Batting practice with a pitching machine can be more productive when you move your batters up closer to the machine in increments.

Insuring the safety of the feeder, protective screening is required. No batter may be any closer than 25ft from the machine, and must wear a helmet/facemask.

Set the machine at the normal speed for the age. Move the batter up 1 ft every five pitches to a final destination of 5 ft closer to the machine, making sure the alignment remains the same (feed practice ball through prior to batter entering the advancing batter box).

You will notice that the batter is required to launch and execute more rapidly with every incremental move. She will most likely be missing most of the 5 balls at the closest station. Keep her at the closest station until she makes contact with a ball. Then move her back incrementally and you will see that she will make better contact with the ball back at the original plate.

You can increase speed after each completed cycle. This improves the hitting decision making process, and gives the batter more confidence in facing faster pitching.