Expert: John McInnis - 8/26/2006

Question
I would like your comments concerning the use of pitching machines (supervised) for 6-7 year olds who are making the transition from T-ball to Coach Pitch.  What is the approximate speed of a Coach-pitched ball?

Answer
Hi W.

it's been awhile since I coached 6 and 7 year olds... use of a pitching machine for these 'transition' players is a good idea.  It delivers the ball consistently in both speed and height.  So the kids get use to this very quickly.  As for the speed, the slower speeds make the ball loop into the strike zone and you don't want that. It really depends on the machine you use (its make, condition and age).  On ours, I remember setting it up for 45 mph but it would vary up to 50.

Coach pitching is risky ... for you and the player.  The pitch has to be consistently within the strike zone for the kids to grasp the technique of batting (pardon the pun).  If your good a pitching (and dodging the batted ball) then this is your other alternative.

Some coaches I know don't like PM's...they say it does not give the kids a sense of knowing when to swing.  From my experience, most kids will swing at ANYTHING anyway...so it might as well be at a consistently pitch ball, right in the strike zone.

Best of luck,

JohnMc