If you’ve watched baseball at all for the last couple of decades, you know that the road to success isn’t what it used to be.
Old-school platitudes like “see the ball, hit the ball” and “throw strike one” don’t cut it in today’s game, which now mixes modern technology with tried-and-true traditional tactics.
That new technology applies to practice, too. Back in the day, the practice was a fairly casual affair, but today’s game is built on repetition to train muscle memory and good game-day habits.
If you’re going to coach or play at a high level, you need a complete array of proper equipment to support your efforts on the field, and that includes a batting practice platform. There are many benefits to using a good one, so let’s explore some of the possibilities.
What is a Batting Practice Platform?
One look at a batting practice platform will give you a partial idea of what it is.
At the simplest level, it’s a ramp designed for pitchers to throw off during batting practice so they don’t tear up the mound.
Look beneath the surface, though, and you’ll quickly discover that a batting practice platform is more sophisticated than it first seems.
The materials used to make the best batting practice platforms are first-rate, and they’re designed for very specific purposes.
What are the Benefits of Batting Practice Platforms for Hitting and Practicing in Baseball?
So what are we talking about? Start with the fact that high-end batting practice platforms are often covered with artificial turf to make them safe for cleats.
Smooth practice & improved performance
They also prevent slipping, which is especially important for taller pitchers with longer first steps and inexperienced pitchers who are still working out kinks in their delivery.
This material helps extend the life of the batting practice platform, too, so it’s a win-win all around for both users and buyers.
Helps Prevent Injuries
The rubber backing underneath the turf itself is important, too. Without it, marks in the turf would quickly start to form with extended use, which would shorten the life of the product. The backing also absorbs some of the shocks from the pitcher’s landing foot, which can help prevent injury.
Durability
The design of these batting practice platforms isn’t simple, either.
Many products use sophisticated computer-aided design to make sure they have specific amateur and professional specs, and the materials they’re made from are tested extensively for both toughness and durability.
Maintenance-free
They’re relatively maintenance-free, and many of the necessary maintenance procedures are fairly basic—i.e., simple cleaning or replacing the turf if possible.
Portability
While all of those things are important, there’s another aspect of these platforms that’s important to coaches and players—portability.
They need to be light enough to carry when it’s time to hit the gym for indoor practice using batting practice frames, and sometimes this happens on the fly due to alternate weather or changing field conditions.
Good quality
Speaking of field conditions, that might be the most important function of the batting practice platform.
Pitching mounds get torn up in a hurry, especially with fields that are in constant use, and batting practice platforms allow players to get quality reps while still maintaining the quality of the pitching mound.
More Baseball Benefits With Batting Practice Platforms
We’ve already touched on some of the benefits of using a batting practice platform, but it’s important to take a deeper dive into some of the more significant ones.
Start with authenticity. It’s hard to get quality reps without a field and a pitching surface that replicates game conditions, and quality batting practice platforms do just that.
The most obvious benefit here is for pitchers. In addition to preventing injury, batting practice platforms allow them to fine-tune their delivery, which in turn allows them to throw harder and locate better.
It’s easy to experiment with throwing off different sides of a pitching rubber, for instance, if you’re doing it from a batting practice platform designed to hold up for thousands of reps.
That same kind of authenticity benefits hitters as well. Rather than soft tossing easy pitches from a flat surface, pitchers can work on their delivery and pitches with live hitters who will get experience tracking both speed and location.
Baseball Pitching Machines and Pitching Machine Balls
Finally, it’s important to note that a good batting practice platform should be part of a sophisticated equipment setup.
Apart from having a good batting practice platform, you also need:
- Batting cage
- Baseball pitching machines
- Pitching machine balls
- Pitching screen
Using a batting cage, pitching machines, pitching machine balls, a pitching screen, and other basic equipment can help improve performance immeasurably, so it’s worth the investment to put together the right pieces of equipment.
Even if your program is operating on a tight budget, though, getting a quality batting practice platform is both a great addition and a good place to start.
Every play starts with the ball in the pitcher’s hand, after all, and it’s amazing what these platforms can do to improve performance while maintaining field conditions.
The Victory Mounds Solution
At Victory Mounds, we sell products and services that can help you up your game, whether it’s baseball or softball.
Our products include batting practice mounds, baseball pitching equipment, portable pitching mounds, and a full array of field equipment and products, and we also provide consulting services for field maintenance, starting an indoor hitting facility, or promoting your facility business.
Contact Victory Mounds Today!
To up your game with us, call us at 800-835-9460, or email us at info@victorymounds.com.
You can see our products at victorymounds.com, and we’ve got some great blogs to help you understand what they can do for you and your program.