it stand out far above much of the competition.
It can do this because it uses three independent wheels, which is a premium (aka costly) type of pitching machine design that is the most accurate and gives the most varied pitches of any machine in existence.
This softball pitching machine is used by legit fastpitch programs, such as many at the D1 college level.
The control panel on the Junior Hack Attack is pretty simple to use, meaning the person operating it just needs to turn a few knobs to adjust pitch speed and pitch type.
It can throw any type of standard size, leather-based softball or pitching machine softball.
Another key feature of this softball pitching machine is its portability and ease of transport.
The Junior Hack Attack softball pitching machine is relatively compact and lightweight for a machine of its size, weighing in at 75 pounds.
It has two wheels at the bottom which are used to roll it from the field to the car.
The machine can fit inside the back of a car and can be lifted by a single (healthy) adult.
For these reasons and more, the Junior Hack Attack is our pick for the overall best pitching machine for Softball.
Pros
Durable and designed to last for a long time
3 wheel design with lots of power
Throws a huge variety of pitches at 60+ mph from a standard distance
Despite its power, it throws very accurately
Easy to transport with its bottom two wheels
Lightweight (75 lbs)
Straightforward to operate
Able to throw leather softballs or pitching machine balls
Cons
Requires standard electrical/generator power (e.g., not battery powered)
Does not have an automatic ball feeder, though you can get one separately
More Pictures of the Softball Jr. Hack Attack
Runner Up Pick: Jugs BP1
Our runner up choice for the top pitching machine for softball is the Jugs BP1.
Jugs is known for making some of the highest quality pitching machines on the market
The BP1 continues the Jugs tradition of quality. Although it's only a 1 wheel pitching machine, it throws fast at speeds of 70+ mph. A digital display shows the speed, which is super helpful and can be adjusted with the turn of a knob.
It's incredibly versatile, too.
The BP1 can be adjusted up, down, left and right easily to do defensive drills - whether it's deep or shallow pop flys, ground balls or line drives.
It has a standard 12 inch ball chute that works with regular softballs and a variety of other ball types as well.
It's not tall like other machines, but shoots the ball out about waist high giving it a more realistic feel.
Like the Jr Hack Attack, the Jugs BP1 weighs just 75 pounds and can be moved easily with a transport cart that it fits into.
One additional thing to note is that this machine can also be used for practicing slowpitch softball.
You can set it at the lowest speed setting (13 mph) and arc it up to get the slowpitch effect.
Pros
Made by Jugs, who is known for high quality
Throws heat at up to 70 mph
Pitches fastballs, riseballs and dropballs
Simple control panel with digital speed display
Lightweight and moves around easily
Durable and versatile
Accepts different ball types
Cons
Tends to wear down regular softballs more quickly than other balls
Not as much pitch variety as the Junior Hack Attack (note: the Jugs BP3 throws many more pitches)
Other Pics of the Jugs BP1
Budget Pick: The Heater Softball Pitching Machine
If price is the most important factor in your search, then our recommendation for a pitching machine for softball based strictly on affordability is the Heater.
It's a 1 wheel pitching machine with the wheel being fully enclosed, which protects kids from getting things caught in the wheel or motor.
The Heater softball pitching machine throws regular 12 inch softballs up to 50 mph, and can throw lightweight pitching machine balls (12 in) up to 60 mph.
Speed can be adjusted by turning a knob between levels 1 (slowest) and 10 (fastest).
It stands on a three leg, steel tripod that can be quickly disconnected by using the push pins.
One of the best things about it is that it comes with Heater's automatic ball feeder that can hold up to nine softballs.
The feeder does require some adjusting to get it working right out of the box.
Like the other pitching machines for softball mentioned in this article, the Heater can be adjusted and used for defensive drills in addition to batting practice.
This machine can be powered with either a standard 110 volt electrical outlet or with a separate battery pack, which is a great option for those that might not have easy access to electricity.
In terms of transporting it, the machine weighs 52 pounds and can be handled pretty easily by an adult moving it from the car to the field and back to the car again.
All in all, it's a good softball pitching machine for being at such an affordable price point.
Pros
Fully enclosed motor and wheel
Throws real softballs or the pitching machine variety
Throws up to 60 mph with lighter weight pitching machine balls
Comes with an automatic ball feeder
Able to be used with standard power or a battery pack
Lightweight at around 50 pounds
Can be adjusted to use for slowpitch softball batting practice
Cons
Tends to rough up real softballs more quickly than dimpled balls
Requires the wheel to have the correct tire pressure (between 30 - 32 psi) to throw correctly
The Heater in its Box
That's A Wrap!
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Scott Perry
Scott Perry is the owner and lead author at Catchers Home. He's a former baseball player, a current coach, a husband and a Dad. He remains as passionate about baseball today as he was as a kid.