For baseball players and coaches who want to compete at the highest levels of the game, few pieces of equipment are more important than game mounds. They provide the same level of quality as the mounds used in real games, and they also provide a variety of other subtler advantages that are essential at the upper levels.
For many fans and casual observers, game mounds tend to operate very much under the radar. Both pros and prospects are well aware of the advantages they offer, though, so let’s take a look at what they are, how they’re built, and how players and coaches use game mounds to get the vital edge they seek.
Game Mounds: The Perfect Pitching Mound Tool
One of the issues surrounding game mounds is that it’s easy to get confused by mound terminology.
Specifically, that means knowing the difference between a game mound, a portable game mound, a practice mound and a portable practice mound.
The one thing that all these terms have in common is their purpose—i.e., to at least some extent, they’re all designed to be substitutes for the real mounds that are used in game competition. Beyond that, there are some important differences.
Game Mounds Replicate Real Mounds
Game mounds don’t completely replicate the real thing, but they come extremely close. They replicate the dimensions and conditions of those real mounds, which means they can be used for both practice, and, in a pinch, in games themselves.
They’re also portable, which is a major advantage. That’s why teams, coaches and players buy and use them—they make practice more authentic, which means pitchers can develop their skills and perfect their deliveries through repetition.
How Game Mounds are Made for Pitching in a Sports Facility?
That same portability allows game mounds to be used year round for indoor practice. That applies to gyms, specialized baseball facilities, and even home use for those that have the space.
That indoor capability is another huge advantage that game mounds provide. When combined with a practice mound, they give players the versatility they need to mix and match their routine and fine tune their skills.
Top Game Mounds are Built for Success
One of the best ways to get an idea of how specialized game mounds are is to take a look at the price tag for the best game mounds on the market.
Specifically, the ultimate game mounds that are actually used for competition come with a five-figure price tag. That number drops to around $5K for a game mound used for high-level youth league game mounds, but clearly these mounds are specialized equipment designed to provide a serious return on the field.
The Tech Specs for a Great Game Mound
So what are teams and leagues paying for when they purchase these mounds?
Let’s run through some of the top features they have, along with a few of the reasons why they’re so important.
High-Quality Fiberglass Mound Construction
Many practice pitching mounds are made from fiberglass, and the quality of some of these mounds is superb. But that quality pales next to those of the best game mounds.
The fiberglass used to make game mounds is extremely durable and lightweight, which means near-lifetime usage for many of these mounds, and the guarantees that are part of the purchase package reflect that level of durability.
Authentic Pitching Mound Feel
The feel of a dirt mound at the upper levels of baseball is totally unique—the mix of clay, sand and dirt is strictly dictated by the rules, and high-quality game mounds are designed to replicate that exact feel.
There’s a lot of testing that goes into getting that specific feel, but the companies that make these mounds do more than their due diligence because it’s so essential for the best players.
Perfect Turf
Nearly all practice mounds have a strip of artificial turf in the landing area—it’s essential for pitchers looking for repeatability in their delivery.
But the quality of that turf can vary greatly. With cheaper portable practice mounds the turf isn’t built to hold up, which means it must be replaced periodically.
Game mounds are different in that regard. They’re made with the same kind of artificial field turf used at some major league stadiums, and that turf will hold up for a long time.
When it does fail or get torn, that turf can also easily be repaired or replaced. It’s one of the essential luxuries with a high-quality game mound, and that durability is reflected in the warranty.
Big League Dimensions
In addition to having dirt that feels right, high-level game mounds are made to exacting MLB specs with regard to size, height and slope. Pitchers at the lower levels may be able to adapt to a lower quality practice mound, but as their skills improve, game mounds give them exactly what they need.
Game Mound Portability
Both practice mounds and game mounds are designed to be portable, but game mounds take that portability to a different level.
These usually aren’t one-piece mounds—they can be broken down into pieces that allow them to be carried easily and reassembled quickly, which saves valuable time both on and off the field.
Effective Repair Kits for a Fast Fix
Even high-level game mounds break every now and then, but they come with complete repair kits to handle any kind of fix. That means turf replacement, fixing the entire ramp launch area, or putting in a new pitching rubber if necessary.
League Mound Approval
It’s easy for some pitching mound companies to tout their products by saying they replicate MLB dimensions, but sometimes that’s only half the story.
High-end game mounds are invariably approved by multiple leagues. That means official Little League, Babe Ruth League, the Cal Ripken League, and just about every minor and independent league found in a baseball directory.
The basic concept behind this is simple—approval by multiple leagues usually indicates a very high-level product. It means that game mounds are being relied on by the best in the business, which is why game mounds are so popular in the elite leagues.
Get a Top Game Mound from Victory Mounds
At Victory Mounds, we’ve been involved in all aspects of the game, including providing game mounds. We can help you determine your pitching mound needs, get a great mound that suits you, and tailor it to your budget.
We supply information and consulting, so we’ll answer your questions, ask a few of our own about your program, then recommend the appropriate game pitching mound for your situation.
Learn More About Our Products
The process starts when you go to VictoryMounds.com to learn more about our products, then call us at 800 835 9460 to get your questions answered. You can also contact us via email at info@victorymounds.com to get your ultimate field.