JUGS BP1 Softball Only Pitching Machine

The JUGS BP1 Softball Only Pitching Machine is a dedicated softball machine built for advanced hitters who need to practice against game-speed pitching. A digital readout sets velocity anywhere from 15 to 70 mph, and the machine throws risers, fastballs and drops on a game-appropriate underhand angle from a release point designed to resemble a live pitcher. High school, college and advanced travel ball softball players get the timing reps they need, and the 360 degree swivel base turns the same machine into a fly ball, pop-up and ground ball trainer for defensive work.

Because it is set up for softball only, there are no baseball conversion parts to swap or store. It comes standard with a 12-inch softball chute, plugs into a standard 110V outlet, and the steel frame breaks down so one person can transport it and set it up. Choose the Without Cart option for the machine on its own, or the With Cart option to get the machine together with the JUGS Softball Transport Cart, which lets you tilt the machine back and roll it wherever practice is happening.

Game-Speed Softball Pitching from 15 to 70 mph

Timing is the skill that separates advanced softball hitters, and timing only develops against pitches that arrive at a realistic speed. The BP1 Softball covers a wide speed range, from 15 mph for slow warm-up and bunting work up to 70 mph for players who see high-level pitching on game day. That top end is what makes this machine a fit for older players: a hitter who faces fast pitching every weekend gets very little from a machine that cannot get near that speed.

The digital speed display gives you precise control over velocity. A coach can set a number and know that every pitch in the round is thrown at that number, so a hitter can work on getting the barrel to the ball on time instead of guessing at a speed that drifts from pitch to pitch. Repeatable speed also makes it easy to build a session with a plan: start a few mph below game speed to groove the swing, step up to game speed, then finish a little above it so the next live at-bat feels slower.

The higher speed range pays off on the defensive side too. There is enough velocity at the top of the range to send fly balls deep into the outfield, and infield flies and catcher pop-ups can be thrown higher than a slower machine allows, which is exactly the kind of ball that is hard to replicate with a fungo bat.

Risers, Fastballs and Drops for Real At-Bats

Hitting a straight pitch at one speed builds a swing, but softball pitching moves. The BP1 Softball throws risers, fastballs and drops, so hitters can practice against the pitches they will actually see from a good softball pitcher instead of a single straight ball.

Each pitch type trains something different. Fastball rounds sharpen timing and teach a short, direct path to the ball. Riser rounds teach discipline at the top of the zone, where hitters learn which pitches to lay off and which to drive. Drop rounds teach a hitter to stay through the ball rather than pulling off it. Working these pitch types at a set speed lets a hitter see the same look over and over until the adjustment becomes automatic, which is very hard to get from live pitching alone.

A Softball Delivery Height and Angle

The BP1 Softball is designed specifically for softball, so pitches come in on a game-appropriate underhand angle. The release point is set to mimic the plane of a live pitcher, which gives hitters a more realistic look than a machine set at an overhand height. When the angle and plane are right, the swing a hitter builds against the machine carries over to game at-bats instead of being tuned to a pitch they will never see.

This also matters for younger advanced players moving up to higher-level softball. Seeing a realistic angle at game speed in practice shortens the adjustment period when the pitching they face gets faster.

360 Degree Swivel Base for Defensive Drills

The swivel base rotates a full 360 degrees, so the same machine that throws batting practice can be pointed up, down or across the field for fielding work. Angle it high for fly balls and pop-ups, or angle it down for ground balls. Coaches can run an outfield round, an infield round and a catcher pop-up round without moving the machine to a new spot each time.

Machine-fed fielding drills give every player the same ball, which makes it easy to correct footwork and glove work rep after rep. A fungo bat is great for game-like variety, but a machine is how you give a shortstop 25 identical backhands in a row or give a catcher repeated high pop-ups that drift the same way each time.

16-Inch Pneumatic Tire and Steel Frame

The BP1 Softball throws with a 16-inch non-marking pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire provides smooth delivery and will not crack or chunk the way some other throwing tires can, which helps keep pitches consistent over a long season of team practices.

The frame is steel, durable enough for daily team use yet light enough that the machine breaks down easily for one person to transport and set up. For a coach who loads equipment alone before and after practice, that matters as much as anything on the spec sheet.

Without Cart or With Cart: How the Transport Cart Works

This listing comes in two options. The Without Cart option is the BP1 Softball machine by itself. The With Cart option includes the machine plus the JUGS Softball Transport Cart, a wheeled cart made for the BP1 Softball and the JUGS Changeup Super Softball Pitching Machine.

The cart is about moving the machine without carrying it. Once the machine is attached to the cart's base, you insert the handle, tilt the machine back and roll it to the cage, the infield or the outfield. If your machine lives in a shed, a storage room or the back of a field house and has to travel to the diamond for every practice, the cart turns a two-trip carry into a single roll. If you already own the cart or plan to carry the machine, the Without Cart option is the one to choose.

Power Options

The BP1 Softball runs on standard 110V AC power, so a normal outlet is all you need at a field with power. For fields without an outlet, the machine can also run from a BLUETTI AC70P portable power station.

Who the JUGS BP1 Softball Pitching Machine Is For

This softball pitching machine is aimed at players and programs whose skills demand practicing at game-like speeds. It is a strong match for:

• High school softball programs that want a machine that keeps up with varsity-level hitters and doubles as a fielding machine
• College softball teams running high-volume batting practice and defensive work
• Advanced travel ball teams and players who see fast pitching on weekends and need to match it during the week
• Private hitting instructors who want precise, repeatable speeds for lessons
• Families of advanced softball players who train in a backyard or facility cage

Pitching machine leagues, high schools and USA Softball teams use the BP1 Softball. If you need one machine for both baseball and softball, look at the JUGS BP1 Combo Pitching Machine instead, and if changing speeds on the hitter is the priority, the Changeup Super Softball adds a fastball and changeup mode with remote control.

Training Applications

A single machine can run most of a softball practice. A few ways teams and players put the BP1 Softball to work:

• Speed ladder rounds: start below game speed, move to game speed, then finish a few mph above it so live pitching feels manageable
• Pitch-type rounds: a set of fastballs, then risers, then drops, with the hitter calling her plan before each round
• Bunting and slap work at lower speeds, where a consistent pitch lets the hitter focus on bat angle and placement
• Situational hitting: hit-and-run, behind the runner and two-strike approach rounds at a fixed speed
• Outfield fly ball rounds with the swivel base angled up, including deep balls that make outfielders go back
• Infield ground ball rounds with the base angled down for repeatable footwork reps
• Catcher pop-up rounds, a drill that is hard to run with a fungo bat
• Station practices where one group hits off the machine in the cage while others field or run

Anyone feeding balls into a machine at these speeds should work behind a protective screen. A screen like the JUGS Instant Screen or a dedicated softball pitcher screen keeps the feeder protected from line drives.

Balls to Use with the BP1 Softball

The BP1 Softball throws 11-inch or 12-inch softballs. It works with JUGS LeatherLast, Sting-Free, Lite-Flite and SOFTIE softballs as well as BULLDOG polyballs. For everyday team batting practice, Sting-Free Dimpled Softballs are a common choice. Lite-Flite Softballs suit lighter, lower-impact sessions, and Softie Genuine Leather Practice Softballs give a leather-covered option for practice.

JUGS BP1 Softball Pitching Machine Specifications

• Sport: softball only
• Speed range: 15 to 70 mph
• Speed control: digital speed readout
• Pitch types: risers, fastballs and drops
• Delivery: game-appropriate underhand angle designed for softball
• Ball sizes: 11-inch or 12-inch softballs
• Chute: 12-inch softball chute standard; 11-inch chute sold separately
• Compatible balls: JUGS LeatherLast, Sting-Free, Lite-Flite and SOFTIE softballs, BULLDOG polyballs
• Tire: 16-inch non-marking pneumatic tire
• Base: 360 degree swivel for fly balls, pop-ups and ground balls
• Frame: steel, breaks down for one-person transport and setup
• Power: 110V AC (U.S.) or BLUETTI AC70P portable power station
• Skill level: high school, college and advanced travel ball softball
• Options: Without Cart, or With Cart (includes the JUGS Softball Transport Cart)

What Is Included

• Without Cart: the JUGS BP1 Softball Only Pitching Machine with a 12-inch softball chute
• With Cart: the same machine plus the JUGS Softball Transport Cart

Softballs, an 11-inch chute and a protective screen are not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the BP1 Softball throw 11-inch softballs?

Yes. The machine throws 11-inch or 12-inch softballs. It comes standard with a 12-inch softball chute, and the 11-inch chute is sold separately, so plan on adding that chute if your players use 11-inch balls.

What is the difference between the Without Cart and With Cart options?

The machine is the same in both. The With Cart option adds the JUGS Softball Transport Cart, which attaches to the machine's base so you can insert the handle, tilt the machine back and roll it from storage to the field. Choose Without Cart if you already have the cart or plan to carry the machine.

Can I use this machine for baseball?

No. The BP1 Softball is a softball-only machine. If you need to pitch both baseballs and softballs, the BP1 Combo comes with a baseball chute, a softball chute and the legs for each sport.

Does the BP1 Softball throw changeups?

The BP1 Softball throws risers, fastballs and drops. If you want to switch between a fastball and a changeup during a round without the hitter knowing, the Changeup Super Softball is built for that with a hand-held remote.

Can I run it at a field without power?

Yes. In addition to a standard 110V outlet, the machine can run from a BLUETTI AC70P portable power station, which lets you take batting practice to fields that have no outlet nearby.

Is the BP1 Softball a good fit for younger players?

It is designed for advanced softball players, and its 15 to 70 mph range is built around practicing at game-like speeds for high school, college and advanced travel ball. Because the speed starts at 15 mph, it can be dialed down for slower work, but programs focused on younger or beginning players often prefer the BP1 Combo, which is positioned for youth and machine-pitch leagues as well as older players.