Beacon BallieldDimensionsGuide-2024-WEB - Flipbook - Page 47
PITCHING MOUNDS
Artificial vs. Natural Pitching Mounds |
W H I C H I S F O R YO U ?
Over the past 30 years, there’s been a noteworthy shift to artificial turf fields and indoor workout facilities for baseball and softball. To go along with
this migration, there has been a split with how to treat skinned areas. Some choose to stick with soil while others bring the artificial turf theme to
their infield. With that, pitching mounds can become a big challenge. There is no “right way” to go for the mound, as each ballfield has a different set
of circumstances to consider. That said, even on natural infields, a clear favorite can emerge. But to determine the right move for you, a look at the
benefits and shortcomings is necessary before carefully deciding how this heavily trafficked area will be addressed.
A R T I F I C I A L T U R F P O R TA B L E M O U N D
PROS
◾ Perfect for fields with
multiple base lengths/
pitching distances
◾ Portability provides quick
and easy transformations
between baseball and softball
◾ Decreased maintenance
◾ Choice of full-size “game”
mounds, smaller practice
mounds, or bullpen mounds
CONS
◾ Use of metal or rubber cleats
is usually prohibited, and turf
shoes are slippery on worn or
wet turf
◾ Potential slipping hazards
can cause pitchers to alter
mechanics, which can result
in injury or poor performance
◾ Same wear areas as natural
mounds, just at a slower rate
◾ Can be used indoors or
outdoors
◾ Turf must be replaced when
fibers wear out
◾ Most made with a fiberglass
or high-density foam core
◾ At 55 lbs for small mounds
and up to 1200 lbs for large,
it usually requires multiple
people to move them
N AT U R A L P I TC H I N G M O U N D
PROS
CONS
◾ The preferred, healthiest
option for a pitcher’s career
◾ Not an option on multiple
pitching distance fields
◾ Keeps play consistent with
natural mounds used at
higher levels of play
◾ Higher maintenance and
requires tarping when not in
use to maintain moisture
◾ Pitcher’s can maximize their
performance due to the
ground-force stability for
their landing foot
◾ Can become slippery
when pitched off of during
prolonged light rain or drizzle
◾ Provides best anchor footing
for back foot drive
◾ When properly maintained,
can be played on in light rain
situations
◾ Very difficult to manage
moisture content on indoor
clay mounds
◾ On an artificial turf field, it can
be very challenging to keep
mound spoils from building
up in the surrounding turf
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