Batting cages and pitching machines are an effective alternative to a live pitcher and an open field when it comes to batting practice.
Batting is all about the right form, timing and speed.
Getting the right swing doesn't happen overnight, which means that a lot of practice and determination are essential to success.
The main advantage of pitching machines over a live pitcher is consistency.
Unlike live pitchers, pitching machines don't tire or make errors.
Given that the first thing novice batters will need to develop is the proper form and follow through of a swing, pitching baseballs to them at consistent speeds and angles will be crucial in developing the swing.
Pitching consistency also helps batters properly time their swings.
Batting cages address quite a few batting practice concerns.
First, they eliminate the need for vast open spaces just for practice - a smaller area will do thanks to the cage's nets which limit the trajectory of the balls.
Second, batters and trainers don't have to worry about where a wild ball or even a perfectly hit ball might land.
Property damage or injuring a third party doesn't become an issue.
Finally, batting cages, together with pitching machines, allow players to practice on their own time even without company.
Some cages even have sloped interior floors so that the balls are automatically fed back to the pitching machines, making it unnecessary for the lone pitcher to gather all the balls around him and manually feed them to the machine for another round of practice.