TL;DR: If you’re serious about helping your young ballplayer improve at home, the Double Play Pitch Back is one of the best baseball training purchases I’ve made. It turns solo practice into game-like reps and has helped my 6-year-old develop faster than any piece of equipment we’ve owned.
When you first see the price of this machine, your eyes may bulge.
I’m here to explain why they shouldn’t.
My son is 6 years old and has been playing spring and fall ball for the last three years. He’s primarily a catcher, so we’re always looking for ways to get quality reps outside of team practice.
The Double Play Pitch Back has become one of the most valuable training tools we own.
What makes it different is that it isn’t just a pitch back. It throws ground balls, gives players a target to throw to after making the play, and then returns the ball so they can keep working. That means more reps, less chasing baseballs, and more time actually practicing.
It can also be configured for:
• Ground balls
• Line drives
• Pop flies
• Throwing accuracy drills
• Pitching practice
• Hitting practice
For catchers, the value is even higher because it helps with both sides of the game. My son can work on receiving and blocking behind the plate, then turn around and use the same setup for hitting.
Pair it with one of the portable batting cages that can be assembled in about an hour and left in place, and you’ve got an affordable backyard training facility that gets used constantly.
No piece of equipment will replace coaching, effort, or game experience. But if your goal is to maximize quality repetitions at home, this thing delivers.
Since adding it to our setup, I’ve seen a noticeable improvement in my son’s confidence, fielding, throwing accuracy, and overall baseball IQ.
For us, it’s been well worth the investment.