Patent ID: 8381709

Claim:
A pitching machine for pitching a ball to a batter positioned in a first batting location a first predetermined distance from the pitching machine, the pitching machine comprising: a frame; a drive assembly coupled to the frame; a pitching arm coupled to drive assembly and rotatable in a first direction about a first axis, the pitching arm including a forward side configured to contact and project the ball during a portion of the rotation of the pitching arm about the first axis, the pitching arm configured to project the ball at at least a first ball release position with respect to the first axis; and a lead timing arm including a marker, the lead timing arm coupled to the pitching arm such that the marker is visible to the batter positioned in the first batting location prior to the pitching arm reaching the first ball release position, the marker configured to move in a path of motion having at least first and second positions, the first position being rearward of a vertical plane extending through the first axis and orthogonal to the first direction, and the second position being forward of the vertical plane.