Rawlings Pro Line User manual

Pro Line Two Wheel
Pitching Machine
Owner's Manual

CAUTIONS
● This machine is not a toy! Use under adult supervision only.
● Machine will throw alls and strikes- atters must stay alert and
always wear a helmet.
● Use only regulation sports alls, or alls specifically designed for
machine use.
● Hold machine steady when loosening joints for adjustments. The
machine is not fully alanced and may move under its own weight
if not held in place when clamps are released.
● Use a grounded (3 prong) outlet only. Use a GFCI outlet when
machine is operated outdoors. Do not use the machine in wet
conditions.
● Do not store the machine with the urethane wheel tread
compressed against the ground. Flat spots will develop. Storing
machine in very hot, humid conditions can accelerate wheel tread
aging.
● Machine operator (person feeding alls into machine) should
stay ehind a protective screen.
FAST, FREE, FRIENDLY HELP
Rawlings® Pro Line pitching machines are designed, manufactured, sold,
serviced, and supported y Spin all Sports LLC. For assistance
assem ling or using your machine, please view our videos online at
www.spin allsports.com, call us at 618-244-4587, or email us at
info@spin allsports.com.
ASSEMBLY / SET UP
LEGS Slide the legs into the sockets on the tripod ase until the spring
loaded uttons pop up, then set the machine upright. See Figures 1 & 2.
BALL FEEDER TUBE Use the 3" tu e for ase alls, tennis alls,
or cricket alls, and the 4" tu e for soft alls. Attach the tu e to the
machine using the two included thum screws. Position the feeder tu e

Figures 1 & 2: Baseball and softball leg installation
to clear the wheels y 1/4 - 1/2". Placing the tu e in contact with the
wheels will damage the tu e and wheels, and may cause the tu e to e
gra ed and thrown. Placing the tu e too far away from the wheels will
diminish the machine's accuracy. See Figures 3 & 4.
Figures 3 & 4: Baseball and softball ball feed tube installation

TRANSPORT WHEELS The two transport wheels are installed
with two screws each. These screws (and matching nuts and washers)
are shipped pre-installed in the racket holes. See Figure 5.
AIMING HANDLE The machine aiming handle screws into either of
the two ta s on the side of the frame. See Figure 5.
Figure 5: Transport wheel and aiming handle installation

MOTOR / WHEEL POSITION The gap etween the wheels is a
critical adjustment to maximize pitch speed and accuracy. The optimal
distance etween wheels depends on the size and compressi ility of the
all eing used. Softer, more compressi le alls require a smaller gap
than harder alls do. And of course, soft alls require a much larger gap
than ase alls. Too small of a gap will slow the wheels noticea ly when
pitches are thrown, producing a loud “thunk”. Too large of a gap will not
generate enough squeezing force on the all, and pitches will e too
slow, without enough spin. As a general rule, when the gap is correct,
you should e a le to feed a all through an unpowered machine y
rotating the wheels y hand with a moderate effort.
Each motor & wheel assem ly has two profiled locks that interlock with
profiled pockets in the frame. There are 11 possi le locations. By
counting the num er of empty notches on either side of the locks, you
can quickly and precisely locate each of the wheels. See Figures 6-9 for
the typical positioning for real ase alls and soft alls. For ase all, the
locks are in the center position, with 5 empty notches on each side of
the lock. For soft all, the locks are located at the outermost position,
with all 10 empty notches on the inside. Each wheel and motor assem ly
should e moved one step inward from these locations when using soft
dimpled alls, creating a tighter grip on the compressi le all.
The wheels are moved y loosening or removing the clamping kno that
holds each motor to the frame. Be sure to support the motor / wheel
assem ly when removing the kno s – do not let the motor fall or hang y
its cord. Reposition the motor & wheel assem ly as desired, then re-
tighten the clamping kno .
The positions shown in Figures 6-9 are just starting points and may
require adjustment for optimal performance. Each motor does not need
to e set at the same distance from center, ut they should not e more
than one setting apart.
Feel free to experiment and deviate from these suggestions to determine
the optimal wheel gap for your situation. For example, cold weather will
cause oth the alls and wheels to harden, requiring a larger wheel gap
than when the same machine is used in hot weather. Also, once the
wheels egin to wear, they will need to e moved closer together to
compensate.
OPERATION
SPEED CONTROLS The wheel speeds are individually controlled
y rotary kno s. Both the kno s and the motors are la eled '1' and '2' to

Figure 6: Typical top motor / wheel positioning for real baseballs.
Profiled blocks are located at center position
Figure 7: Typical bottom motor / wheel positioning for real baseballs.
Profiled blocks are located at center position
keep track of which motor is controlled y which kno even if the
machine is rotated upside down. Because soft alls are heavier than
ase alls, actual soft all pitch speed will e 15% slower than indicated.

Figure 8: Typical top motor / wheel positioning for real softballs. Profiled
blocks are located at top position
Figure 9: Typical bottom motor / wheel positioning for real softballs.
Profiled blocks are located at bottom position
ADJUSTING MACHINE ORIENTATION The machine is
positioned using 3 different angle adjustments: horizontal, vertical, and
twist. The horizontal and vertical pin joints are used to aim the pitch while

the twist angle is used to change the direction of all spin and therefore
all curve. When using the machine for defensive drills, the horizontal
and vertical pin joints can e left loose to let the machine swivel freely,
ut the twist angle should always e locked during use to prevent
accidental movement.
Twist angle is set y removing the kno shown in lue in Figure 10,
rotating the machine frame to another hole, then re-installing the kno .
There are nine holes in the frame, creating 16 different spin / curve
directions. See Throwing Different Pitches elow.
The all ended aiming handle may e installed in whichever mounting
ta is more convenient. As the machine’s twist angle is adjusted, you
may want to move the handle to the other mounting ta .
The horizontal and vertical aiming joints oth have geared “micro-adjust”
kno s shown in lue in Figure 11. To adjust either angle, loosen the lack
clamping kno , aim the machine with the micro adjust kno , then re-
tighten the clamping kno .
Figures 10 & 11: Twist angle knob and micro adjust knobs

Do not loosen the vertical angle clamping kno without a firm grip on
either the all ended aiming handle or the micro adjust kno , or else the
machine could rotate unexpectedly under its own weight.
The est practice for making small aim adjustments is to loosen the joint
just enough that you can adjust the machine with a little effort, ut not
loosen it enough that it can flop around on its own.
THROWING DIFFERENT PITCHES Thrown alls will tend to
curve in the direction they are spinning, and the greater the spin, the
more the curve. Spin is imposed on the all y setting one wheel to turn
faster than the other- the all will spin & curve away from the faster
wheel. By rotating the machine on the twist angle joint, you can set the
curve in any of 16 directions. Spin amount is adjusted y changing the
difference etween wheel speeds. A greater difference creates greater
spin and curve. For example, a pitch with wheel speeds at 90 & 60 will
curve more than one with wheel speeds of 85 & 65. The speed of the all
will e the average of the wheel speed settings. For example, oth 90/60
and 85/65 will result in a 75 mph pitch. A laminated chart is included for
guidance, ut it should e considered a starting point. Feel free to
experiment and create your own custom pitches.
The most common mistake for new users is to set oth wheels to the
same speed for a fast all. If oth wheels are set to the same speed, the
machine will throw a knuckle all. A fast all has ackspin, so the ottom
wheel must e set to a higher speed than the top wheel.
ACCURACY The primary factor ehind pitch accuracy is the
consistency of the alls. While you can use many types of alls (real or
dimpled / high or low seam / compressi le or hard) you can not mix them
in one setup and get consistent results. They must e dry and in good
condition. Dimpled machine alls will e more accurate than leather
ase alls, especially after use. Softer alls tend to e more accurate
than harder alls ecause the wheels grip them etter. Lower seams are
etter than high seams (and cause less wheel wear). Rolling the all into
the feeder tu e so that the wheels gra across the seams is etter than
along the seams (4 seam is etter than 2 seam). The more consistent
the alls are, the more consistent the pitches will e.
Another key factor for top accuracy is setting the proper distance
etween wheels - see “Motor / Wheel Position” earlier in this manual for
a full discussion.
A third factor is the cleanliness of the wheels. After use, especially with
new plastic alls ( oth dimpled and laced), the wheels can accumulate a
residue from the alls. The residue is slick and prevents the wheel from

gra ing the all sufficiently. The wheels can e cleaned with solvent
cleaners such as MEK, acetone, or lacquer thinner along with sandpaper.
Cheap synthetic leather ase alls wear quickly and leave excessive
residue, so we strongly discourage their use. This includes the Wilson
A1010S. (Apparently the ‘S’ stands for synthetic.)
We have found that Jugs' Pearl rand ase alls are slicker than
standard ase alls, and ecause of that, they are far less accurate in our
machines than standard ase alls.
If pitches seem to wander during use, check that the aiming joint clamps
are oth tight. Also check that the entire machine is not moving from
recoil. When used on a hard slick flooring surface such as hardwood or
smooth painted cement, the machine should e set on a carpet scrap or
nonslip mat.
SPEED The speed displays are very close to actual ase all pitch
speeds, ut they are not exact. Soft alls are thrown a out 15% slower
than indicated. There is no economical way to compensate for the
different types, weights, and conditions of the variety of alls that might
e used. The speed settings are, however, very consistent and
repeata le, so that once a machine is set, it will deliver consistent speed
and accuracy.
MISCELLANEOUS
WHEEL BALANCING Our wheels are alanced 10X more
accurately than a typical car tire. Should your wheels require re-
alancing for any reason, we will do it for free. Shipping each way is not
covered. Bent or deformed aluminum wheels must e replaced.
GENERATORS This machine may e powered y a standard
household outlet or a porta le gas generator. The machine will pull a
maximum continuous load of 4 Amps (480 Watts) at 120V AC, ut we
recommend a generator capacity of 800W minimum. Be sure when
selecting a generator that you check the actual electric output power
rating, not the gas engine output, which is often how they are advertised.
INVERTERS You can also power your machine with a 12V attery
with a 120V AC inverter. However, only true sine wave inverters, which
are much more expensive than modified sine wave (MSW) or square
wave inverters, will work. 1000W is the minimum recommended inverter
capacity due to high startup currents.

MAINTENANCE If stored outdoors, always keep the machine
covered to protect it from rain. Tarps are availa le at any local hardware
store, ut even a large trash ag will work. Do not leave the machine
outside during storms. High winds can low the machine over and
damage the wheels and/or motor shafts. This is not normal use, and is
therefore not covered y warranty. The wheels can e cleaned with
solvent cleaners such as MEK, acetone, or lacquer thinner along with
sandpaper.
WARRANTY If your machine doesn't perform like you expect, please
contact Spin all and we will attempt to diagnose the pro lem for you. If a
part fails during the warranty period and you feel confident you can install
it yourself, we will send the replacement part for free. If something goes
wrong during the first 30 days you have the machine, you can also
choose to exchange it for a new one. After 30 days, if you need to return
the machine for repairs, you will have to pay for return shipping. We will
repair the machine and return the machine ack to you at our expense.
All components of your machine are covered for non-commercial use for
five years from the date of purchase, ut wheels are wear items which
are prorated like car tires. For example, if a wheel only lasts 3 years, or
60% of its rated life, you will receive 40% off the price of a new one. The
warranty does not cover cosmetic issues, normal wear, or misuse of the
product. For commercial use, the warranty period is one year. Warranties
are not transfera le.
We don't want anyone to e unhappy with their purchase, so products
may e returned at your expense for any reason within 30 days for a full
refund minus a 15% restocking fee. This fee is the lowest in the industry
and covers oth our outgoing shipping costs and minor cosmetic damage
to the machine. Refunds will e reduced to cover any non-cosmetic
damage.
THANK YOU!
Thanks for uying from Rawlings and Spin all Sports. We hope you will
enjoy your new pitching machine for many years to come. If you have
any questions or comments please email us at info@spin allsports.com
or call us at 618-244-4587. And thanks again!

Rawlings® Pro Line pitching machines are designed, manufactured, sold,
serviced, and supported y Spin all Sports LLC under license.
www.spin allsports.com
info@spin allsports.com
618-244-4587