If you want to play baseball at a high level, you need top-shelf equipment. And if you’re coaching a team, you need that great equipment even more. It can help your team perform better and win games, and it’s also invaluable when it comes to learning the game and building skills.
When most people think of that kind of equipment, the first things that come to mind are state of the art bats, balls, gloves, and the equipment that keeps the fields looking green and pristine. And while all of that equipment is important, some of the most important baseball field equipment is used behind the scenes.
So what kind of equipment are we talking about? Practice pitching mounds, to cite one important example, and getting a removable pitching mound is another possibility. Practice pitching mounds can be used by young pitchers looking to develop their skills and delivery, and they’re just as important when it comes to developing good practice habits.
What is a Practice Pitching Mound for Baseball?
Definition-wise, a practice pitching mound is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a separate mound that’s built and designed to be used specifically for practice purposes, indoors or out, without the need for a field.
That makes it invaluable. Good pitchers will tell you that they need repetition to build their skills, and younger pitchers who are just learning the game need them just as much to help with that process.
But that’s only part of the reason why practice pitching mounds have so much value. The convenience factor they offer is substantial, so let’s explore how that comes into play.
The Convenience that Comes with a Portable Pitching Mound
In addition to helping players develop the skills, practice pitching mounds also make life far easier for both players and coaches when it comes to logistics.
These pitching mounds can be used for pitchers to get their work in during inclement weather, and they’re even more valuable when teams are forced to try to get their daily work in on substandard fields.
In addition to using practice pitching mounds, that work can be coordinated with any number of different baseball drills. This changes baseball practices completely, making them far more enjoyable and convenient for all the players, regardless of their positions or skill level.
Being Portable is a Superpower for Practice Pitching Mounds
As valuable as practice pitching mounds can be in developing skills, their portability may make them even more valuable.
They can be used on fields that are in rough shape, and practice pitching mounds can also be used to convert just about any field into an ideal baseball spot.
Moreover, they’re easy to carry. Practice pitching mounds can be ported by a couple of coaches, and individual players who opt for these kinds of mounds to enhance their development can even haul them around on their own.
Why You Need an Authentic Baseball Mound to Practice Pitching
As pitchers develop their skills, being able to practice on mounds with the right dimensions is essential. Many practice fields have haphazard dimensions, and this slows the development of pitchers, and it can even cause injuries for some pitchers.
Practice pitching mounds are game changers. They prevent both of these thing from happening by allowing pitchers to constantly work from an authentic mound with the exact dimensions.
How Pitching Mounds Are Built
To understand the benefits of practice pitching mounds, it’s helpful to understand how the exact mounds on the field are built.
Rest assured, it’s a painstaking process. A special kind of dirt called a pitching mix is used, and it’s carefully built into clay bricks, which are then installed systematically to get the dimensions right.
- Little League—46 feet from the front of the pitcher’s rubber to the plate, with no elevation.
- Youth league—54 feet from the rubber to the mound, slight elevation according to the specific league.
- Professional mound—60 feet, 6 inches, 10 inches of elevation above home plate.
Practice mounds replicate these dimensions exactly. That saves the hours of labor required to build a regulation pitching mound—instead, players and coaches can simply carry the portable pitching mound around, set it down where they want to work, and get on with the business of baseball skill development.
Are Portable Pitching Mounds Worth It?
For coaches and prospects, portable practice pitching mounds are definitely worth the investment. The price range for these kinds of mounds ranges from a couple of hundred dollars to a four-figure price tag that generally tops out at around $1500, and coaches and prospects should definitely go for the pricier mounds to get the combination of quality and durability they offer.
There are less costly options out there, though. Low-cost practice pitchers mounds are typically made of rubber or foam, and they can be a good way to introduce younger players to the game.
The caveat is that it’s important to choose a company like Victory Mounds with an established reputation for quality. That way you know you’re getting the best possible product, regardless of the price range.
Mounds made from composite materials and turf offer a viable option in the mid-range price category. These mounds are more durable, and they do a better job of authentically replicating the pitching experience.
Practice Pitching Mounds Help Pitchers Develop Good Habits
Regardless of the price range you choose, portable practice pitching mounds offer a different kind of value that’s hard to quantify—they help players of all ages and skill levels develop good practice habits.
This matters, whether you’re a can’t-miss prospect on the way up or a younger player just trying to develop a viable skill set. The practice habits you can learn with a portable practice mound will transfer to other sports, and the discipline that’s an integral part of it can be valuable as a life skill as well.
Make sure you check a variety of sources when you shop. That includes sports equipment retailers, online sellers or specialized baseball equipment companies like Victory Mounds.
Doing this kind of survey will help convince you that Victory Mounds is a great way to go, especially since we understand budget issues and will go out of our way to accommodate your specific needs.
Get a Great Portable Pitching Mound and Other Essential Baseball Equipment from Victory Mounds
At Victory Mounds, we’ve been involved in all aspects of baseball equipment and field maintenance. We can help you determine your needs, get a great practice pitching mound, and work within your budget limitations.
We supply information and consulting as well as equipment, so when you contact us, we’ll answer your questions, ask a few of our own about your program and needs, then recommend the appropriate practice pitching mound for your situation.
The process starts when you go to VictoryMounds.com to learn more about our products, then call us at 800 835 9460. If you’d prefer to email, you can contact us at info@victorymounds.com.