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Best Hack Attack Pitching Machines
Sports Attack (formally known as “Sports Attack, LLC”) is a privately held US company founded in 1995 and based in Reno, Nevada.
The company is most well known for its pitching machines for baseball and softball, but it also develops machines for other sports like soccer and cricket, among others.
The pitching machines that Sports Attack makes are all 3 wheel machines that contain the model name “Hack Attack”.
Hack Attack pitching machines are very high quality and they are designed, built, and tested in the US.
There are a variety of Hack Attack models in existence and each offers unique features and contains a different set of pros and cons.
The goal of this article is two-fold: it’s to help you understand all the different Hack Attack pitching machines currently on the market, and to highlight our top picks across different categories.
If you’re in the market for a premium softball or baseball pitching machine that will last a long time, then Hack Attack might just be what you’re looking for.
Keep scrolling to find out more…
Our Reviews and Top Picks
Most Technologically Advanced Hack Attack
Elite eHack Attack
The Elite eHack Attack has the most technology of any in the Hack Attack lineup.
What makes it the most technologically advanced?
It's the computer embedded in it!
From the outside, it's apparent that this isn't your typical pitching machine.
A large, 12 inch touch screen on the back immediately jumps out to you.
It allows you to choose the pitch type, or sequence, with a few taps as opposed to turning knobs or wheels like many other machines.
Using the touch screen, you can manually adjust the ball's location vertically, horizontally, and you can even adjust the speed and spin of each of the three wheels.
The Elite eHack Attack can throw fastballs, heaters, change ups, split finger fastballs, L/R curve balls and L/R sliders.
What really sets the machine apart is its sequencing. You can save up to 12 different pitch types or speeds in one sequence, and then put it in a random sequence.
With top speeds of 90 plus mph, this type of pitch sequencing truly keeps batters on their toes like no other pitching machine.
So far we've focused on some of the highlights of the software and tablet on this machine. What about the rest of its design?
The Elite eHack Attack in many ways seems to be built like the regular Hack Attack.
It's a three wheel pitching machine with independent motors powering each wheel.
The size and weight general match the regular Hack Attack as well.
It sits on a tripod, it runs on standard power or generator power, and it can be transported quite easily using the two wheels at the base of the frame.
The major downside of this pitching machine is that it's very expensive - so much so that it's prohibitively expensive for most families.
That makes it a better choice for high-level baseball and softball programs with money to spend (e.g., college and the pros).
We do want to mention that another intriguing option is the iHack Attack.
It has similar software to the Elite eHack Attack but uses a smaller tablet interface built into the back of the machine.
The iHack Attack can do many of the same things as the Elite eHack Attack but at about one third of the cost.
So, if you're looking for a premium pitching machine that's also very technologically advanced (but you don't want to pay five figures), give the iHack Attack a close look.
Best Value for the Money
Junior Hack Attack
Our choice for the Hack Attack pitching machine that offers the most value for the money is the Junior Hack Attack.
It's high quality, has many useful features, and it's affordable when compared to other models.
This machine has three durable wheels that are solid - they're not inflated with air.
Its three wheels grip the ball, resulting in incredibly accurate pitches.
A separate motor powers each wheel, which means the speed and spin of each wheel can be independently managed and adjusted.
Three circular knobs on the back of the machine control how fast each wheel moves.
On the left side, there is a small metal lever that adjusts the height of the pitch by moving the throwing head vertically.
You can also pivot the throwing head laterally, if needed.
The Junior Hack Attack can throw many different types of pitches.
For example, the baseball version throws fastballs, sinkers, curveballs, sliders, and knuckleballs. The softball version throws drops, risers, screwballs and fastballs.
Both versions can also throw pitches from a left-handed or right-handed point of view.
The manual provides you with a ton of helpful details on the wheel settings and choosing pitch types.
The Junior Hack Attack throws pitches from 60 feet as fast as 70 mph and as low as 35 mph. If you want to simulate even faster pitches (e.g., around 90 mph), simply move the machine closer to the plate.
This applies to the softball version as well, which throws 60 plus mph from 43 feet away.
Although the regular Hack Attack can deliver pitches over 100 mph from 60 feet away, it costs more and is heavier than the Junior Hack Attack.
This pitching machine sits on three legs that can be easily popped in and out, as needed.
Weighing in at just 75 pounds, the Junior Hack Attack is pretty light for a 3 wheel machine.
Despite being light, it's strong and doesn't have any recoil that we observed.
If you need to move it, you can do so pretty easily using its two transport wheels.
A single person can handle it and pack it up in a vehicle by popping the legs off.
With the legs removed, it can even fit in most sedans.
In terms of the types of balls it can use, the Junior Hack Attack can use regular leather baseballs or softballs as well as traditional pitching machine balls. You should not, however, use synthetic leather balls with this machine.
To get the most out of the machine, Sports Attack makes a variety of different attachments that can be purchased separately.
For example, you can get a compatible solo ball feeder, leg extenders or an L screen.
For all of these reasons (and then some), we believe the Junior Hack Attack gives you the most bang for your buck, hands down. It's well worth your consideration.
Top Choice for High School and Above
Hack Attack
The Hack Attack is our top pick for high school ages and beyond.
It's similar in many ways to the Junior Hack Attack. It is a 3 wheel machine, throws the same pitches and contains the same high level of quality.
Where it differs is in four primary areas.
First, the Hack Attack can throw much faster than the Junior. It can hit speeds (accurately) of over 100 mph from 60 feet away for the baseball version and 80+ mph from 43 feet for the softball machine.
Secondly, it can launch balls nearly 400 feet in the air during defensive drills (250 feet for softballs), which is much higher than the Junior.
Thirdly is its size. The Hack Attack is larger and weighs much more than the Jr. Hack Attack.
Lastly, the regular Hack Attack costs more than the Jr, by a few hundred dollars.
Primarily due to its faster speed and stronger launch, it's a better option than the Junior Hack Attack for high-level leagues. In fact many NCAA baseball and softball programs - as well as many MLB teams - have Hack Attack pitching machines in their arsenal.
Short Video on How to Operate a Hack Attack
Additional Hack Attack Pitching Machine Options
There are four different Hack Attack pitching machines made by Sports Attack.
Each of those four have already been mentioned above.
And each has a baseball-specific version and a softball-specific version.
So, to summarize, every Hack Attack pitching machine option available today is:
For Baseball:
- Elite eHack Attack
- I-Hack Attack
- Hack Attack
- Junior Hack Attack
For Softball:
- Elite eHack Attack
- I-Hack Attack
- Hack Attack
- Junior Hack Attack
That's A Wrap!
Thanks for taking the time to read our review of Hack Attack pitching machines. We hope you found it informative and helpful!
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Other Pitching Machine Resources
We’ve written a number of other articles on pitching machines that might be helpful to you.
To learn more, see below for links to these other articles written by Catchers Home:
Scott Perry
Scott Perry is the owner and lead author at Catchers Home. He's a former baseball player, a current coach, a husband and a Dad. He remains as passionate about baseball today as he was as a kid.
