JUGS mini3 Fastpitch Softball Pitching Machine
The JUGS mini3 Fastpitch Softball Pitching Machine is a three-wheel fastpitch softball pitching machine built for game-like softball practice. It throws seven preset pitches, including fastballs, risers, drop balls, curveballs and screwballs, at speeds from 30 to 70 mph, and it handles regulation softballs so hitters train with the ball they see in games. A transport cart and compact design make it practical for softball coaches who move between fields, travel programs that share a facility, and families serious about a backyard cage.
The mini3 Softball covers a wide range of players, from backyard and youth league hitters through high school, college and professional softball programs, plus hitting facilities. It is equally at home running a hitting station and feeding ground balls, fly balls and catcher blocking reps once batting practice is done.
Seven Softball Pitches From One Dial
Softball hitters have to handle a pitch that rises, a pitch that drops and pitches that run away from or into them, often from the same pitcher in the same at-bat. The Select-A-Pitch dial on the mini3 Softball puts seven preset pitches at the turn of a knob: fastballs, right- and left-handed curveballs, right- and left-handed screwballs, risers and drop balls.
That variety lets a coach build rounds around what a lineup actually faces. A hitter who chases the riser can see nothing but risers until she learns to lay off the high pitch, then mix in drop balls to train keeping the barrel on plane through the bottom of the zone. Right- and left-handed versions of the curveball and screwball let hitters practice against movement in both directions.
The three-wheel design is what makes pitch changes quick. Three wheels grip the softball at once for better contact and accurate pitch control, and because the machine never has to be rotated to change pitches, a coach can call a drop ball after a riser without walking out to re-aim.
Adjustable Speed From 30 to 70 mph
Speed on the mini3 Softball is set digitally from 30 to 70 mph. The LCD readout, a liquid crystal display, shows both the speed and the pitch selection, so a coach can confirm the setting at a glance before the next hitter steps in and repeat it exactly at the next practice.
The range suits short toss and high-velocity hitting drills alike. Younger softball players can start at the low end, while high school and college hitters can work at or above the speeds they will see in games. Moving the machine closer to the plate shortens reaction time, which is a simple way to make a moderate speed play faster.
Hitters Track the Ball Out of the Chute
Timing a machine is hard when the ball appears out of nowhere. The mini3 uses the Always-See-The-Ball delivery system: a black hitter's eye ball chute gives the batter an unobstructed view from the machine to the hitting zone. Hitters can see the ball as it is fed, start their load on a real cue, and practice tracking the pitch the way they would against a pitcher.
Fine and Full-Range Aiming
The vertical micro-adjustment, called Pinpoint control, handles small changes in pitch height so a coach can move a pitch from the knees to the letters without starting over. Vertical and horizontal macro adjustment levers handle the big moves: the vertical lever raises the head for fly balls up to 250 feet, and the horizontal lever gives a full 360 degrees of rotation for practice across the whole field.
Defensive Drills for Every Position
The mini3 Softball is as useful in the field as it is at the plate. With realistic speed and spin it can feed:
- Fly ball drills: infield fly balls, deep fly balls and hooking fly balls up to 250 feet.
- Infield drills: ground balls for every infield position, second base tagging drills and double play drills.
- Catcher blocking drills: catchers can block balls that replicate each of the machine's pitches, including the riser and drop ball.
For a softball coach running practice alone, that means one machine can take over the repetitive feeding work and let the coach watch footwork and glove work instead of throwing.
Easy to Move Between Fields
Moving the machine is handled with a transport cart: insert the handle, tilt the machine and roll it. That, along with a compact and lightweight design, makes it practical to go from the cage to the infield to a different field without a second set of hands. For power, the mini3 Softball runs on 110-volt alternating current (AC) from a standard outlet, or on a Bluetti AC70P portable power supply when there is no outlet nearby.
Built for Daily Use
The mini3 Softball runs on 9-inch non-marking pneumatic Grip-Tite tires. Air-filled tires hold their grip on the ball for accurate pitches and will not melt, crack or chunk the way solid tires can, and the non-marking rubber is friendly to indoor floors. Three 1/4 horsepower (HP) motors drive the wheels, each protected by its own cast-aluminum motor guard against direct hits, and the frame uses cast aluminum and steel construction for long-lasting durability.
Softballs the mini3 Throws
The mini3 Softball is built to handle all regulation softballs. It throws JUGS LeatherLast softballs, Sting-Free softballs, Lite-Flite softballs, Softie softballs and Bulldog Polyballs. Many coaches keep a bucket of dimpled practice softballs for machine work and save leather balls for the drills where feel matters most. A JUGS Back-Saver Portable Ball Basket keeps the supply next to the feeder.
Who the JUGS mini3 Softball Machine Is For
- Softball coaches who want one machine for hitting, infield, outfield and catcher work.
- High school and college softball programs that want risers, drop balls and breaking pitches from both sides without a second machine.
- Travel and youth softball teams that want a machine players grow into, from 30 mph up to 70 mph.
- Families with a backyard cage and a softball player who needs game-like pitches between team practices.
- Hitting facilities that need quick pitch and speed changes between lessons.
Programs using the mini3 Softball include Oregon State University softball.
How to Use the mini3 Softball in Practice
- Riser discipline: set the riser at game speed and have hitters take any pitch above the hands.
- Drop ball rounds: alternate drop balls and fastballs so hitters learn to stay through the bottom of the zone.
- Pitch calls: mix pitches and have hitters call the pitch out loud before they swing.
- Short toss: move the machine closer and lower the speed for high-repetition swing work.
- Infield and double play rounds: rotate the machine with the horizontal lever and feed each position in turn.
- Catcher blocking: run drop balls and screwballs in the dirt so catchers practice blocking real movement.
Set up a protective screen in front of the machine whenever hitters are swinging. To let hitters work without someone feeding balls, the JUGS Carousel Automatic Ball Feeder is made in a version for this machine; choose the Softball - mini3 option.
How the mini3 Softball Fits in the JUGS Three-Wheel Lineup
The mini3 is the portable member of the JUGS three-wheel softball family, and its 30 mph floor makes it the one that reaches down to younger hitters. The JUGS SP3 Softball Pitching Machine throws the same seven pitch types from 45 to 75 mph, and the JUGS BP3 Softball Pitching Machine with Changeup adds a changeup to its pitch menu across the same 45 to 75 mph range. Programs facing elite pitching every week often look at those two; programs that want one machine to move easily between fields, work with a wide age range and run defensive drills often choose the mini3. If you also coach baseball, the JUGS mini3 Baseball Pitching Machine is the baseball version, with eight baseball pitches from 30 to 80 mph.
JUGS mini3 Fastpitch Softball Pitching Machine Specifications
- Sport: softball
- Design: three-wheel pitching machine
- Speed range: 30-70 mph, set digitally
- Display: LCD readout showing speed and pitch selection
- Preset pitches: 7 via the Select-A-Pitch dial (fastballs, right- and left-handed curveballs, right- and left-handed screwballs, risers and drop balls)
- Delivery: Always-See-The-Ball system with black hitter's eye ball chute
- Tires: 9-inch non-marking pneumatic Grip-Tite tires
- Motors: three 1/4 HP motors, each with a cast-aluminum motor guard
- Adjustments: vertical Pinpoint micro-adjustment, vertical and horizontal macro adjustment levers with 360-degree rotation
- Fly balls: up to 250 feet
- Construction: cast aluminum and steel
- Transport: transport cart (insert handle, tilt and roll)
- Power: 110-volt AC or Bluetti AC70P portable power supply
- Balls: regulation softballs, including JUGS LeatherLast, Sting-Free, Lite-Flite, Softie softballs and Bulldog Polyballs
- Skill levels: backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professionals and hitting facilities
- Warranty: 2 years on all parts, normal wear and factory defects
Frequently Asked Questions
What pitches does the JUGS mini3 Softball machine throw?
Seven preset softball pitches: fastballs, right- and left-handed curveballs, right- and left-handed screwballs, risers and drop balls, all selected with one dial and without rotating the machine.
How fast does the mini3 Softball pitch?
Speed is set digitally from 30 to 70 mph, and the LCD readout shows the speed and the selected pitch.
What softballs can I use in it?
It handles regulation softballs, including JUGS LeatherLast, Sting-Free, Lite-Flite and Softie softballs and Bulldog Polyballs.
What do I need to power it at the field?
It runs on 110-volt AC from a standard outlet, or on a Bluetti AC70P portable power supply where there is no outlet.
Can I add an automatic ball feeder?
Yes. The JUGS Carousel Automatic Ball Feeder comes in a Softball - mini3 version made for this machine. Use a protective screen in front of the machine and feeder whenever hitters are swinging.
What warranty comes with the mini3 Softball Pitching Machine?
The JUGS mini3 Fastpitch Softball Pitching Machine carries a 2-year warranty on all parts, normal wear and factory defects.
