JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine for Baseball and Softball
The JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine is an introductory baseball and softball pitching machine for young players learning to hit at game-like speeds. It throws from 15 to 50 mph with a digital speed readout, comes with a 9-inch chute for baseball and a 12-inch chute for fastpitch and slowpitch softball, and stands on adjustable leg sets so each sport sees a realistic release point. At 50 pounds with a grip-and-go handle, it fits a backyard cage or a youth league practice equally well.
The PS50 is aimed at backyard players and youth league programs: the stage where a hitter needs a steady diet of strikes more than a menu of breaking balls. It plugs into a standard household outlet, sets up without tools, and covers both sports, which makes it a practical first real-ball machine for a family with a baseball player and a softball player under the same roof.
One Machine for Baseball and Softball
Baseball and softball pitches come from very different places. A baseball pitch starts high and travels down toward the plate, while a softball pitch is released near the hip. The PS50 handles both with separate chutes and adjustable legs: the 9-inch chute and baseball leg setting deliver from a baseball-style release height, and the 12-inch chute and softball setting bring the release down for fastpitch and slowpitch softball.
That means hitters in both sports see the ball travel on an angle that resembles what they face in games, rather than a one-size-fits-all trajectory. Switching between sports is a matter of changing the chute and the leg setting, not buying a second machine.
Exact Speeds With the Digital Readout
Speed on the PS50 is set with a built-in digital readout that allows precise adjustments up to 50 mph, across a range of 15 to 50 mph. Coaches and parents can choose the exact speed that fits a player, see it on the display, and come back to the same number next practice.
That control is the point of a youth machine. A young hitter learning to make contact can start slow and build confidence, then move up a few miles per hour at a time as timing improves. Because perceived speed depends on distance, moving the machine closer is another way to challenge a player without turning the dial up, and moving it back is an easy way to slow things down for a beginner.
Strikes, Pitch After Pitch
The PS50 is built to deliver reliable, repeatable strikes, which is what young hitters need most. A machine that sprays pitches teaches kids to chase; a machine that puts the ball in the zone again and again lets them work on their stance, load and swing path with every rep. The PS50 throws fastballs and slowpitch arcs with consistent strike zone accuracy, so solo sessions and team drills both stay productive.
The PS50 uses the Always-See-The-Ball design, which lets hitters track each pitch from release to impact. Seeing the ball as it is fed gives a young hitter a clear cue to start the swing, which is the habit that carries over to facing a live pitcher.
Portable, Tool-Free Setup
The PS50 weighs 50 pounds and uses a heavy-duty steel build. The attached grip-and-go handle makes it easy to carry from the garage to the cage or reposition between drills, and the Quick-Snap legs assemble without tools. The adjustable leg sets set the delivery height for accurate pitches in either sport.
Power is simple: the PS50 plugs into any standard 110-volt alternating current (AC) outlet, with no special setup or generator required where an outlet is available. A single 1/4 horsepower (HP) motor runs quietly and efficiently, supporting smooth operation and consistent pitching cycles, which neighbors of a backyard cage will appreciate.
Balls the JUGS PS50 Throws
Ball choice matters with any real-ball machine. The PS50 throws 11-inch or 12-inch softballs and JUGS practice baseballs, including:
- Sting-Free dimpled baseballs and Sting-Free realistic-seam baseballs
- Sting-Free dimpled or seam softballs, such as Sting-Free dimpled softballs
- Lite-Flite baseballs and Lite-Flite softballs
- LeatherLast softballs
- JUGS Pearl baseballs and JUGS Youth League Pearl baseballs
- Tennis balls
For younger players, softer practice balls such as Lite-Flite or Sting-Free reduce the sting of a mis-hit and are friendlier to backyard fences and windows. Leather Pearls give a truer feel off the bat for older hitters. Keep a supply within reach in a JUGS Back-Saver Portable Ball Basket so feeding stays quick.
Who the JUGS PS50 Is For
- Families with young baseball or softball players who want a real-ball machine for the backyard.
- Households with both a baseball player and a softball player who would rather share one machine.
- Youth league coaches who need a portable machine for team practice and hitting stations.
- Coaches running short toss drills who want steady strikes at controlled speeds.
- Players moving up from tee work and soft toss who are ready to hit a moving pitch.
Players who are already facing pitchers in the 60s and 70s, or who need breaking balls, will outgrow a 50 mph machine. The JUGS mini3 Baseball Pitching Machine and JUGS mini3 Softball Pitching Machine step up to three wheels, preset breaking pitches and higher speeds.
How to Use the PS50 in Practice
- Start with contact: set a low speed, place the machine at a comfortable distance, and let the hitter focus on squaring up the ball.
- Build speed gradually: raise the speed a few mph at a time as the hitter makes consistent contact, using the digital readout to track progress.
- Short toss rounds: move the machine closer at a moderate speed for quick, high-repetition swings.
- Situational hitting: have hitters work on specific goals, such as line drives up the middle or hitting the ball the other way, against a steady strike.
- Switch sports: change to the 12-inch chute and softball leg setting when a softball player steps in.
Always use a protective screen in front of the machine and the person feeding it when hitters are swinging. To let a player hit alone, the JUGS Carousel Automatic Ball Feeder is made in versions for the PS50: choose the Baseball option that lists the PS50 for baseball, or the Softball option that lists the PS50 for softball.
What Is Included With the PS50
- JUGS PS50 pitching machine with attached grip-and-go handle
- 9-inch chute for baseball
- 12-inch chute for fastpitch and slowpitch softball
- Adjustable Quick-Snap legs
Balls, a protective screen and an automatic feeder are sold separately.
JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine Specifications
- Sport: baseball and softball (fastpitch and slowpitch)
- Speed range: 15-50 mph
- Speed control: digital, with built-in readout display
- Pitches: fastballs and slowpitch arcs
- Chutes: 9-inch baseball chute and 12-inch softball chute
- Legs: Quick-Snap adjustable leg sets, tool-free assembly
- Delivery: Always-See-The-Ball design
- Motor: 1/4 HP
- Construction: heavy-duty steel
- Weight: 50 lbs
- Handle: attached grip-and-go handle
- Power: standard 110V AC outlet
- Balls: 11-inch or 12-inch softballs and JUGS practice baseballs, including Sting-Free, Lite-Flite, LeatherLast softballs, JUGS Pearl and Youth League Pearl baseballs, and tennis balls
- Skill levels: backyard players and youth leagues
- Warranty: 1 year on all parts, normal wear and factory defects
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the JUGS PS50 work for both baseball and softball?
Yes. It comes with a 9-inch chute for baseball and a 12-inch chute for fastpitch and slowpitch softball, plus adjustable legs that set a realistic release height for each sport.
Can the PS50 throw curveballs?
No. The PS50 throws fastballs and slowpitch arcs. If you need breaking balls, look at the three-wheel mini3 machines, which have preset curveballs and other pitches.
How fast does the PS50 throw?
From 15 to 50 mph, set on a digital readout so you can choose and repeat an exact speed.
What balls can I use?
It throws JUGS practice baseballs and 11-inch or 12-inch softballs, including Sting-Free dimpled or seam baseballs and softballs, Lite-Flite baseballs and softballs, LeatherLast softballs, JUGS Pearl and Youth League Pearl baseballs, and tennis balls.
Do I need a generator?
Not where you have an outlet. The PS50 plugs into any standard 110-volt AC outlet with no special setup.
What warranty comes with the PS50?
The JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine carries a 1-year warranty on all parts, normal wear and factory defects.
