Zooka Pitching Machine

by Zooka

Product Features

• Battery operated baseball pitching machine sends about 500 pitches at speeds of up to 65 mph
• Can be used for infield and outfield drills
• Almost any type of 9in ball can be used (always test accuracy before performing live drills)
• Lightweight and easily portable: weighs only 30 lbs.
• Manufacturers 1-year limited guarantee; 6 month guarantee on battery

Product Description

The Zooka pitching machine is the perfect economical baseball pitching machine. Battery operated and easily portable, weighing only 30 lbs. Fully charged, it can deliver around 500 pitches at speeds up to 65 MPH. It can also be used for infield and outfield drills. Most any type of 9 ball can be used (always test accuracy before performing live drills). One Year Limited Guarantee Six Month Guarantee on Battery

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 170 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0000BZEWY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,216 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #20 in Sports & Outdoors > Team Sports > Baseball > Training Equipment > Pitching Machines

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Can Afford It..., January 7, 2009

By 

Giordano Bruno (Wherever I am, I am.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Zooka Pitching Machine (Misc.)

... this is probably the Rolls Royce of portable pitching machines. It's easy to use (for the dad's or the coach's benefit), it can pitch either the rubber ball that come with it or real baseballs, even badly scuffed ones. It can't deliver a fastball over 65mph, but with real baseballs it comes close to simulating a knuckle ball. It's sturdy and durable.

My son got his while he was in Little League - a city all-star, by the way, chiefly for his defensive play. He used it for three seasons, in the third season mostly for firing pop-ups and high line drives to be tracked down. He kept it in clean condition. Now that he's graduating from high school, he decided to sell it on e-Bay; he got an immediate response and sold it for a bit over half what we paid for it in 2002. Not a bad re-sale value.

There's no such thing as equality in sports. Playing opportunities favor some kids over others. Boys whose fathers were athletes have the advantage in every way, both coaching and heredity. Some towns and some school have decent fields and classy batting cages. And some families can afford summer camps, private lessons, top-quality gloves, and zookas. After years of volunteer coaching and grounds-keeping, I wish the playing fields could be leveler. If you buy this machine to give your kid that 'competitive edge,' do society a favor and teach him to share it as much as possible with less privileged peers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This pitching machine is awesome!, May 4, 2005

By 

Steve the "baseball dad" (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

For youth baseball, this machine is fantastic. I bought this machine a year ago to help my son and his buddy, both 8 years old at the time, improve their hitting. They had just started playing at the kids pitch level (as opposed to coach pitch) and were having trouble adjusting to the new regimen.

This machine is so portable and easy to set up that we use it three to four times a week at the local ball park. It throws ptiches are that plenty fast enough to challenge any batter up to an through middle school. My machine will shoot the ball at speeds up to 72 MPH consistently.

With the right swing mechanics and repetition, my son has gone from being a so-so hitter to one of the best in the league. He has also improved his power dramatically and can easily hit a home run in his league (fences are at 160 feet). He is currently 9 years old and is average size.

We also use the machine to shoot pop ups. when people see the machine shoot a pop up at full power, they are always amazed. At first, my son coulnd't catch a full power pop up to save his life, but with lots of practice, he can consistently catch them today. By the way, they go higher than any kid could ever hit one. I've only seen pros hit pop ups like these.

The best thing about this machine is that it is light, portable and quick to set up. this translates to frequent use and that is what will improve your kids hitting and fielding ability. I considered many other machines but decided to buy this one because I knew that ease of set up and use were the key to frequent use.

I keep my machine in my van charging off an inverter, so it is ready at anytime for use.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best! Saved us a fortune and still going strong after FOUR years., December 22, 2010

By 

Eristic (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zooka Pitching Machine (Misc.)

We bought the higher end Zooka and ball feeder four years ago. I never expected the product would hold up as well as it did and figured if we got year out of it, that was good enough to justify the costs of team trips to the batting cages etc.

In every respect, it has exceeded our expectations. The machine is durable, the battery lasts easily more then two hours and the company is great about support. After three years of extensive use, we had to replace a few parts. In trepidation, I called the company, not even sure if they were in business, etc. I got a real person who was very helpful and who sold me only what I needed. Our Zooka stands out in my mind as one of the best values for the money of ALL the purchases I've made in the last twenty years.

To get the most out of the machine, there are a few things to know (which are specified in the manual and yet I've seen people in our league use the Zooka and complain it's not accurate.) First, if you want the most accurate pitching, use the dimpled balls. Generally, use the same color and density balls and you will get the most consistent results. Second, when you're ready for the next challenge, use game balls. The stitches make for much more variation. Third, just when you think you've gotten everything you can out of your Zooka, check the owners manual. You can vary the speed at all levels AND you can vary the mix of pitches. Even the most experienced kids will find themselves forced to concentrate very carefully.

We've also used our Zooka to practice flyballs, infield etc., excellent for this too.

4/1/11
Our Zooka is STILL going strong. I applaud the designers. Thanks for making a quality product!