The Paceman - Bowling Machine

[Guenon123]

Has any one used or seen this bowling machine in action?

It is relatively cheap (375£) and specially made for cricket like Bola. The top speed is not great but there are a lot other features that make it good.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0zA-z86vhE

Shop:
http://www.vsports.co.uk/CricketEquipment/Paceman-Cricket-Bowling-Machine-2852.aspx

I know there was a thread with baseball bowling machine here:
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?t=125294

What do you guys think?

 

[Cricketismylife]

too slow for good use.

balls are too soft as well.....

 

[Guenon123]

too slow for good use.

balls are too soft as well.....

Yes it is slow but what about changing the length of the pitch or placing it closer to you than 22 yards? For club cricketers it is better than fine. The best net bowlers that I have faced can't bowl at 115-120 kph for more than 2 overs. Most of them operate at around 95-100 kph all the time.

I think it can really help if want to improve a certain stroke or try to fix a technical issue. But, I am yet to find any one who has actually used this machine.

 

[Cricketismylife]

Yes it is slow but what about changing the length of the pitch or placing it closer to you than 22 yards? For club cricketers it is better than fine. The best net bowlers that I have faced can't bowl at 115-120 kph for more than 2 overs. Most of them operate at around 95-100 kph all the time.

I think it can really help if want to improve a certain stroke or try to fix a technical issue. But, I am yet to find any one who has actually used this machine.

in that case you can do with a much cheaper baseball machine.

These are ok to practice a shot or something but even then the bounce etc cannot be mimicked well enough.

 

[Guenon123]

in that case you can do with a much cheaper baseball machine.

These are ok to practice a shot or something but even then the bounce etc cannot be mimicked well enough.

Baseball pitching machines are not available in Europe, are they? I found only one retailer in UK who is selling toss-up baseball machine which is useless for Cricket. I have not found any online store who are willing to ship to EU and even then the shipping costs will be humongous for 40+kg.

 

[kingusama92]

It's decent for the average cricketer.

Pretty much the fastest guys at the lower levels hit 110 KPH at best. Anyone doing better than that is usually playing at the highest level of domestic cricket.

It's a decent machine. Only issue might be the lightness of the ball. It doesn't reproduce the feeling of hitting an actual cricket ball.

 

[Cricketismylife]

It's a decent machine. Only issue might be the lightness of the ball. It doesn't reproduce the feeling of hitting an actual cricket ball.

exactly.

Also, the bounce is very tennis ball like.

Wouldnt your timing be stuffed- hitting balls on the up with this weird kind of bounce?

 

[Guenon123]

Has anybody on PP bought a baseball machine in EU?

 

[Guenon123]

Just for information, I got a response from Heater sports and the total in USD is about 300. Here are the details.

Real baseball pitching machine with speed upto 60 MPH (96.5 KM/H) - 150 USD
http://www.1pitchingmachines.com/product_details.php?id=PAPRO149&c=Baseball%20-%20Real%20Ball

Automatic Feeder - 40 USD
http://www.1pitchingmachines.com/product_details.php?id=PA49B&c=Pitching%20Machine%20Add%20Ons

60 MPH White Lite Baseballs - 15 USD
http://www.1pitchingmachines.com/product_details.php?id=HSW14&c=Baseball%20-%20Lite%20Balls

Shipping costs to EU: about 80 USD