Pitching Machine for a High School Team: JUGS vs Sports Attack, Speeds, Breaking Balls and Feeders

For a high school baseball pitching machine, the practical shortlist is a three-wheel head that throws breaking balls at live speed: the Sports Attack Hack Attack ($3,599), the Sports Attack I-Hack Attack ($5,999, 35 to 100+ MPH), or a JUGS BP3 ($4,795, 40-90 mph), SP3 ($3,595, 25-90 mph) or BP2 ($3,395, 45-90 mph). Add an automatic feeder ($599 to $2,699) if you want one coach to run several stations at once. The JoySport Store catalog carries 19 program-grade JUGS and Sports Attack machines from $1,945 to $14,999, and this guide sorts them by the three jobs a varsity program actually needs: live-speed BP, breaking balls and fungo work.

What a high school pitching machine has to do

Product cards list a lot of specs, but for a high school program they map to three jobs. First, live-speed batting practice: the I-Hack Attack runs 35 to 100+ MPH and the JUGS BP3, SP3 and BP2 all top out at 90 mph. Second, breaking balls from a three-wheel head, which is what separates the Hack Attack, I-Hack, e-Hack, BP3, SP3 and mini3 from single-wheel machines. Third, fungo and fielding work, where the Hack Attack reaches 380 ft. fly balls and the mini3 and Junior Hack Attack reach 250 ft.

A single-wheel machine such as the JUGS BP1 ($1,945, 15-70 mph) still has a place for younger hitters and tee-style drills, but it cannot throw a curveball or slider. If your hitters see breaking pitches in games, budget for three wheels.

JUGS vs Sports Attack: how the two lines differ

Sports Attack builds its baseball machines around three 14 in. concave throwing wheels on three variable-speed motors. Pitch changes come from wheel speed, and the head pivots for fly balls, line drives, grounders and pop-ups. Recovery time between pitches is 3-5 seconds across the Hack Attack, I-Hack Attack and Junior Hack Attack. The Hack Attack and Elite e-Hack Attack come in 110V and 220V models; the I-Hack Attack is listed at 90V.

JUGS three-wheel machines use 12 in. Grip-Tite pneumatic tires driven by three 1/4 HP motors on the BP3. Pitches are chosen with the Select-A-Pitch dial, and the BP3 and mini3 cards note that no machine rotation is needed to change pitches. JUGS machines run on 110-volt AC or the Bluetti AC70P portable power supply, which matters for fields without outlets.

Three-wheel baseball machines compared

Speeds: what the ranges mean for varsity hitters

The I-Hack Attack is the fastest conventional machine in the catalog at 35 to 100+ MPH, and the Elite e-Hack Attack is also rated 100+ MPH. For most high school rosters, the 90 mph ceiling on the JUGS BP3, SP3 and BP2 is more than enough, and the low end matters just as much. The SP3 starts at 25 mph and the BP3 at 40 mph, which lets freshmen and JV hitters work in the same cage as varsity.

The Junior Hack Attack ($2,699 standard legs, $2,769 extended legs) takes a different approach: it sits at a 45 ft. pitching distance to simulate a 90+ MPH pitch while weighing only 87 lbs assembled. The Hack Attack card lists its level of play as high school, college, professional and commercial programs, but does not state a speed range, so ask before assuming a number.

On the budget end, the JUGS Changeup Baseball ($2,495) runs 15-70 mph on a single 16 in. tire and switches from fastballs to changeups as low as 44 mph by keychain remote. The JUGS Combination Pitching Machine ($4,595) covers 20-104 mph for baseball, softball and tennis at 127 lbs, which suits a school that shares one machine across programs.

Breaking balls: which machines throw them

The Hack Attack throws fastballs, curves, sliders, split fingers and knuckle balls from its three 14 in. wheels. The JUGS BP3 offers 9 preset pitches through the Select-A-Pitch dial: fastballs, changeups, right- and left-handed curveballs, sliders and cutters, and split-finger fastballs. The SP3 has 8 pitch types and the mini3 has 8 preset pitches. The BP2 throws fastballs, curveballs, sliders and split-fingers and adds six preset arm slot positions, so you can mimic a sidearm reliever without repositioning the base.

The Elite e-Hack Attack is the only machine here with programmed sequencing. Its 10 in. touchscreen carries 8 pre-set pitches (fastball, change-up, heater, split finger, curveball right and left, slider right and left) and stores up to 50 favorite pitches and up to 50 sequences of up to 50 pitches each. At $14,999 and 223 lbs it is a college-level purchase, and its card states no fungo work.

Fungo and fielding work

If one machine has to cover infield and outfield practice, the Hack Attack is the strongest card: it pivots for 380 ft. fly balls, tailing line drives, top-spin grounders and catcher's pop-ups. The I-Hack Attack has the same fungo pivot. The mini3 uses vertical macro adjustment for 250 ft. fly balls, and the Junior Hack Attack reaches fungo up to 250 ft.

Mobility accessories make this practical. The Sports Attack Fungo Leg Kit ($599) puts 8 in. casters on the Hack Attack, the Junior Hack Attack Fungo Kart ($499, 33 lbs) does the same for the smaller machine, and JUGS Defensive Short Legs ($134) drop the BP3, SP3 and mini3 Baseball for ground-ball work.

Feeders: running BP without a coach at the machine

An automatic feeder turns one machine into a station a coach can supervise from the side. The Sports Attack Team Feeder for Hack Attack and I-Hack Attack holds 150 baseballs, feeds every 6 to 12 seconds by wireless remote and weighs 125 lbs. The JUGS Carousel Feeder holds 36 baseballs or 18 softballs and releases a ball every 6 seconds. Note that the Carousel fits the BP1, BP2, SP3, BP3, MVP, PS50, Changeup and mini3, but not the JUGS Combination 2-wheel machine.

The Hack Baseball and Hack Softball Pitching Machine & Team Feeder Bundles are $5,698 each, which is the simplest way to buy a complete station.

Fastpitch softball programs

Softball machines release much lower. The Sports Attack Hack Attack Softball ($3,599) and I-Hack Attack Softball ($5,999) both run 30 to 80 MPH from a 28 in. release point with 3-5 second recovery, at 158 lbs and 152 lbs with legs respectively. A baseball-to-softball conversion kit for the Hack Attack is $1,299 and takes about 20-30 minutes per the machine card.

Planning your space

Start with the release point, because it decides whether the pitch looks realistic to the hitter. Baseball three-wheel machines release between 52 in. and 64 in. standard, and the Sports Attack extended legs raise the Hack Attack and I-Hack to 73 in. Softball machines release at 28 in. The cage, net or backstop must be tall enough and long enough for that trajectory, and pitching distance varies by league, so set the machine at the distance your governing body uses for your age group.

Fungo work needs open field, not a cage. The Hack Attack can send fly balls 380 ft., and the mini3 and Junior Hack Attack 250 ft., so plan outfield drills where that carry is clear of other stations. Weight matters for moving between sites: the Junior Hack Attack is 87 lbs, the mini3 95 lbs, the BP2 base 125 lbs, the BP3 and SP3 140 lbs, the Hack Attack and I-Hack 165 lbs, and the e-Hack 223 lbs.

Power is the last check. Sports Attack machines are 110V (and 220V on the Hack Attack and e-Hack), the I-Hack is 90V, and JUGS machines run on 110-volt AC or the Bluetti AC70P. The JUGS Bluetti AC70 Portable Power Station ($499) provides 2 x 120V outlets, 1000W total, and weighs 22.5 lbs. The Carousel Feeder also needs 110-volt AC.

How to measure / lay out

• Confirm your league's pitching distance and mark it from the plate; it varies by league and age group.
• Measure cage height against the machine's release point: 52 in. to 64 in. for baseball, 73 in. with extended legs, 28 in. for softball.
• Allow a clear outfield line of 380 ft. for Hack Attack fungo or 250 ft. for the mini3 and Junior Hack Attack.
• Locate an outlet or portable power: 110V, 220V or 90V depending on the machine, or the Bluetti AC70 (2 x 120V, 1000W).
• Leave room beside the machine for a feeder: the Team Feeder holds 150 balls and weighs 125 lbs.
• Check the floor path for weight: 87 lbs to 223 lbs depending on machine, plus casters if you add a fungo kit.
• Count balls: a Team Feeder (150), Carousel (36 baseballs or 18 softballs) or Solo Feeder (15 baseballs or 11 softballs) sets the round length.

Which one should a high school program buy?

For a single all-purpose machine, the Hack Attack at $3,599 covers breaking balls and 380 ft. fungo work, and the $5,698 bundle adds the 150-ball Team Feeder. If you want a stated speed range with the same fungo pivot, the I-Hack Attack at $5,999 runs 35 to 100+ MPH. In the JUGS line, the BP3 at $4,795 gives 9 preset pitches with no rotation needed, and the SP3 at $3,595 drops to 25 mph for younger hitters. Programs with a tighter budget can start with the mini3 at $2,995 or the Junior Hack Attack at $2,699 and add the $795 Carousel or $599 Solo Feeder later. Coverage is the manufacturer warranty listed on each product card.

Sources

Pitching distances, ball specifications and field layouts come from the governing body for your level: the NFHS for high school baseball and softball, the NCAA for college programs, MLB for professional rules the Elite e-Hack and I-Hack are built to replicate, and Little League for youth divisions that may use the Junior Hack Attack, Changeup or BP1 machines. Machine speeds, prices and weights are from the manufacturer product cards for JUGS and Sports Attack in the 2026 JoySport Store catalog.

Shop the gear

Browse every machine in pitching machines, compare the full JUGS and Sports Attack lineup in baseball and softball pitching machines, add a Team Feeder, Carousel or Solo Feeder from automatic ball feeders, see complete station bundles in game-ready pitching machines, and pick up fungo kits, short legs and the Bluetti power station in pitching machine accessories.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pitching machine for a high school baseball team?

A three-wheel machine that throws breaking balls: the Sports Attack Hack Attack ($3,599), I-Hack Attack ($5,999, 35 to 100+ MPH), JUGS BP3 ($4,795, 40-90 mph), SP3 ($3,595, 25-90 mph) or BP2 ($3,395, 45-90 mph).

How fast do high school pitching machines throw?

The I-Hack Attack runs 35 to 100+ MPH and the e-Hack Attack is rated 100+ MPH. JUGS BP3, SP3 and BP2 top out at 90 mph, the mini3 at 80 mph, and the Junior Hack Attack simulates a 90+ MPH pitch from 45 ft.

Which machines throw curveballs and sliders?

Three-wheel heads: Hack Attack, I-Hack, e-Hack, JUGS BP3 (9 preset pitches), SP3 (8 pitch types), BP2 (fastball, curve, slider, split-finger with six arm slots) and mini3 (8 preset pitches). Single-wheel BP1 and Changeup machines do not.

Can a pitching machine hit fungos for fielding practice?

Yes. The Hack Attack pivots for 380 ft. fly balls, line drives, grounders and pop-ups; the I-Hack has the same fungo pivot; the mini3 and Junior Hack Attack reach 250 ft. The e-Hack Attack card states no fungo work.

How much does an automatic feeder cost?

Feeders run $599 to $2,699. The Sports Attack Team Feeder holds 150 baseballs ($2,599 or $2,699 with extended legs), the JUGS Carousel holds 36 baseballs or 18 softballs ($795), and the Solo Feeder holds 15 baseballs or 11 softballs ($599).

Do JUGS and Sports Attack machines need an outlet?

JUGS machines run on 110-volt AC or the Bluetti AC70P portable power supply (the Bluetti AC70 station is $499, 2 x 120V, 1000W, 22.5 lbs). Sports Attack machines are 110V, with 220V models for the Hack Attack and e-Hack, and the I-Hack is 90V.

What is the difference between baseball and softball Hack Attack machines?

The softball Hack Attack and I-Hack run 30 to 80 MPH with a 28 in. release point, versus a 53 in. or 52 in. release on the baseball models. A $1,299 conversion kit switches a Hack Attack from baseball to softball in about 20-30 minutes.