Patent ID: 7901305

Claim:
A catching machine that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target, comprising: catching means for catching a ball pitched toward the target; and ball returning means for returning the ball caught by the catching means to the pitcher, wherein the ball returning means includes ball-return-distance setting means for changeably setting a ball return distance, the ball-return-distance setting means includes a ball returning arm having a ball shovel for holding the ball and rotatable around a predetermined shaft, and a spring connected to an opposite end of the ball returning arm from the ball shovel, and the ball return distance is changed by adjusting a length of the spring, wherein a first ball is supplied to the ball returning arm after being held by a ball receiving portion and a guide groove is connected to the ball receiving portion, the guide groove has a stopper for holding the first ball, the ball returning arm holds the first ball and by touching the stopper moves the stopper when rotating along the guide groove, and a second ball held by the ball receiving portion is carried to the guide groove as the stopper is moved.