JUGS Short-Toss Package with PS50 Pitching Machine and Cage

The JUGS Short-Toss Package with PS50 Pitching Machine and Cage is a compact batting cage setup for baseball or softball hitters who want real-ball practice in a smaller space. It brings together the JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine, a 35-foot JUGS Short-Toss Cage, a padded Protector Blue Series Short-Toss Screen, a bucket of practice balls and a throw-down home plate. Choose the Baseball version for Pearl baseballs or the Softball version for LeatherLast softballs; the rest of the package is the same.

Short-toss training works on swing mechanics and hand-eye coordination at close range, where a hitter can take a high volume of quality swings in a short session. This package is built for backyard players, youth league families and high school hitters who do not have room for a full 55 or 70-foot cage.

The PS50: A Baseball and Softball Machine for Young Hitters

The PS50 is an introductory pitching machine for both sports. It throws from 15 to 50 mph, set with a digital readout so a parent or coach can choose an exact speed and come back to it next session. It comes with a 9-inch chute for baseball and a 12-inch chute for softball, plus adjustable leg sets that put the release point at a realistic height for each sport.

The PS50 is built around repeatable strikes, which is what a developing hitter needs most. It throws fastballs, and slowpitch arcs for softball, with the Always-See-The-Ball design so the hitter can track each ball from the moment it is fed. At 50 pounds with a grip-and-go handle, it is easy to carry in and out of the cage, and it runs from a standard 110-volt outlet.

In a short-toss cage, distance does a lot of the work. Moving the machine closer makes a moderate speed play faster to the hitter, so a 35-foot cage and a 50 mph top speed still give older players a real challenge while keeping younger hitters at comfortable settings.

Why Short Toss Builds Better Hitters

Full-distance batting practice is valuable, but a lot of a session is spent waiting for the next pitch or chasing balls. Short toss shrinks the distance so a hitter sees more pitches in less time, and every one of them is close to the strike zone. That volume is where mechanics get built: the hitter can repeat the same load and swing path dozens of times in a row and feel what changes. It also sharpens hand-eye coordination, because the ball arrives quickly from a short distance and the hitter has to track it all the way in.

A 35-Foot Short-Toss Cage That Fits Most Backyards

The JUGS Short-Toss Cage measures 35 feet long, 12 feet wide and 12 feet high. That is long enough for comfortable batting practice at short-toss distances and compact enough to fit in most backyards, a side yard or a corner of a practice field. The 12-foot width and height give hitters room to swing freely and contain line drives and foul tips.

The cage assembles in under an hour with no permanent construction required. There is no concrete to pour or ground sleeves to set, so it suits renters, families who want to move the cage between seasons, and teams that need a portable hitting station.

Padded Protection Sized for Short Toss

Short toss puts the person feeding balls closer to the hitter, so protection matters even more. The JUGS Protector Blue Series Short-Toss Screen has the same padded protection as the larger Blue Series screens, in a slightly narrower width that fits a smaller cage and a tighter practice space. Set it in front of the PS50 and whoever is feeding, and keep it there for every round.

Balls and Home Plate Included

Each version comes ready to hit:

• Baseball version: one Bucket of JUGS Pearl Baseballs, 4 dozen leather practice baseballs made for pitching machines.
• Softball version: one Bucket of JUGS LeatherLast Softballs, 2 dozen leather softballs.

Both are leather practice balls with a realistic feel when pitching and hitting, and both work in the PS50. The throw-down home plate is lightweight and portable. Drop it at the hitting end as a target for the machine and a reference point for the hitter's stance, then pick it up when practice is over.

Who the JUGS Short-Toss Package Is For

• Baseball and softball families with a backyard too small for a full-length cage.
• Youth league players learning to hit a pitched ball at controlled speeds.
• High school hitters who want extra reps on mechanics and timing at home.
• Coaches who want a portable short-toss station that sets up without permanent construction.
• Households with a baseball player and a softball player, since the PS50 handles both sports.

Short-Toss Drills With the Package

Short toss is about quality and volume. Set the PS50 behind the screen at a short distance, start at a slow speed, and have the hitter focus on one thing per round: a quiet load, a direct path to the ball, or driving the ball back up the middle. Because the speed is set digitally, the round is the same every time, and progress is easy to see.

As timing improves, move the speed up a few miles per hour or move the machine a step closer. For softball hitters, switch to the 12-inch chute and the softball leg setting so the ball arrives from a realistic release height. Hitters can also use the home plate to check stance and plate coverage between rounds.

A ball basket next to the machine keeps the bucket of balls within reach for whoever is feeding. For a hitter who trains alone, the JUGS Carousel Automatic Ball Feeder comes in PS50 versions for baseball and softball and can feed the machine automatically. Keep the screen in front of the machine and feeder whenever someone is hitting.

What Is Included

• JUGS PS50 Pitching Machine with 9-inch baseball chute and 12-inch softball chute
• JUGS Short-Toss Cage, 35 ft L x 12 ft W x 12 ft H
• JUGS Protector Blue Series Short-Toss Screen
• Baseball version: one Bucket of JUGS Pearl Baseballs (4 dozen); Softball version: one Bucket of JUGS LeatherLast Softballs (2 dozen)
• Throw-down home plate

Not included: an automatic ball feeder or a ball basket. Those are sold separately.

JUGS Short-Toss Package with PS50 Pitching Machine and Cage Specifications

• Sport: baseball or softball, depending on the version chosen
• Pitching machine: JUGS PS50, 15-50 mph, digital speed readout
• Machine chutes: 9-inch baseball chute and 12-inch softball chute, adjustable leg sets
• Machine weight: 50 lbs, with grip-and-go handle
• Machine power: standard 110-volt AC outlet
• Cage: JUGS Short-Toss Cage, 35 ft L x 12 ft W x 12 ft H, assembles in under an hour, no permanent construction
• Screen: Protector Blue Series Short-Toss Screen, padded
• Balls: 4 dozen Pearl baseballs (Baseball version) or 2 dozen LeatherLast softballs (Softball version), in a bucket
• Home plate: lightweight throw-down plate
• Skill levels: backyard players, youth leagues and high schools
• Warranty: PS50 machine, 1 year on all parts, normal wear and factory defects

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Baseball and Softball versions?

The balls. The Baseball version comes with a bucket of 4 dozen Pearl baseballs, and the Softball version with a bucket of 2 dozen LeatherLast softballs. The PS50, cage, screen and home plate are the same, and the PS50 includes chutes for both sports.

How much space does the cage need?

The Short-Toss Cage is 35 feet long, 12 feet wide and 12 feet high, sized to fit in most backyards. Leave a little room around it to walk in and out.

Do I have to dig or pour concrete?

No. The cage assembles in under an hour with no permanent construction required.

How fast does the PS50 throw?

From 15 to 50 mph, set on a digital readout. At short-toss distances, that range challenges young hitters and older players alike.

Can the PS50 feed itself?

The PS50 is fed by hand as it comes in this package. Adding the JUGS Carousel Automatic Ball Feeder in the matching PS50 version lets a hitter train alone.

What warranty comes with this package?

The PS50 Pitching Machine carries a 1-year warranty on all parts, normal wear and factory defects.