Designed to improve baseball skills, the SKLZ PitchBack Youth Baseball Trainer kicks back baseballs and softballs at different angles.
This is a lightweight, portable product that is best suited for youth baseball and softball players.
It takes practice to learn how to throw a baseball or a softball properly and this product helps with this area of the game, making younger players better in the process.
As soon as you throw a baseball or softball, the SKLZ PitchBack Youth Baseball Trainer gives young baseball players valuable feedback and they can identify ways to improve their game.
Practice makes perfect, and the more often you use this device, the more consistent your throws should become.
The product itself consists of a metal frame, plastic clips and a 21-ply netting, which allows you to throw pitches at a wide range of speeds and power.
Kids and teens can start improving their skills pretty quickly because the pitchback is quick to set up for the most part.
What Are The Key Features Of The SKLZ PitchBack Youth Baseball Trainer?
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Training Variety
This SKLZ PitchBack baseball trainer has an adjustable pitchback feature, which means players can vary their training routines and the angles at which any balls they throw, are returned.
This is perfect for practicing your pitching, taking grounders, pop flies, line drives and much more.
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Portability
The trainer is lightweight and can be folded up when they are not being used.
This is useful for anyone who wants to transport it from place to place.
It can also be easily moved inside your home or you can quickly change its position, when it’s outside your home in your yard.
This portability also means that after practice, it can be neatly stored away, without taking up too much space in your garage, shed or space inside your home.
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It’s Fast and Easy to Set Up
This product has very few components, so players should be able to start using it in no time at all.
Components include a metal frame with a weatherproof net and the whole device is held in place with ground stakes, that come with the trainer.
What It Will Not Do
This is a lightweight training device and though it’s supposed to help players of all ages, it’s really only suitable for younger players who wish to practice.
Pros
- Suitable for younger kids who don’t have a powerful throw
- Sets up fairly quick and is lightweight
- Portable and easy to transport or store away
Cons
- Poor quality frame and netting
- Can often fall down with harder throws, even when its posts are secured
- Not sturdy enough for older age groups
- Plastic clips break far too easily
Bottom Line – Does It Live Up to Its Promises?
As with most types of sports equipment, you get what you pay for and the SKLZ PitchBack Youth Baseball Trainer is no exception.
Without sounding too harsh, yet telling it like it is, this baseball training product is not built to withstand tough punishment that allows it to be used for any length of time.
One of our biggest complaints is that the plastic clips break without much effort.
Our 10 year is not Nolan Ryan, but his throws quickly broke off 4 clips at the bottom.
We ended up having to use a concrete block to hold the net in place. Not good at all.
While this product may be good as a way to introduce very young baseball players and softball players (4-7 years of age) to their respective sports, it fails to come close to being sturdy enough and stable enough for older players.
I would suggest spending a little extra money on a higher quality pitch back that is built stronger and will hold up much better.