A few seasons ago, one of my teammates had the Jugs Soft Toss machine and he would bring it to our games and practices so we could get in some soft toss reps. Right away I could see the potential benefits to owning one of these machines, but the price tag is what made me wait a long time before getting one. Eventually, I purchased a Jugs Soft Toss Machine and I wanted to write this review for anyone else who had the same question I initially had – is the Jugs Soft Toss Machine worth it?
The Jugs Soft Toss machine is worth it for anyone looking to practice hitting by themselves. The Jugs Soft Toss Machine works with baseballs and softballs and allows hitters to perform the soft toss drill for as long as they want. Players can also use this machine to perform defensive drills.
I get a lot of value from my Jugs Soft Toss Machine, but I can also understand why some people wouldn’t want to use it. Keep reading to learn all about the pros and cons I found while using my Jugs Soft Toss Machine.
Article Contents
- My Overall Impressions of My Jugs Soft Toss Machine
- How to Use the Jugs Toss Machine
- Jugs Soft Toss Machine Pros and Cons
- Common Drills You Can Use With Jugs Soft Toss Machine
- How Fast Does a Jugs Machine Throw a Baseball?
- How Far Can a Jugs Machine Throw?
- Where Can You Purchase a Jugs Soft Toss Machine?
My Overall Impressions of My Jugs Soft Toss Machine
Overall, I absolutely love my Jugs machine and I give it 4.75 stars out of 5. Here are my top 3 reasons why I’m happy with my purchase.
1) The Jugs Soft Toss Machine Helped Me Have the Best Start to Any Season
Just to be clear, my Jugs Soft Toss Machine didn’t make me a better hitter. My Jugs Toss Machine allowed me to practice more and the extra practice is what helped me have the best start to any season.
My team does a terrible job of keeping statistics for my league, but I try to keep my own stats. Over the first 7 games of our season, I had a batting average of about .600.
Starting a season batting .600 is great, but the thing that really stuck out to me is what happens when I don’t get a base hit. Whenever I don’t get a base hit, I notice I’m still hitting the ball hard because I’m putting the barrel on the ball.
Usually I’m hitting the ball off the end of the bat or I’m getting jammed when I get out, but now I happen to hit the ball hard directly at people when I get out.
This is easily the best start I’ve ever had to any season and I attribute a lot of that success to the extra hitting practice I was able to get with my Jugs Toss Machine.
2) I Can Easily Practice Hitting By Myself
The biggest reason why I purchased this soft toss machine from Jugs is because I was looking for a way to practice hitting by myself.
I play in an adult baseball league where everyone has a busy life outside of baseball and it can feel like a miracle to coordinate one 30-minute batting cage session with a teammate.
Or if I go to an automated cage by myself, I either pay a pretty good price for it or I have to drive a long time just to hit in an outdoor cage at a reasonable price.
Either way, I wanted an easy way to practice hitting by myself and I found it by using my Jugs Soft Toss machine. Plus, I knew it would save me money in the long run because I would be using it a lot.
3) Jugs Toss Machine is Very Easy to Use
There are two steps to using the Jugs Soft Toss machine – place your baseballs or softballs in the feeder and flip a switch.
Even my one-and-a-half-year-old son was able to turn on this machine after seeing me do it (although he has a few more years before he’ll actually be using it).
It’s an extremely easy machine to use. And if you’re hitting into a net, you don’t have to walk as far to pick up baseballs and reload the machine.
How to Use the Jugs Toss Machine
Using a Jugs toss machine is quite easy, but the first question many people have is how does the Jugs toss machine work?
To use a Jugs toss machine, load the ball feeder with baseballs or softballs, place the machine on a flat surface, and turn the machine on by flipping the only switch located at the top of the machine. The machine will deliver a pitch every 6 seconds.
Once the machine is on, you’ll be able to perform a single drill for roughly one minute. The machine holds up to 10 softballs or 14 baseballs, which means one round of a softball drill will last roughly 60 seconds and one round of a baseball drill will last roughly 84 seconds.
My preference is to perform these drills into a hitting net so it’s easier to pick up baseballs and it’s quicker to get started with another round.
If you’re interested in learning more, I put together the 30-second video below that explains everything you need to know about how to use a Jugs Toss machine. I also threw together this step-by-step guide to how the Jugs Toss machine works.
Jugs Soft Toss Machine Pros and Cons
Of course, every product has its pros and cons and you should consider each one before spending a bunch of money on this machine. Below is a complete list of the pros and cons I noticed while using my Jugs Soft Toss Machine.
Pros of Using Jugs Soft Toss Machine
1) Easily Practice Hitting By Yourself
The biggest reason I purchased a Jugs Soft Toss machine was so I could practice hitting by myself.
Every season I feel like I should hit more in between games, but life very easily gets in the way and there would be plenty of times I wouldn’t even pick up a bat in between games. I wanted that trend to end.
Once I got my Jugs Soft Toss machine I was easily able to bring it out to my backyard, set up a hitting net, and practice soft toss into the hitting net by myself. This machine easily saved me time and money.
I also work from home so there were plenty of times I used my lunch break to take hitting practice in my backyard.
2) Jugs Machine is Very Durable
This machine is built like a tank. Once you pick it up and use it, you can instantly tell just how durable it is.
The outer covering is made of a hard plastic and it does a great job of protecting the metal interior.
I’m sure someone could do some damage to their machine if they hit a bunch of baseballs into it or left it out in the rain and let it rust, but as long as you’re taking care of your machine it should last a long time.
I will be surprised if my machine doesn’t last me a minimum of 5 years, but I bet it lasts a lot longer than that.
3) Pitches Are Consistent
Regardless of which type of baseball you use, the Jugs Soft Toss machine throws a pretty accurate soft toss pitch every time.
I have a mix of genuine leather baseballs and synthetic leather baseballs that I use with my Jugs machine. Genuine leather baseballs seem to have more consistency with pitches than synthetic leather baseballs.
Synthetic leather baseballs seem to have more loft to them and they aren’t thrown as consistently into the strike zone, but the good news is that they almost always end up in the strike zone.
On the other hand, leather baseballs seem to be the most consistent with where pitches end up.
4) Easy To Time Pitches
The Jugs Soft Toss machine is easy to time because you can hear when it’s about to deliver a pitch.
The machine has a unique sound to it as the metal arm is turning to deliver a pitch so you know the exact moment you need to begin your swing.
You can also see the metal arm moving, but you’ll most likely rely on the sound of the machine to get ready for the next pitch, which is fine by me.
5) Holds 14 Baseballs or 10 Softballs
The Jugs Soft Toss machine can hold up to 14 baseballs or 10 softballs.
However, I have read some reviews where people use a separate pitching machine feeder so they can get more swings from one round of hitting. So if you already own a separate ball feeder then that might be a strategy you can use, but I think 14 swings is good enough for one round of soft toss.
It’s easy enough to pick up baseballs or softballs, reload the machine, and start another round. This is especially true if you’re hitting into a net.
6) A Pitch Gets Tossed Every 6 Seconds
Everything you’ll read online says the Jugs Toss machine throws a pitch every 5 seconds (even the Jugs website says 5 seconds), but I’ve used this machine a lot and I can tell you with confidence it actually throws a pitch every 6 seconds.
Some people may think 6 seconds between pitches is too short of a window, but I think this is a perfect amount of time for soft toss pitches.
Having 6 seconds in between pitches allows you to finish your swing and have enough time to get ready for the next pitch.
6 seconds in between pitches is also more than the 4 seconds I recommended in my article about how to throw the perfect soft toss pitch.
7) Battery Lasts 8 Hours
Charging the battery is easy and it lasts a long time.
To charge the Jugs Soft Toss machine, connect the charging cord to the hole at the top of your Jugs machine and then plug the charging cord into the outlet.
Once the machine is fully charged, it can run for quite a long time. I’ve read some reviews that say it lasts for 8 hours and some say it lasts for 12 hours, but just to be safe you should assume it lasts a max of 8 hours.
Since I’m really the only one who is using my machine, I’ve been able to use it about 10 times in a row without charging it once. And that’s using it for about 15-20 minutes each time I use it. Even after using it that much, the battery seems to be fine, but I usually charge it after every 10 uses just in case it needs it.
Charging the Jugs Soft Toss machine is fairly easy, but I also put together this quick guide to charging a Jugs Soft Toss machine if you’d like some step-by-step instructions.
8) I Can Use Regular Baseballs I Already Own
Jugs also sells those yellow practice baseballs that can go with this machine so a lot of people wonder – can you use regular baseballs in a Jugs machine?
Regular baseballs and softballs can be used with a Jugs Soft Toss machine.
I already owned a bunch of used baseballs so I didn’t need to make an additional purchase for practice balls. I consider that a pro because those practice baseballs can be expensive.
Cons of Using Jugs Soft Toss Machine
1) Jugs Soft Toss Machine Weighs Roughly 13 Pounds
13 pounds doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’ll regret carrying this thing if you play at baseball fields where the diamond seems to be half a mile away from the parking lot.
Plus, the Jugs machine is not the only piece of baseball equipment you need to carry. Most players will also bring a bat, glove, batting gloves, and cleats at the very least. And a lot of other players may bring snacks, water, and a change of clothes for after the game.
If you’re a catcher, you’ll also have catcher’s gear to bring.
Carrying all that equipment can be a hassle and adding another 13-pound machine doesn’t make it any easier. If you do have a log of baseball gear, I’ve seen a lot of players have success carrying around all their equipment with a utility wagon like this one you can get from Amazon.
2) Unable to Adjust Pitch Time or Pitch Distance
It would be nice if you could adjust the timing of the pitches or how far the distance of each pitch goes, but there are no options to adjust either of these settings on a Jugs Soft Toss machine.
The Jugs Soft Toss machine is preset to one setting and there is no way to adjust it.
3) You’ll Probably Need to Purchase a Hitting Net
If you’re planning on using the Jugs machine in an open field or in a closed batting cage, then you won’t need a hitting net.
But if you’re like me and you want the freedom to practice hitting soft toss anywhere, then you’ll also need to purchase a hitting net.
The bad news is that most hitting nets are not cheap.
I purchased this Zelus 7×7 hitting net from Amazon because it also came with a hitting tee and I needed a new tee. Most hitting nets on Amazon look exactly like this one, but I’ve had a lot of success with it and I recommend it.
4) Baseballs Will Sometimes Pop Out of the Ball Feeder
It doesn’t happen too often, but on occasion you’ll get a baseball that pops out of the ball feeder.
It’s not the end of the world, but it is annoying when it happens. It also seems to happen more when the machine is placed on an uneven surface.
5) You Can Easily Ruin One Spot on Your Lawn
If you’re like me, you’ll end up having one spot in your yard you dedicate to practicing. If you use that one spot too much, you can easily ruin that spot on your lawn.
I never considered this possibility so I even practiced while the ground was still wet from snow. That was a mistake because I now have about an 8-foot ring in my backyard that’s half dirt and half grass from where I was practicing while the ground was still wet.
6) No Way to Know How Much Battery is Left
There is no battery indicator on a Jugs Soft Toss machine. There’s not even a battery indicator to let you know the machine is charging.
This is frustrating because you have no idea how much battery you have left. You have to take an educated guess on how much battery you have left and how much longer you need to charge it.
Typically, I’ll just plug in my machine and leave it charging all night and that seems to work just fine. But when I’m using it there’s no way for me to know if I have another 200 pitches left or only 2.
Common Drills You Can Use With Jugs Soft Toss Machine
Regular Soft Toss
The most widely used drill with a Jugs Soft Toss machine is the regular soft toss drill. This is what I use my machine for about 90% of the time.
To perform the regular soft toss drill with your Jugs machine:
- Place your Jugs Soft Toss machine about six feet to the side of you and about one foot in front of you
- Load the ball feeder
- Turn the machine on
- Hustle back to your hitting spot (you have roughly 5 seconds to get ready)
- Swing when the machine pitches a ball
Regular soft toss is designed to help you practice the mechanics of your swing. You’re not facing live pitching so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get in a lot of cuts and perfect your swing.
Outside Pitch Soft Toss
It’s easier to hit a baseball coming towards you, but a lot of time hitters will need to take an outside pitch to opposite field. That is where this drill comes in handy.
To perform the outside pitch soft toss drill with your Jugs machine:
- Place your Jugs machine about two to three feet behind you and about four to five feet in front of you
- Load the ball feeder
- Turn the machine on
- Swing when the machine pitches a ball
The machine will toss pitches from your backside, which means the pitch will end up on the outside corner of the plate. Focus on driving that outside pitch to the opposite field.
Front Toss Drill
Front toss is one of my favorite drills to do in a batting cage, but sometimes it’s hard to find someone to hit with. If you place your Jugs machine in front of you, it can allow you to practice the front toss drill by yourself.
***Quick note: I recommend performing this drill in a batting cage or in an open field. I used a hitting net in these photos just to demonstrate how to perform this drill, but it’s way too easy to hit the ball over the net. Nothing good will come from accidentally missing the net.
To perform the front toss drill with your Jugs Soft Toss machine:
- Position your Jugs machine about five to six feet in front of where you’ll be hitting
- Load the ball feeder
- Turn the machine on
- Swing whenever there is a pitch
The front toss drill allows you to focus on your hitting mechanics and gives you a more realistic pitch than a side toss. It’s also great for practicing your timing of a pitch.
Turning a Double Play
You can also use a Jugs Soft Toss machine to practice your defensive footwork. A great footwork drill for middle-infielders is using their Jugs machine to practice turning double plays.
To perform the double play drill with your Jugs Soft Toss machine:
- Position your Jugs machine about 3 to 4 feet to the side of second base
- Load the ball feeder
- Turn the machine on
- Practice your double-play footwork by catching the toss, touching second base, then turning and throwing to first base
Pro tip: Place a hitting net where 1st base should be. You’ll know you’ve made a good throw to first if you hit the center of the net.
Pop Drill for Catchers
The best way for catchers to get better at throwing out runners is by working on how quickly they can catch and throw the ball. Typically, catchers need a second person to toss them a ball for the pop drill, but catchers can do this drill by themselves with their Jugs Soft Toss machine.
To perform the pop drill with your Jugs Soft Toss machine:
- Position the Jugs machine about 3 to 4 feet in front of home plate (place the machine at an angle so the ball comes in quicker and flatter)
- Load the ball feeder
- Turn the machine on
- Practice your footwork by catching the pitch, popping up, and tossing the ball to second base
Pro tip: Place a hitting net at any base you wish to practice throwing to. Always aim for hitting the lower half of the net.
How Fast Does a Jugs Machine Throw a Baseball?
The Jugs Soft Toss machine simulates someone underhanding a baseball, which means it does not throw very fast.
The Jugs Soft Toss machine throws a baseball between 5-10 mph.
That’s a rough guess on its speed based on what I’ve seen, but it’s probably pretty accurate if you were to use a radar gun to test its pitching speed.
How Far Can a Jugs Machine Throw?
To answer the question of how far a Jugs Soft Toss machine can throw, I got out my tape measure.
A Jugs Soft Toss machine can reliably throw a baseball a distance of eight feet. When performing hitting drills, hitters will need to be roughly six and a half feet away from the machine to make contact with the baseball in the strike zone.
I didn’t have any softballs to measure the distance with, but my guess would be that softballs don’t go as far because they’re bigger than baseballs.
Where Can You Purchase a Jugs Soft Toss Machine?
There are three main places to purchase a Jugs Soft Toss machine – Amazon, Dick’s, and Jugs.
As much as I’d love for you to use my Amazon affiliate link to purchase a Jugs Soft Toss machine, my recommendation is to first try making the purchase through Jugs’ website to see if you can save some money.
When I made my purchase, I first added a Jugs machine to my Amazon cart and to my Jugs cart to see if there would be a big difference in price. What I found was that Jugs gave me a discount of $29.90…for absolutely no reason.
There was no coupon code used and they didn’t list out on their website why I was getting the discount, but I automatically got it anyway. I didn’t get that discount through Amazon.
So I recommend first trying to purchase a machine through Jugs’ website to see if they have any similar deals to what I got. But if there are no discounts there and you found this article helpful, I would greatly appreciate it if you used this Amazon affiliate link to make your Jugs Soft Toss machine purchase.
Included with my order was one Jugs Soft Toss machine, one rubber home plate, two manuals, and one small booklet that covers 20 drills that can be done with this machine.
