JUGS Sports Combo (2 wheel) Pitching Machine - Manual (Page 20)

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 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.
18
Operation