New Spinball Wizard Two Wheel Baseball Pitching Machine

Flexibility - Every machine starts out as a combination machine. The only differences between the baseball and softball machines are the legs and the ball feeder tubes. Single use machines can easily be upgraded to combination machines later by purchasing the appropriate upgrade kit. The motors are mounted on slots to allow infinite adjustability of the distance between wheels. This design allows for major adjustments between baseball and softball use as well as for minor corrections for wheel tread wear and ball type.

Top Quality Wheels - Spinball wheel tread is thicker and more durable than any other manufacturer's. ATEC wheel tread is only 3/8" thick at the center. BATA wheels are rubber, not urethane, and only 3/4" thick. Spinball wheels are 1" thick top grade urethane for better pitch accuracy and longer wheel life.

Leg Installation: Spinball legs easily slide into the sockets on the machine base and a spring loaded button locks them in place. Baseball and softball legs can be swapped in just seconds.

Ball and Socket Adjustment Mechanism - All three axes are set at once - horizontal, vertical, and twist. Adjustment is quick, easy, and won't shake loose under vibration. The simplicity of this frame design reduces machine weight significantly.

Independent wheel speed controls - Each wheel's speed is set independently for infinite adjustability of pitch speed and break. Speed setting is shown directly on the control box. The competition's digital readouts add complexity and cost without improving accuracy.

Throws any pitch from any angle - A thrown ball curves in the direction of its spin. The faster the spin, the more it curves. Fastballs have backspin, which cause them to rise, or at least fall slower than they otherwise would. Sinkers and curves have topspin, causing them to drop. Knuckleballs ideally have no spin at all and move randomly. By adjusting the wheel speeds and the angle of the machine, the Spinball Wizard can be set to spin the ball in any direction to simulate virtually any pitch.

What about the slider? A slider spins around an axis parallel to its direction of travel, like a football thrown with a spiral. The resulting break is similar to a sidearm or 3/4 curve. No commercially available pitching machine actually throws a slider, although most competitors make that claim, because to throw it, the machine's wheels would have to pivot into different planes like a football machine. For most hitters, a fast 3/4 curve is a close enough approximation, and that's what our machine does.

Spinball Wizard FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Do you have an automatic feeder?  Yes! They are available at http://www.spinballsports.com/accessories.htm  Two models are available. The baseball only version can hold 24 balls and cost $250. The combination version can hold 24 baseballs or 18 softballs and cost $280. A wireless remote control and shipping are included in the price.

Can I use a generator? What size do I need? The Spinball Wizard draws less than 5 Amps or 600 Watts at 120V AC. Be careful when buying a generator that you are looking at the electrical output power, not the gas engine output power. They are often advertised by the size of the gas engine, but that number doesn't account for any inefficiency in the generator. For example, a 3.5 Hp (=2600 Watts) generator may only generate 900 Watts of usable electric power. You could also use a marine battery and an inverter.

What kind of balls can it throw? The Spinball Wizard can throw real baseballs and softballs as well as the plastic dimpled balls specifically designed for pitching machines. The dimpled balls will last longer and be more accurate, but some bat manufacturers will not warranty bats used with them. High end bats have become so expensive that we recommend buying a used or cheap bat of the same size and weight to use for practice. Wood bats are also excellent for practice.

Why 105 mph? Obviously, nobody throws or needs to hit a 105 mph pitch, and we don't recommend the machine be used at that speed. However, to throw a 90 mph fastball with decent backspin, you need to set one wheel at 105 and the other at 75. Same thing on a 90 mph slider. To get the ball to spin properly, you need to set one wheel faster than the pitch speed and one wheel slower. If you set both wheels at 105, you'll get a dangerous 105 mph knuckleball which will break unpredictably. Not good batting practice, but it can make outfield practice more interesting.

At what distance can it throw 105 mph? At any distance. We calibrate the motors and controls to throw a baseball at a legitimate 105 mph top speed, as measured by radar gun. Some competitors try to confuse the issue by claiming equivalent speeds at shorter distances. Throwing a ball 50 mph from 30'-3" is not the same as actually throwing 100 mph from 60'-6". The ball's trajectory is not the same, and that's a huge part of hitting - to recognize where the ball is headed before it gets there. Like Pete Rose said, "See the ball, hit the ball."

How long does it take to convert from baseball to softball? You have to replace the legs (which slide into sockets) and the ball feeder tube (two screws). You also have to slide the motors (four screws each) to their proper positions. It should take about five minutes.

What maintenance is required? Not much. The machine should be covered when not in use to keep the electronics dry and prevent UV related fading. Tarps are available at local hardware stores, or even a large plastic trash bag will do the job.

Can it throw grounders and fly balls? Yes and yes. The Spinball Wizard adjusts from 60 degrees above horizontal to 15 degrees below. However, it can not throw catcher's pop ups (straight up). Horizontal range is only about 30 degrees so it's not something you can use to spread balls around the entire field.

Is this a good machine for my 8 year old? To hit against, yes. To operate, absolutely not. This machine can throw baseballs 105 mph, which can be lethal. It should only be set up and operated by responsible adults and only at speeds near those that the batter will normally see. Batters should always wear a helmet and be aware that the machine will throw balls and strikes.

How accurate is this machine?  That's hard to quantify, and most retailers exaggerate. It largely depends on the type and condition of the balls you use. The plastic dimpled balls are more accurate because they're more consistent than leather balls, especially after use. With average quality used leather baseballs, we normally get 90% strikes on an adult sized zone. Some variation makes for better practice. Hitting the exact same pitch in the exact same location can lead to bad habits.

Why is it so much cheaper than other machines? There are several reasons. First, we sell direct so you don't have to pay a retailer's markup. Second, it's a smart design that's cheaper and easier to build so we can charge less. And third, we're a small company with low overhead that wants to grow quickly, so we prefer volume over profit.

How did you make it so light? Our background is in aerospace engineering and this machine was designed from the ground up with a light weight in mind. The steel frame is engineered not only to be solid and robust, but also lightweight.

Free shipping? Really? Absolutely. No shipping or handling charges when shipped via Fedex Ground to the continental US. Please email for shipping rates elsewhere. We've shipped machines to Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and even Guam.

What is your phone number? To keep prices low, we've set Spinball up as an internet only business, so we don't have anyone handling phone inquiries. We do however, answer all email within one business day, usually much faster.

About Spinball Sports Products

Spinball Sports began in 2003 as a part time project between two Boeing engineers. After two years of development and testing, we introduced the original Spinball Wizard pitching machine. In 2008, we totally redesigned the machine to be lighter and more portable, while also making it more robust and easier to use. The result is a machine that performs as well the market leaders at 2/3 the price and weight.

Today, Spinball continues as a small family run business based near St. Louis, Missouri. To keep prices low, we operate exclusively over the internet, selling directly to consumers. When you email us, you're speaking with the owner of the company and designer of the machine. We concentrate on quality engineering and manufacturing, not expensive celebrity endorsements.

Spinball Sports Products owner and chief engineer Tom Hart holds Bachelors degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management and has over 15 years professional engineering experience. He played baseball for the University of Missouri - Rolla and continues to play in several baseball leagues in the St. Louis area.