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MPM Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which pitches will the MPM throw? The MPM will throw 4 of the standard 6 fast-pitch softball pitches. It throws fastballs (up to 70 mph), drop balls, rise balls and change-ups. Because of the circular ball track (Fast-pitch Arm Simulator), the throwing wheels on the MPM cannot be tilted and it therefore does not a throw curve ball that has a lateral or horizontal break and the MPM does not throw a screw ball.
2. What type of balls can I use with the MPM? The MPM is designed to use either 12 inch or 11 inch dimpled pitching machine balls but, a manual adjustment is required to switch between the two sizes, they cannot be fed into the machine interchangeably. Only dimpled pitching machine balls or polyballs can be used, raised seam "game type" leather balls cannot. Since the ball is fed or rolled through the FAS feeder loop at a very high speed, balls without seams work well but seamed balls tend to bounce out of the ball track. Also, only pitching machine balls of the same type with approximately the same age and amount of wear can be used effectively. The size and hardness of the balls, which varies with balls produced by different manufacturers, and balls of various age and degrees of wear will affect the consistency and accuracy of pitches. Using a "mixed bag" of balls will result in a number of pitches being throw outside the strike zone. So, to obtain the best results, we recommend using only balls of the same type and age. Further, pitching machine balls that are extra soft will tend to be thrown lower and slower by the MPM (and conversely, balls that are harder will throw higher and faster). There are dozens of manufacturers of machine balls and we have not tested every ball available but of the balls we have used we have found the Baden PSBRSY (yellow machine ball with red simulated seams) pitching machine ball to work best with the MPM.
3. Accuracy, does the MPM consistently throw pitches in the same spot every time? No! The ball shooting through the FAS ball feeder track causes the MPM to move (very slightly) as the ball is fed onto the throwing wheels causing some variance in location from pitch to pitch. Using a consistent set of balls the MPM will generally throw strikes but it tends to spray the ball around in, and on the corners, of the strike zone.
4. Is this machine simple and easy to use (is it appropriate for young players or new coaches)? No! The MPM has 3 wheels and 3 speed controls and can throw pitches at 70+ MPH with either back-spin or top-spin. It was designed to be used by experienced coaches and players at the high school or college level. Also, the speed controls and throwing wheels are fairly sensitive and adjustment of any one of the 3 controls can affect the spin on the ball and the elevation of the pitch. The user (a) should be knowledgeable as to how ball spin will affect the flight of a pitch (drop ball, rise ball, etc.) and (b) will need to invest some time learning how the machine will perform with their pitching machine balls.
5. How do you set the speed and type of pitch to throw? Two "pitch" speed control dials (controlling the speed of the top and bottom throwing wheels) are used to set the pitch speed and type of pitch. Separately, another "arm" speed control dial on the FAS (Fast-pitch Arm Simulator) is used to set the speed of the ball as it is fed through the circular ball track (simulating the arm rotation speed of a pitcher). The two "pitch" dials are calibrated in mph. For fastballs, bracket the desired pitch speed by setting one dial 5 to 10 mph faster than the other (for example, to throw a top-spin fastball at 55 mph, set the top dial to 57.5 and the bottom dial to 52.5). To throw breaking pitches (drop, rise, etc.) increase or decrease the speed of the top or bottom throwing wheel (continuing with the previous example, to throw a drop-ball reduce the speed of the bottom wheel 5 to 10 mph, top-spin will be increased and the pitch will drop or, to throw a rise ball, increase the speed of the bottom wheel 10 to 12 mph, the spin on the ball will be reversed and the ball will be thrown higher). The FAS or "arm" speed control is used to either; (a) set the ball feed speed to match the ball pitch speed, (b) set the "arm" speed to emulate and opposing pitcher (some pitchers have a quicker arm rotation while others are somewhat slower), or (c) effectively throw the change-up by leaving the "arm" speed at the fastball setting and reducing the "pitch" speed dials (the hitter "sees" the rapid arm emulation speed but the MPM actually throws a much slower pitch).
The MPM uses 110/115v AC. If you choose to use a portable generator, approximately 500 watts of power are required.
7. Is this product backed by a warranty? The MPM has a 1-2-3 year limited warranty; 1 year on the throwing wheels, 2 years on the electrical components (motors and speed controls) and 3 years on the remainder of the machine.
8. How is it constructed; how big is it; how much does it weigh? The MPM consist of 3 parts; (1) the transport cart (base), (2) FP-II pitching machine, and (3) FAS ball feeder loop. All 3 pieces are constructed with formed/wielded steel with a powder coat finish. The cart weighs approximately 40 lbs., the pitching machine approximately 50 lbs. and the feeder track approximately 30 lbs. Assembled, the MPM is 5.5 ft. tall and has a foot-print of approximately 30" wide by 30" long. And, the unit breaks down into the 3 components for storage or shipment (a wrench is required to assemble or break-down the 3 pieces).
As the photo's show, it is really easy to move the MPM; simply tilt it back onto the cart wheels to roll it from location to location. It's designed to roll through a standard 30" wide door and you do not have to lift the machine for set-up or storage. To transport the machine by automobile, it breaks down into 3 components (the base/cart, pitching machine and ball feeder track). And, if space is tight, the legs on the cart can be folded. However, because of the 3 ft. diameter FAS ball feeder track the machine is somewhat larger than most pitching machines.
10. Will the MPM throw baseballs? No; the machine is designed exclusively to throw softballs, specifically fast-pitch style.
11. Can the machine be used to throw fly-balls or pop-ups? No; the MPM can be used to throw line-drives or ground balls but it is not designed for that purpose. It is designed to be a fast-pitch pitching machine instead of a general purpose ball throwing machine..
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