Softball Pitcher's Buying Guide
Whether you are a coach, parent, or player these are my favorite pitching equipment finds that I would buy again and again after 11 years of coaching full time.
Choosing the right equipment is hard.
Helpful links and buying guides for coaches, parents, and players looking for a little help.
If you are going to spend your money, do it right the first time.
Let’s make sure you have all the facts and pick the right equipment before making such important investments.
Thank you for helping me help your daughters.
I will receive a small commission on these links if you purchase them within 24 hours of adding them to your cart.
Portolite Long Spiked Pitching Mat WITH Pitching Lane
This mat is awesome if you plan on leaving it in a fixed space like a basement or garage gym. This mat utilizes SPIKES on the bottom to keep this mat in place on turf AND dirt. I love how this mat teaches pitchers how to utilize the mound to create a better stride without worrying about the mat moving. Very well made. Don't make the mistake I made and buy the 'turf pitching mats.' Turf on turf is a recipe for disaster. You're better off spending the money once and getting something that will last forever AND never budge! This mat weighs 55 pounds (holy cow!) I'm very impressed and happy with my purchase. I would 100% buy again from this company!
Portolite Short Spiked Pitching Mat
Full time coach approved! I bought 4 of these to run group softball pitching lessons and these are fantastic. I'm using them on turf and they don't budge. I used to use the long pitching mats but without the spikes that these have they would move and they were a hassle to move and store. These are great because they are PORTABLE and they teach the pitcher how to utilize the mound to create a better stride without worrying about the mat moving. Very well made. Been using these for about 6 months now and they still look BRAND NEW! For the price - these are much more heavier duty than I expected (almost 13 pounds each!). I would 100% buy again from this company!
Pitchers Pocket Training Aid Net for Softball AND Baseball
Why didn't I buy this sooner? Gives accurate spots for your pitcher to aim without needing a catcher. Not only good if you don't have a catcher, but I am able to watch our pitchers now up close rather than concentrating on not taking a ball to the face. If you have been to AWS clinics before - We also use this for fielding and target practice all. the. time. My girls love it. This net has NEVER been knocked over by a pitch or throw - is SUPER sturdy and durable, and still looks brand new after a year of constant abuse. This was definitely a great purchase in my book.
12 X 9 Barrier Net
I actually ordered 4 barrier nets before deciding on this one (thanks amazon prime, lol). This net is perfect for splitting space to do more drills, or to add protection between stations at practice. I've even used this to section off pitchers so they had their own space AND as a backstop at outdoor hitting practices. Very pleased with it. I've had this for a year and after taking constant abuse both indoor and outdoors, this still looks brand new. I love the fact that it also breaks down into a convenient carry bag. I've seen about everything out there and this product is a must for any coach, parent or ball player. Massively happy with this purchase.
PowerNet Baseball and Softball Practice Net 7 x 7 with Bow Frame
I have bought 4 of these over the last 7 years and these have held up great with daily use. I have even left them up outside over an entire summer (thanks covid) and these are still going strong. These are super portable, and break down into a convenient carrying bag to bring to your team practices or move outside, and also only take about a minute or two to put up. This is a great size to use as either a hitting net, target net for fielding or as a pitching backstop. Great for indoor or outdoor use. And just as good as the name brands.
Rawlings Dream Seam ASA 12in Softballs
I usually buy a few dozen of these a year to use as my pitching balls. Once they become beat up they then become hitting balls. Ideal for ASA and HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL fastpitch softball players, these balls provide durability and consistent performance, making them the standard to softballs and this level of play.
Easy to grip and throw due to leather cover with raised seams, allowing pitchers to get even more movement on their pitches. No one likes potato balls, these balls also LAST much longer than the cheaper options when using for hitting practices.
Rawlings Dream Seam NSA 11in Softballs
I usually buy a few dozen of these a year to use as my pitching balls. Once they become beat up they then become hitting balls. Ideal for YOUTH softball players ages 10 and under, these balls provide durability and consistent performance, making them the standard to softballs and this level of play.
Easy to grip and throw due to leather cover with raised seams, allowing pitchers to get even more movement on their pitches. No one likes potato balls, these balls also LAST much longer than the cheaper options when using for hitting practices.
Jugs 12 Inch Softies
At some facilities, you can only use softies. These are the best softies on the market in terms of feel, bounce, and laces. I am kind of a huge ball snob and have tried a ton of different brands. These are the next best thing to hitting and throwing a real ball. For pitchers - these seams are fantastic and this helps create a true spin and break similar to what you would see with a real ball. For Fielders - I always encourage my girls to find the laces when transfering, and some softies don't even have them. These are great to create good habits. For my hitters - These are the right balance between soft and hard that will give you a true feel for where the ball is going when hit.
Jugs 11 Inch Softies
At some facilities, you can only use softies. These are the best softies on the market in terms of feel, bounce, and laces. I am kind of a huge ball snob and have tried a ton of different brands. These are the next best thing to hitting and throwing a real ball. For pitchers - these seams are fantastic and this helps create a true spin and break similar to what you would see with a real ball. For Fielders - I always encourage my girls to find the laces when transfering, and some softies don't even have them. These are great to create good habits. For my hitters - These are the right balance between soft and hard that will give you a true feel for where the ball is going when hit.
Champro Extended Strike Zone Plate
I've been using a similar extended strike zone home plate for years. Unfortunately, the exact one that I bought years ago is unavailable, but if I were to repurchase, this would be the one I would buy. It's a great coaching aid not only to practice locating pitches as a pitcher, but also to practice pitch recognition as a hitter. Being a pitching coach you can never be to precise on where you want the pitch thrown! This rubber home plate helps pitchers understand where the ball is to cross the plate when using specific pitches. I love how this plate is also flat, so that no one is getting a stray bounce to the face. I love it!
Tag Strike Zone Plate
A smaller more portable version of the extended plate! I've been using the StrikeZone home plate for years. It's very durable and a great coaching aid. Being a pitching coach you can never be to precise on where you want the pitch thrown! This rubber home plate helps pitchers understand where the ball is to cross the plate when using specific pitches. I love how this plate is also flat, so that no one is getting a stray bounce to the face. I love it! Also - See how I use these for both hitting AND catching in the other buying guides as well!
Pocket Radar Ball Coach/Pro-Level Speed Training Tool with Accessories Bundle
Bundle Includes: Pocket Radar Ball Coach/Pro-Level Speed Training Tool and Radar Gun with a 58-inch Photo/Video Tripod with Case, VidPro Power 2000 AA and AAA NiMH Rapid Charger with Four Rechargeable Batteries, Square Jelly Grip Tripod Mount with 360-degree Swivel, and a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Great Speed Training: Measures the fastest speed of an object in flight and has easy triggering capabilities, which means no timing needed Features: The Ball Coach can measure object speeds from 25 to 130 mph and can be insanely accurate to within 1 mph. I found that this bundle for the same price as just buying the radar gun (yay for free stuff!). This version of the Pocket Radar NOT compatible with the app.
Pocket Radar SMART Coach / Compatible with Pocket Radar App
This is the exact model we used in college. I loved this particular model because you could connect it to the included (and free) app. This can track both pitching and throwing speeds which can be displayed on your iOS or Android devices in bright red LED and announced via speaker. Record auto-edited videos with speed embedded that you can share via email, text message or social media using the Free Pocket Radar App that pairs to the Smart Coach device via Bluetooth. You can also track data over time in your history and export to a CSV file to monitor your progress. Since this is a one time purchase, I think the included app and connectivity is worth the extra $100.
Ringor - Women's Flite Molded Pitching Softball Cleats With Pitching Toe
Tired of your daughter wearing out the toe of her cleats every two months from pitching? I love these molded cleats because with their all leather upper they are super DURABLE. All of my girls love these cleats and they definitely are built to last! If you want to save some money in the long run, buy these once instead of replacing cleats every few months. DISCLAIMER: They do need some serious break in time, but once they are broken in they are worth it! If you are in between sizes I recommend sizing up a half size and do run a bit narrow.
Ringor - Women's Dynasty 2.0 Metal Spike With Pitching Toe
Tired of your daughter wearing out the toe of her cleats every two months from pitching? I love these metal cleats because with their all leather upper they are super DURABLE. This is actually the exact cleats that our college team pitchers wore because they all went through regular cleats so quickly. If you want to save some money in the long run, buy these once instead of replacing cleats every few months. DISCLAIMER: They do need some serious break in time, but once they are broken in they are worth it! If you are in between sizes I recommend sizing up a half size and do run a bit narrow.
Ringor Women's Flite Turf Pitching Softball Shoe With Pitching Toe
Tired of your daughter wearing out the toe of her sneakers every two months from pitching practice? I love these turf trainers because not only do they have awesome grip on turf AND gym floors, but they are SUPER DURABLE. I had a pair of these babies for over 3 years and the only reason I had to replace these was because they stunk (lol). These are great for both pitchers AND coaches! DISCLAIMER: They do need some serious break in time, but once they are broken in they are worth it!
If you are in between sizes I recommend sizing up a half size and do run a bit narrow.
New Balance Women's Fuse V2 Turf Softball Shoe
If you are looking for a shoe that runs a bit more on the normal/wider side than the Ringors, this would be it. A lot of my older travel players wear these to practice in and they have nothing but good thing to say about this shoe's comfort and durability on both turf and gym floors. I have owned two pairs of these in the last few years and I pitch to my girls constantly in hitting lessons. I also wear out the toe in many of my sneakers, but not these. These have held up great even if these aren't marketed as a true 'pitching shoe.' Trust me, I think I have tried almost every turf shoe out there, and these are a longtime favorite of mine.
Interested in learning more?
Questions about lessons, group sessions or upcoming clinics, feel free to reach out any time.
Or Subscribe to the AWS Newsletter!
Camp & Class Announcements, Product Reviews, Helpful Articles & Blog Posts!
