Kenko 8.7B Dimpled Baseballs - Dozen

The Kenko 8.7B dimpled baseball is a durable, machine-compatible ball designed for pitching machines and high-volume batting practice. Sold by the dozen, these dimpled baseballs provide consistent flight and reliable performance through thousands of pitches, making them a practical choice for baseball programs, training facilities, and backyard batting practice setups that go through balls quickly.

Dimpled baseballs are the standard ball type for most pitching machines because the uniform surface pattern creates predictable trajectories pitch after pitch. Unlike leather baseballs that break down quickly under machine use and can damage feeding mechanisms, the Kenko 8.7B is purpose-built to run through pitching machines without the wear and tear that shortens equipment life.

Why Dimpled Baseballs Matter for Machine Pitch Training

Pitching machines rely on consistent ball shape and surface texture to deliver accurate, repeatable pitches. Leather baseballs lose their shape after repeated machine use, and the raised seams create irregular spin that produces unpredictable movement. Dimpled baseballs like the Kenko 8.7B solve both problems. The molded construction holds its shape over extended use, and the dimpled surface interacts with machine wheels consistently so hitters see the same pitch location and speed on every delivery.

For baseball players working on timing, swing mechanics, or pitch recognition at different speeds, that consistency matters. When every pitch arrives in roughly the same spot at the same velocity, hitters can isolate specific aspects of their swing without compensating for erratic machine output. This is especially important for youth baseball players who are still developing fundamental hitting mechanics and need reliable repetitions to build muscle memory.

Kenko 8.7B Construction and Durability

The Kenko 8.7B uses a solid molded construction that resists cracking and deformation even after heavy use. The dimpled surface pattern is engineered for compatibility with wheel-style and arm-style pitching machines from major manufacturers. The ball maintains its round shape through repeated impacts with machine wheels, bat strikes, and backstop collisions, which means consistent performance over a longer usable lifespan than leather baseballs in machine-pitch applications.

Kenko balls are manufactured by Nagase Kenko, a Japanese company with decades of experience producing training baseballs and softballs used across youth leagues, high school programs, and professional training environments worldwide. The Kenko brand is distributed in the United States through Markwort Sporting Goods, a long-standing supplier of baseball and softball training equipment.

Ideal Uses for the Kenko 8.7B Dimpled Baseball

These dimpled baseballs perform well across a range of baseball training scenarios where durability and consistency take priority over the feel of a regulation leather baseball.

Pitching Machine Use

The primary application for the Kenko 8.7B is feeding through pitching machines. Whether a baseball facility runs single-wheel, dual-wheel, or arm-style machines, dimpled balls are the recommended ball type for most manufacturers. They reduce wear on machine components and deliver more consistent pitch locations compared to leather baseballs, which deform and feed irregularly as they break down.

High-Volume Batting Practice

Baseball programs that run daily batting practice sessions burn through balls quickly. Dimpled balls hold up significantly longer than leather baseballs under repetitive hitting, which lowers the per-session cost of batting practice over the course of a season. For travel baseball teams, high school programs, and training facilities that see heavy daily use, the economics of dimpled baseballs make them the practical choice for machine-fed BP.

Batting Cage Operations

Commercial and private baseball batting cages rely on dimpled balls almost exclusively because of the combination of durability, consistent machine feeding, and cost efficiency. The Kenko 8.7B is well-suited for cage environments where balls take thousands of hits and need to maintain their shape and performance characteristics throughout their service life.

Backyard and Garage Practice

For families with a pitching machine at home, dimpled baseballs are the way to go. They last longer than leather balls, feed more reliably through consumer-grade machines, and cost less to replace. Baseball players who want to get in extra swings outside of organized practice benefit from having a reliable supply of machine-compatible balls on hand.

What to Expect from Dimpled Baseballs vs. Leather Baseballs

Players transitioning between dimpled ball batting practice and live at-bats with regulation leather baseballs should understand a few differences. Dimpled baseballs come off the bat with a slightly different feel and sound than leather baseballs. The flight characteristics differ somewhat because the dimpled surface interacts with air differently than raised seams. Exit speeds and distances will not match leather ball performance exactly.

However, the core training benefits remain intact. Timing, pitch tracking, swing path, and bat speed development all transfer directly from dimpled ball practice to game situations. Most baseball coaches and hitting instructors consider dimpled ball machine work an essential supplement to live batting practice rather than a replacement for it. The high volume of quality repetitions that machine-fed dimpled balls enable is difficult to replicate any other way.

Who the Kenko 8.7B Dimpled Baseballs Are For

These baseballs are a fit for anyone running a pitching machine for baseball training purposes. Specifically, they work well for:

• Youth baseball programs using pitching machines for player development and game preparation
• High school and travel baseball teams that run machine-fed batting practice as part of their regular training routine
• Baseball training facilities and batting cage operations that need durable, consistent balls for daily use
• Coaches who throw machine-fed BP and need balls that deliver repeatable pitches for focused skill work
• Families with home pitching machines who want a reliable, long-lasting supply of practice baseballs
• Baseball players at any level looking to supplement their training with high-volume hitting sessions

Kenko 8.7B Dimpled Baseballs Specifications

• Brand: Kenko (manufactured by Nagase Kenko)
• Model: 8.7B
• Manufacturer Part Number: 87B
• Ball Type: Dimpled baseball
• Quantity: 12 balls per dozen
• Construction: Solid molded dimpled design
• Intended Use: Pitching machines and batting practice
• Distributed by: Markwort Sporting Goods

What's Included

Each order includes one dozen (12) Kenko 8.7B dimpled baseballs. These are sold as a set of 12 balls. No additional accessories or equipment are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Kenko 8.7B work with my pitching machine?

Dimpled baseballs are compatible with virtually all wheel-style and arm-style pitching machines designed for baseball use. Check your machine manufacturer's recommendations for ball type and size to confirm compatibility, but most machines that accept standard-size baseballs will work with the Kenko 8.7B.

How long do dimpled baseballs last?

Dimpled baseballs last significantly longer than leather baseballs in machine-pitch and batting practice applications. The exact lifespan depends on usage volume, machine type, and storage conditions, but most programs find that dimpled balls outlast leather alternatives by a wide margin when used in pitching machines.

Can I use these for soft toss or front toss?

Yes. While the primary application is pitching machine use, dimpled baseballs work fine for soft toss, front toss, and tee work. They provide a firm, consistent hitting surface for any type of baseball batting practice drill.

Are dimpled baseballs safe for youth baseball players?

Dimpled baseballs are firm and can cause injury on contact with the body, just like leather baseballs. Proper safety precautions, including helmets with face guards for young hitters and protective screens for coaches, should always be used during baseball batting practice regardless of ball type.

Do these balls work for softball pitching machines?

The Kenko 8.7B is a baseball-sized dimpled ball. It is not designed for softball pitching machines, which require larger diameter balls. If you need dimpled balls for softball use, look for dimpled softballs specifically sized for softball machines.