Abstract: The invention is a user control panel for a pitching system with a pitching mechanism. The control panel allows a user to separately control ball speed and tilt angle. The control panel also displays an estimated height at which the ball will cross the plate for the selected ball speed and tilt angle. In the preferred embodiment, a vertical row of lamps shows the estimated ball height. The control panel can include symbology to indicate strike zones for batters of different heights.

Abstract: The invention is a pitching system with a pitching mechanism. A control panel allows a user to separately control ball speed and tilt angle. The control panel also displays an estimated height at which the ball will cross the plate for the selected ball speed and tilt angle. In the preferred embodiment, a vertical row of lamps shows the estimated ball height. The control panel can include symbology to indicate strike zones for batters of different heights. To operate the batting cage, the batter selects the desired ball speed. The control panel displays an estimated ball height based on the selected ball speed and current tilt angle. The batter then adjusts the tilt angle of the pitching mechanism until a desired ball height is reached. The batter then starts the machine. In this manner, the batter avoids wasting balls selecting a preferred choice of ball speed and height. The batter can also change ball speed and tilt angle during a pitching sequence, to alter the strike zone through which balls are pitched.