MORE INFO ABOUT BATA

BATA Baseball Machines, Inc. was founded in 1991. Since then, BATA machines have steadily become recognized as the best pitching machines on the market.

Our machines are used by several pro organizations, including the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Whitesox, Anaheim Angels, Oakland A's, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners.

WHAT MAKES BATA MACHINES BETTER THAN OTHERS?

We are asked this question often, so we are thankful for the opportunity to explain the differences.

There are five important factors to consider when evaluating a pitching machine:

1. The type of construction.
       BATA machines are made of solid steel. There are no sand-castings or plastic on the frames or stands.
2. The motors and electronics.
       BATA uses only high-quality US Made, permanent magnet DC motors and solid-state electronic controls.
3. The wheels.
       As explained below, BATA wheels are the most effective design.
4. Ease of use.
       BATA machines are simple to set up, easy to adjust, easy to transport.
5. Capacity.
       We have machines suited for players of all levels, priced accordingly.

ACCURACY - BATA machines are the only machines that use our unique Goodyear Rubber Soft Tread pitching wheels. Our Soft Tread wheels are solid, die-cast, flat-faced rubber treads, molded and vulcanized onto a machined aluminum core. The result is better accuracy, more speed, and better consistency than competitive brands.

How are BATA Soft Tread wheels better than the JUGS or ATEC wheels?

JUGS wheels are pneumatic (air-filled) tires, mounted on a stamped, metal rim, (the type that are used on trailer wheels). Stamped rims do not run as true as machined rims. The contact surface of the pitching wheel is convex (rounded). The faster the JUGS wheel rotates, the more convex, and therefore, less accurate it becomes. JUGS wheels have more side to side run-out and more radial run-out, which leads to less accuracy. Maintaining proper air pressure is also a big concern with pneumatic tires.

BATA wheels are machined and die-cast, so they start out with a precise, consistent shape, they maintain their shape regardless of the speed, and they are precision balanced to within 1 gram per foot. This makes BATA wheels run smooth and true.

ATEC wheels are made with a concave tread, molded onto a solid rim. However, because of the deep concave, at the center of the concave (where the most compression occurs) the tread is less than 3/8 inch thick. This design does not provide enough compression to accommodate a hard baseball. The effect of this would be excessive flexing of the motor shaft inside the motor, and therefore, premature motor failure, less accuracy, and less consistency. If you ask ATEC, they will tell you that they do NOT recommend using real leather baseballs in their Casey machines.

BATA wheels are designed to throw real leather balls (and dimpled balls).

What advantages do BATA machines have over JUGS or ATEC machines?

The BATA 2Pitch3 machine is capable of throwing up to a 95 mph fastball and a 75 mph curveball in one set up. Batting off of this machine is like batting off a pro pitcher. When used with the Toggle Manual Pitch Selector, the batter cannot predict which pitch is coming. He can only react to the pitch, as he would against a real pitcher.

The BATA 2Pitch Sidewinder is similar to the 2Pitch3, except that the maximum speed on the Sidewinder is 70 mph on both pitches, and the Sidewinder can pitch left or right handed.

The BATA Twin Pitch machine can also throw two different pitches in one set up. A fastball and change up, or two fastballs to different locations. Ideal for softball.

Neither JUGS nor ATEC has a machine in the 2-pitch category.

BATA Automatic Ball-Feeders are a better value.
For about the same price, the BATA Automatic Ball-Feeders can hold up to 32 baseballs or 34 softballs, compared to JUGS' feeder which holds only 18 baseballs or 14 softballs. They do not have feeder that does both baseballs and softballs, so you would have to buy two separate feeders (for twice the cost) to equal the BATA Automatic Ball-Feeders.

BATA's Starter pitching machine throws fastballs up to 50 mph. Ideal for machine-pitch leagues and all players up to 12 years of age. The Starter is priced at just $500. The JUGS MVP machine throws up to 52 mph. It is priced at $895. Compare!

The BATA B1-Curveball machine is the ideal "in-between" machine. It is capable of throwing fastballs, curves, and sliders, and is an economically priced single-wheel model. JUGS does not have a machine in this style.

Our best-selling machine, the BATA-2, tops the other brands in several areas. It is more accurate and easier to operate than the JUGS. Where as the JUGS has one ball-joint that controls all three adjustment axis', the BATA-2 has three independent pivot locks. This allows you to adjust one axis without disturbing the others. The BATA-2 also has built-in transport wheels, so you don't have to roll it on the pitching wheels to transport it as you do with the JUGS. Not to mention that the BATA-2 weighs about 1/3 less than the JUGS.

BATA-2 has more capacity than the ATEC Casey. As explained above, BATA-2 is made to throw real leather baseballs. ATEC Casey is not. BATA-2 has more speed than the ATEC. And, BATA-2 Combo is priced hundreds less than the others' combo baseball/softball models.

Bottom line, BATA gives you more machine for your money.