What is the difference between the BATA-2
and the Sidewinder?
The Sidewinder allows you
to mix the pitches (fastball / curve or fastball / slider)
without changing the machine. The BATA-2 does
not.
The BATA-2 has a maximum
speed of about 100 mph. The Sidewinder tops out at 70.
The BATA-2, because the two
wheels work together, allows you to put as much or as little
spin on the ball as you want. This allows you to throw
pitches of many varieties. For this reason, it is also
better suited for throwing flyballs and groundballs.
You cannot regulate the amount of spin on
the ball with the Sidewinder because, although
it has two wheels, the wheels work independently with
compression pads like single-wheel machines do. Therefore,
the amount of spin on the ball is determined by the speed.
Why does the BATA-2 go up to 100 mph and the
Sidewinder only 70?
The motors on the Sidewinder
actually turn about 50% faster than those on the
BATA-2. However, with the BATA-2, the ball is
"thrown" by two wheels, and with the Sidewinder
the ball is thrown by one wheel.
How much speed do I need for my players?
Many people mistakenly believe that 70
mph is not enough speed for high school players. The fact is
that most high school pitchers throw less than 70 mph in a
game. The 70 mph maximum speed of the Sidewinder
is more than enough speed for high school, college, or ever
professional players to practice on. Most of the
professional teams that use our BATA-2 machine
tell us that they rarely turn it faster than 70 mph.
Why does the Sidewinder cost more than
the BATA-2 when the BATA-2 goes
up to 100 mph and the Sidewinder only goes up
to 70?
The Sidewinder costs more
because it has more parts and costs more to produce. Speed
is not the only factor in determining the value of a
pitching machine. The Sidewinder can be a very
valuable tool in improving your batting if used properly. It
allows you to practice reacting to different pitches and
different speeds of pitches, just like you would encounter
in a real game.
How does the Sidewinder throw two
different pitches in one set up?
The Sidewinder is basically
two single-wheel machines on one stand. The ball is
compressed between one wheel and one compression pad,
similar to our B1-Curveball and BATA-1
machines, except that you can set the two
heads up to throw two different pitches in one set up.
How does the Sidewinder determine which pitch it will
throw?
The Sidewinder has two
infeed chutes (where you put the ball in), one for the
fastball, one for the breaking ball (curve or slider). The
operator chooses which pitch to throw and selects that pitch
by putting the ball in that chute.
Can the Sidewinder also throw softballs?
No, the Sidewinder is only
for baseball.
Can the BATA-2 mix pitches too?
No. The BATA-2 can throw any type of pitch,
but it will throw the same pitch over and over until it is
changed. It generally takes a few minutes to change the
BATA-2 from one pitch to another, so it is not
practical to try to change the machine from pitch to pitch.
Can the Sidewinder be used with an Auto-Feeder?
Yes. However, in order to have the
machine throw both pitches, our Pitch Selector
must be used in conjunction with the Auto-Feeder.
The Pitch Selector is a motorized attachment
that connects to the Auto-Feeder. The ball
comes out of the Auto-Feeder and into the
Pitch Selector, which randomly diverts the ball
to one feed chute or the other, and into the machine.
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